4000 Footers

Best 4000-Footer Hikes at a Glance

This page lists 64 4000-footer hikes from the Summit Seeker trail database, across 3 states. Summit elevations run from 4,003 ft (Mount Tecumseh) to 6,288 ft (Mount Washington).

62 of the 64 routes have a distance we can quote (39 from a published source, 23 estimated from the mapped track). The shortest is Mount Hale at 4.4 mi; the longest is Mount Bond at 18.7 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 1,600 ft (Mount Abraham) to 4,500 ft (Mount Adams). Together the quoted routes add up to 586.4 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 55 strenuous, 6 hard, 1 moderate. 2 of the routes have not been verified against the summit yet, so those pages quote no distance or time.

56 of the 64 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.

By state: New Hampshire (46), Maine (13), Vermont (5).

Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.

Route facts for the 40 highest summits

Showing the 40 highest of 64 trails, sorted by summit elevation; every trail is listed by state below.

Route notes

• Mount Washington — 8.4 mi round trip via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, 4,187 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (WMNF). The route passes Ladies’ Lookout (mile 0.01), Crystal Cascades Falls (mile 0.38) and Raven Rock (mile 3.6). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Adams — 8.6 mi round trip via the Airline Trail from Appalachia Trailhead, US-2, 4,500 ft of elevation gain, about 5.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: $5/day (WMNF). The route passes Tama Fall (mile 2.05) and Salroc Fall (mile 2.05). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Jefferson — 5.5 mi round trip via the Caps Ridge Trail from Caps Ridge Trail Parking, Jefferson Notch Rd, 2,720 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: $5/day (WMNF). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Monroe — 7 mi round trip via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail from Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead, Base Station Rd, 2,824 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: $5/day (WMNF). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Madison — an estimated 9 mi round trip via the Valley Way Trail from Pine Link trailhead, about 4,260 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: $5/day (WMNF). The route passes Triple Falls (mile 0.6). Figures are estimated from the mapped track. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Katahdin - Baxter Peak — 10.4 mi round trip via the Hunt Trail (AT), 4,188 ft of elevation gain, about 5.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Lafayette — a 8.9-mile loop via the Franconia Ridge Loop from Lafayette Place Parking, 3,900 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (State Park). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Lincoln — an estimated 7.1-mile loop via the Franconia Ridge Loop (via Falling Waters) from Franconia Ridge Loop (via Falling Waters) Trailhead, about 3,900 ft of elevation gain, about 4.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Stairs Falls (mile 0.93), Swiftwater Falls (mile 0.93), Cloudland Falls (mile 1.39) and Shining Rock Cliff (mile 2.67). Figures are estimated from the mapped track. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• South Twin Mountain — an estimated 10 mi round trip via the Gale River Trail from Gale River Trailhead, Gale River Loop Rd, about 3,543 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Hard. Parking: Free (WMNF). Figures are estimated from the mapped track. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Carter Dome — 10.2 mi round trip via the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail from Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead, NH-16, 3,750 ft of elevation gain, about 5.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (WMNF). The route passes Carter Notch Hut (mile 4.99). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Moosilauke — 7.2 mi round trip via the Gorge Brook Trail from Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, Ravine Rd, 2,550 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (DOC). Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• North Twin Mountain — an estimated 16.1 mi round trip via the North Twin Trail from Haystack Road Trailhead, about 3,379 ft of elevation gain, about 7 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (WMNF). Figures are estimated from the mapped track. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Eisenhower — an estimated 6 mi round trip via the Edmands Path from Edmands Path Trailhead, Mt Clinton Rd, about 2,147 ft of elevation gain, about 3 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (WMNF). Figures are estimated from the mapped track. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Hamlin Peak — 9.2 mi round trip via the Hamlin Ridge Trail, 3,267 ft of elevation gain, about 7.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Carrigain — 10 mi round trip via the Signal Ridge Trail from Signal Ridge Trailhead, Sawyer River Rd, 3,250 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
• Mount Bond — an estimated 18.7 mi round trip via the Zealand Trail to Bond from Hale Brook Trailhead, about 4,101 ft of elevation gain, about 8.5 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free (WMNF). The route passes Zealand Falls (mile 3.09), Zeacliff (mile 5.28) and Guyot Campsite Shelter (mile 8.62). Figures are estimated from the mapped track. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.

Notes cover the 16 highest summits; every trail's own page has the full route.