Best Loop Hikes 2026 | 5 Trail Guides & Maps

Best Loop Hikes at a Glance

This page lists 5 loop hikes from the Summit Seeker trail database, across 2 states. Summit elevations run from 3,068 ft (Tumbledown Mountain) to 4,714 ft (Mount Colden).

5 of the 5 routes have a distance we can quote (3 from a published source, 2 estimated from the mapped track). The shortest is Tumbledown Mountain at 4 mi; the longest is Mount Colden at 16.4 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 1,600 ft (Tumbledown Mountain) to 4,834 ft (Mount Colden). Together the quoted routes add up to 49.4 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 4 strenuous, 1 hard.

4 of the 5 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.

By state: Maine (3), New York (2).

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

Trail	State	Summit	Route	Distance	Gain	Time	Difficulty	Trailhead
Mount Colden	New York	4,714 ft	Colden Loop via Avalanche Pass	≈16.4 mi loop	≈4,834 ft	≈8 hr	Strenuous	ADK Loj Parking ($), Lake Placid, NY
Big Slide Mountain	New York	4,240 ft	The Brothers Loop	≈8.9 mi loop	≈3,416 ft	≈4.5 hr	Strenuous	The Garden Parking Lot ($), Keene Valley, NY
Old Speck Mountain	Maine	4,170 ft	Old Speck Trail (AT)	7.6 mi round trip	2,850 ft	4 hr	Strenuous	Grafton Notch State Park, Route 26
Bigelow Mountain - West Peak	Maine	4,145 ft	Fire Warden's Trail / Horns Pond Trail Loop	12.5 mi loop	3,900 ft	6 hr	Strenuous	Stratton Brook Pond Rd
Tumbledown Mountain	Maine	3,068 ft	Brook Trail	4 mi round trip	1,600 ft	2 hr	Hard	—

Route notes

Mount Colden — an estimated 16.4-mile loop via the Colden Loop via Avalanche Pass from ADK Loj Parking ($), Lake Placid, NY, about 4,834 ft of elevation gain, about 8 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Phelps Brook Lean-to (mile 1.8), Marcy Dam #5 Lean-to (mile 2.11), Marcy Dam #2 Lean-to (mile 2.29) and Ed Hudowalski Lean-to (mile 2.42). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
Big Slide Mountain — an estimated 8.9-mile loop via The Brothers Loop from The Garden Parking Lot ($), Keene Valley, NY, about 3,416 ft of elevation gain, about 4.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Howard Lean-to (mile 2.99), Goodwin Lean-To (mile 3.15), Myers Lean-To (mile 3.17) and Big Slide Lookout (mile 5.13). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
Old Speck Mountain — 7.6 mi round trip via the Old Speck Trail (AT) from Grafton Notch State Park, Route 26, 2,850 ft of elevation gain, about 4 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: State Park fee $4/adult. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
Bigelow Mountain - West Peak — a 12.5-mile loop via the Fire Warden's Trail / Horns Pond Trail Loop from Stratton Brook Pond Rd, 3,900 ft of elevation gain, about 6 hr, rated Strenuous. Parking: Free. Recommended seasons: summer and fall.
Tumbledown Mountain — 4 mi round trip via the Brook Trail, 1,600 ft of elevation gain, about 2 hr, rated Hard. Recommended seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter.