Do you want to get complete information about NH’s favorite hiking challenge – climbing all 48 4000-footers? There are 48 mountains in New Hampshire above 4,000 feet, and those who have climbed all peaks are considered members of a particular club.

The Appalachian Mountain Club recognized the NH’s 48 4000-footers. The challenge rules are simple, consisting of climbing on foot between each peak’s summits.

After completing all 48 peaks, you can apply for recognition with the AMC. They will give you a hiker achievement patch and a special invitation to the annual awards dinner.

In the following section of the article, we will provide complete information to complete the NH 48. We will also share a full list of the NH 48 and their difficulty.

Table of Contents

NH 48 4,000 Footer List

Peak	Elevation (ft.)	Difficulty	Range (Level 6)	Prominence (ft.)	Ascents
Mount Washington	6288	Difficult	Mount Washington Massif	6148	5734
Mount Adams	5799	Difficult	Northern Peaks	861	2630
Mount Jefferson	5712	Difficult	Northern Peaks	753	2528
Mount Madison	5366	Intermediate	Northern Peaks	466	2540
Mount Monroe	5372	Difficult	Southern Peaks	254	2521
Mount Lincoln	5089	Difficult	Franconia Range	169	3332
Mount Lafayette	5240	Difficult	Franconia Range	3320	3766
Carter Dome	4832	Difficult	Carter Range	2821	1783
South Twin	4902	Difficult	Twin Range	1502	2195
Mount Moosilauke	4802	Intermediate	Moosilauke Area	2932	2871
Mount Bond	4698	Difficult	Twin Range	298	1759
South Hancock	4319	Intermediate	Pemigewasset Ranges	159	1681
Mount Field	4320	Easy	Willey Range	1681	2070
Mount Willey	4255	Intermediate	Willey Range	255	1854
Mount Eisenhower	4760	Difficult	Southern Peaks	335	2641
North Twin	4761	Difficult	Twin Range	281	1726
Middle Carter Mountain	4600	Difficult	Carter Range	700	1587
Mount Carrigain	4680	Intermediate	Pemigewasset Ranges	2223	1542
Mount Garfield	4480	Intermediate	Franconia Range	800	2228
Wildcat Mountain	4422	Intermediate	Carter Range	1034	1624
Mount Hancock	4400	Intermediate	Pemigewasset Ranges	1200	1753
South Kinsman Mountain	4358	Difficult	Kinsman Range	2398	1935
West Bond	4520	Difficult	Twin Range	160	1524
South Carter Mountain	4420	Difficult	Carter Range	220	1587
Mount Liberty	4459	Intermediate	Franconia Range	379	2571
Mount Osceola	4320		Osceola-Tecumseh	2000	2364
North Kinsman Mountain	4293	Difficult	Kinsman Range	253	2120
Mount Passaconaway	4043	Easy	Central Sandwich Range	803	1660
Mount Tecumseh	4003	Easy	Osceola-Tecumseh	1723	2234
Mount Flume	4328	Intermediate	Franconia Range	408	2246
Mount Pierce	4310	Easy	Southern Peaks	230	3016
Bondcliffs	4265	Difficult	Twin Range	185	1727
Zealand Mountain	4240	Intermediate	Twin Range	200	1691
Mount Cabot	4160	Easy	Pilot Range	2661	1446
Mount Whiteface	4000	Easy	Central Sandwich Range	560	1756
Galehead Mountain	4024	Difficult	Twin Range	264	1683
North Tripyramid	4160	Difficult	Central Sandwich Range	1320	1720
Mount Osceola – East Peak	4156	Easy	Osceola-Tecumseh	316	2104
Middle Tripyramid	4120	Difficult	Central Sandwich Range	240	1671
Cannon Mountain	4080	Easy	Kinsman Range	720	2261
Wildcat D	4062		Carter Range	287	1633
Mount Hale	4054	Easy	Twin Range	614	1770
Mount Jackson	4052	Easy	Southern Peaks	332	2477
Mount Tom	4051	Intermediate	Willey Range	331	2001
Mount Moriah	4049	Intermediate	Carter Range	922	1598
Owls Head	4025	Difficult	Franconia Range	825	1255
Mount Waumbek	4006	Easy	Pliny Range	1289	1754
Mount Isolation	4003	Difficult	Montalban-Rocky Branch Ridges	203	1315

