If you are looking for a nice hike to enjoy foliage then the Welch and Dickey loop trail is a perfect choice. This is a great hike in the White Mountains with multiple view points. It’s perfect in fall but you can enjoy it in any season.

Hike description

This is a 550m (1778ft) elevation and 6.5km (4.4mi) which is good for half a day or a day depending of how you like to hike. The Welch-Dickey loop is our most recommended hike in the White mountains because you have view points on the surrounding mountains during most of the hike (we don’t like to spend all the hike in the forest and only have a view point at the top). We also like it because this is a loop. The hike is at the same time slightly technical but also accessible to almost everyone.

Advices is to do the hike counter clock wise. We start in the forest and this is slippery, but after about 2km we reach the first view point. We continue up on large granite ramps with the view on the surrounding mountains until the top of the Welch mountain. With the morning sun the view on the south west side of the mountain is great. We then go a little bit down and up to the Dickey Mountain. One of the best part of the hike is the view from the large stones when going down the Dickey Mountain. The last part of the hike is in the forest. The forest parts can be boring during summer but the foliage colors make it great.

If you are looking for a foliage hike, this loop is a perfect choice.

Hike direction

This is a heavily trafficked route, especially during the foliage. But this is still possible to miss some of the trail marking. If it happen just go back to the last mark and try to find the next one. You can follow our map below or the AllTRails route “Welch-Dickey loop trail”. At the trail head a 5USD (cash only) parking with limited spot is available. This parking can fill-up very quickly and people can park then on the west side of Orris Raod.

Activities around

Going back to Boston you can stop by Vulgar Brewing Company Franklin NH or by Concord Craft brewing. Tree House Tewksbury might also be on your way back.

Discover more

More breweries and hikes on our map below, or by following-us on Untappd or Instagram.