Winter is in full swing and while we’re on the cusp of another snow storm, it feels fitting to share some of our all-time favorite winter hikes under 5 miles in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. While there are a myriad of incredible hikes to do in other parts of New England, it feels fitting to start our winter hiking series by sharing some incredible winter hikes located in our favorite part of New England.

We recommend checking out our post on the basics of winter hiking if you’re new to hiking in the winter.

Winter Hikes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire Under 5 Miles

Mount Willard - 3 Miles, 1,000’ Elevation

Route: Avalon Trail & Mt. Willard Trail (out-and-back)
This beautiful trail is very popular in all seasons but especially in winter. The trail follows the general path of one of the first bridle paths in the White Mountains (circa 1850s) and gains less than 1,100’ of elevation in 1.5 miles. This hike is the perfect combination of a walk in the woods and a breathtaking view at the top of the mountain as you pop out on top of a large rocky ledge looking towards Webster cliffs and the Willey range.

Arethusa Falls - 3 Miles, 900’ Elevation

Route: Arethusa Falls Trail (out-and-back)
This popular hike leading to the 140’ Arethusa Falls is another fantastic hike located near Crawford Notch. The trail is a bit less elevation than Mount Willard and ends at the base of Arethusa Falls. This water feature is one of the most popular waterfalls in New Hampshire.

*Bonus option to combine hikes one and two into the same day to get a bit more elevation and mileage. These two hikes are only 5 miles apart.

North & Middle Sugarloaf Mountains - 5 Miles (plus 2 miles of roadwalking), 1,200’ Elevation

Route: Sugarloaf Trail (out-and-back)
These twin peaks are located near Twin Mountain, New Hampshire and are a bit more strenuous than the last two options. At less than 3,000’ these two peaks pack a punch as you climb up the drainage between the two peaks before heading across the ridge to either of the twin summits. North Sugarloaf is less traveled in winter, and it is recommended that you start with Middle Sugarloaf and then proceed to North Sugarloaf. From either summit you will have stunning views of the Twin Range, Hale, and Zealand mountains.

Mount Martha - 4 Miles, 1,900’ Elevation

Route: Cherry Mountain Trail to Mount Martha Spur (out-and-back)
This strenuous hike is located in Twin Mountain, New Hampshire and requires climbing 1,900’ of elevation in under 2 miles. It is a great hike to do in any season however the views on the summit are like nothing else when covered in rime ice and snow. Be sure to take the Cherry Mountain Trail from the trailhead located on route 115, not the trailhead located on Cherry Mountain Road which is closed in winter.

Welch-Dickey Loop - 4 Miles, 1,900’ Elevation

Route: Welch-Dickey Loop Trail, counterclockwise loop
Welch-Dickey is one of the most popular hikes in New Hampshire regardless of season. It is located in Thornton, New Hampshire, making it a great hike to do if you’re staying in the Waterville Valley area, perhaps enjoying some downhill skiing, and want to take a day off of the slopes to hit a hiking trail. This loop hike can be strenuous and steep, so don’t let the smaller stature of these twin peaks fool you into thinking that it will be an easy hike. We recommend ascending Welch Mountain and descending via Dickey Mountain (hiking this loop counterclockwise) because the ledges can be very icy and difficult to descend in winter.

Additional Hikes of Note

While this is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the hikes under 5 miles in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to visit in winter, they are some of the most popular hikes under 5 miles. Some additional hikes of note, under 5 miles are as follows:

Mount Morgan, Holderness, NH - 4 Miles, 1,400’ Elevation
Rattlesnake Mountain, Holderness, NH - 2 Miles, 400’ Elevation
Lonesome Lake, Franconia, NH - 3 Miles, 1,000’ Elevation
Artist’s Bluff Loop, Franconia, NH - 1 Mile, 350’ Elevation
Hermit Lake, Pinkham Notch, NH - 5 Miles, 1,900’ Elevation

Five Winter Hikes Under 5 Miles in the White Mountains of New Hampshire