The Boulder Loop Trail packs boulder fields, ledges, and great views into a 3.1-mile hike. The route is off of the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, so car windows frame a gorgeous, quintessential landscape for the 20-minute drive to the trailhead.
Most hikers start the trail clockwise, moving past boulder fields, which kids love. In 2016, there was a forest fire that burned 400 acres and took three days to contain. Local fire departments and the U.S. Forest Service cleaned up the trails and made them accessible again, but hikers can spot remnants of the fire along the way. At the top, follow the signs that say “views” to stand on top of the ledges and take in a bird’s-eye view of the Kancamagus Highway as well as Mount Chocorua and Swift River Valley.
If you go…
This trail is about 20 minutes from North Conway. Drive over the Covered Bridge and park in the lot to the right near Passaconaway Road, Albany, New Hampshire