“Discovering” the Joy of Hiking on Crawford Notch’s Mt. Willard

Hello!! As the end of March nears, my thoughts are turning toward new hiking adventures.  Last summer, we “discovered” hiking and we are hooked! Part of the reason we fell in love was in large part due to our first hike.  We took a vacation up to the Omni Mt. Washington Resort, in Bretton Woods, NH, with the intention of exploring the outdoors.  Upon arriving at the Omni, I asked the concierge for recommendations on family friendly hikes; she suggested Mt. Willard and wow – talk about a perfect recommendation! It’s a great hike for little legs and the views at the end are amazing!

Mt. Willard is at the north end of Crawford Notch, so you are already starting the hike at elevation.  The summit is 2804 feet high, which allows for some beautiful vistas, however, the elevation gain is only about 900 feet.  We didn’t come across any super steep areas and our (then) 5 year old had an easy time navigating the trail; my husband and I take turns carrying our son in the Osprey carrier and didn’t come across any areas where we were nervous or uncomfortable with him our backs.

There are some small places to step aside and rest, including  a waterfall, which is a great distraction while little legs rest!

The trail itself is 1.6 miles each way, with just a short walk from the parking area to the trail head.

Most of the trail is in Crawford Notch State Park, although the beginning of the trail and the parking is in the White Mountain National Forest.

Right next to the trail head is the Highland Center, a huge lodge run by the Appalachian Mountain Club.  We stopped there for a yummy lunch and little play time at their outdoor playscape.

If you are new to hiking, or an old pro, this is a fun hike with an amazing summit view.  Before you head off on this adventure, make sure to check out the NH State Parks’ Hiking Guide. It has some helpful information and safety tips!

I hope you enjoy this adventure as much as my family did!!