easy hikes wih lake views for kids

Biggd · 08-04-2020, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

In the Whites off Route 302. Take the ZF Trail in and bang a right. It's nice, but far. You could also do Lonesome Lake, though it's a tad harder a hike.Attachment 16303 Attachment 16304

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Probably a little too long a ride for the grand kids but my wife and I will have to give it a try.

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Grove84 · 08-04-2020, 05:13 PM

You can hike the access road to Gunstock Mountain summit which has views of Winnipesaukee.

mswlogo · 08-04-2020, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

Probably a little too long a ride for the grand kids but my wife and I will have to give it a try.

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Yeah, it's a little bit of a drive from the lakes region (~1hr). All the huts are fun though and wide range of difficulty. Kind of fun reaching the hut and buying a snack or T-Shirt and watching all the more serious hikers coming and going.

The hike itself I think 9 and 10 year old would be fine. But sure, try it yourself first. We brought many guests on that hike. Including my mom when she was in her 70's. We did a lot of hikes in the Lakes region and White mountains. But that one was always one of our favorites. We'd do it 2-3 time a year. Often we'd see moose drinking in a pond part way up. It's only steep near the very end.

DickR · 08-04-2020, 07:12 PM

If the 9-10 year olds are normal, active kids, they should have no problem with hikes of 2 miles or so. I'd worry more about the adults if they are not reasonably active. To view the lakes, you're pretty much limited to the Belknaps, Ossipees, and the Squam range. I second the suggestion to do Mt Roberts, at the north end of the Ossipees. The trail starts at the top of Ossipee Park Road off rte 171 (not to be confused with Ossipee Mountain Rd off rte 109). It's 2.5 miles to the top, and the much of the first mile isn't all that bad. Maybe 2/3 the way up, you are on open ledges, where the views of Winnipesaukee and Squam are. At the very top, the views are to the north, of the Paugus range and beyond into the White Mountains.

Another nice hike, although without a lake view, is Mt Israel, via the Wentworth trail (2.0 miles), with great views north into the Whites. Both Roberts and Wentworth are on the "52 With a View" list started and recently tweaked by the Over The Hill Hikers group. Easily found via Google.

A bit further away, up at the bottom of Franconia Notch, is Mt Pemigewasset (also on the 52WAV), 1.6 miles each way, with an elevation gain of 1253 ft.

For any of these, go prepared for rough hiking. That means good footwear (no flip flops), adequate water (figure a quart per five miles for an adult in summer), first aid kit, etc.

08-04-2020, 05:13 PM	#2
Grove84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 90 Thanks: 26 Thanked 41 Times in 20 Posts	Gunstock Summit Hike You can hike the access road to Gunstock Mountain summit which has views of Winnipesaukee.

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08-04-2020, 07:12 PM	#4
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 765 Thanks: 4 Thanked 260 Times in 172 Posts	If the 9-10 year olds are normal, active kids, they should have no problem with hikes of 2 miles or so. I'd worry more about the adults if they are not reasonably active. To view the lakes, you're pretty much limited to the Belknaps, Ossipees, and the Squam range. I second the suggestion to do Mt Roberts, at the north end of the Ossipees. The trail starts at the top of Ossipee Park Road off rte 171 (not to be confused with Ossipee Mountain Rd off rte 109). It's 2.5 miles to the top, and the much of the first mile isn't all that bad. Maybe 2/3 the way up, you are on open ledges, where the views of Winnipesaukee and Squam are. At the very top, the views are to the north, of the Paugus range and beyond into the White Mountains. Another nice hike, although without a lake view, is Mt Israel, via the Wentworth trail (2.0 miles), with great views north into the Whites. Both Roberts and Wentworth are on the "52 With a View" list started and recently tweaked by the Over The Hill Hikers group. Easily found via Google. A bit further away, up at the bottom of Franconia Notch, is Mt Pemigewasset (also on the 52WAV), 1.6 miles each way, with an elevation gain of 1253 ft. For any of these, go prepared for rough hiking. That means good footwear (no flip flops), adequate water (figure a quart per five miles for an adult in summer), first aid kit, etc.