How to Accomplish the NH 48

It is a challenging task to hike on NH 48. It is impossible to complete this challenge overnight. It will significantly help you if you take it as a marathon instead of a sprint. Consider the following tips before starting your journey.

Get a NH Hike Safe Card:

Having the New Hampshire Hike Safe card is the most important thing. It helps you a lot throughout your journey. NH charges for rescues, and this card insures you if you need to be rescued at any stage.

Get the AMC White Mountain Guide:

The AMC guidebook lets you get maps, time estimates, and trail descriptions. It keeps you on the right track.

Keep an Eye on the Weather and Trail Conditions:

It is essential to be cautious and monitor weather conditions because the weather changes instantly in the mountains.

Hike Multiple Mountains in a Single Trip:

There are often pairings of Tom, Wiley, and Ford; Lafayette and Lincoln; Pierce and Eisenhower; Bondcliff, Bond, and West Bond; North and South Kinsman; Wildcat A and D, Adams and Madison; and Monroe and Washington.

Go for Weekend Trips as well as Day Trips:

A weekend trip up to the mountains is the easiest way to add three to five new peaks to your list. We love to hike on September weekends. The weather is beautiful at that time, and the mountains are uncrowded.

Become a Regular at your Favorite Post-Hike Spots:

After the post-hike, we love to visit New Hampshire’s breweries. Rek-Lis in Bethlehem is a popular, fun spot for many hikers.

Network with Fellow Hikers:

Facebook is the best medium for creating a network with fellow hikers. There are many active groups for this purpose, but the most well-known Facebook group is the Hike the 4,000 Footers of New Hampshire.

This group has an enthusiastic hiker audience of more than 70,000. And most of them are females who are looking for hiking buddies.

Bring $5.00 Cash to Park:

It is necessary to have $5 cash if you don’t have a national park pass because the money is required to park the car in the White Mountain National Forest.

Catch A Sunrise or Sunset:

It will be a memorable experience if you see the sunrise or sunset from above the treeline. Having a headlamp will assist you in getting down or up when it gets dark.

Get recognized by the AMC folks:

You will join the 4000-footer club if you apply for the AMC. The recognition by AMC will enable you to attend their awards ceremony.

4000 Footers with the Best Views

Many climbers think which of these mountains has the more iconic views. All hills are different and have their own unique beauty, but some are more appealing than others.

Cannon Mountain is good for catching great views across Franconia Ridge. This mountain is also famous for seeing Canada when the weather is clear.

Climb Mount Adams if you want to see the similar iconic Mount Washington views without any STUFF at the Mount Washington summit. This mountain also offers 360-degree panoramas of the Presidential Range.

In the White Mountain National Forest, the West Bond, Bondcliff, and Mount Bond are the most formidable peaks, but you can see the incredible views from their summits. The rocky platform at Bondcliff is a good photo spot.

Mount Pierce, with several rolling mountains, is one of the most accessible climbing peaks, offering stunning views.

Mount Moosilauke is another accessible climbing summit that offers many gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape.

Good Mountains for Starting the NH 48

Mount Tecumseh is the shortest of the 4000 footers and can be a good starting point, but it is optional to start with the fastest route sometimes. It is easy to climb Mount Tecumseh from Waterville Valley, but this peak offers less panoramic views.

Most hikers recommend you do a few easy hikes with positive views. This practice will reward you for your work and encourage you to continue hiking until you become accustomed.

Mount Pierce is highly recommended if you are looking for easy hikes and want to see the incredible views. It would be best if you started it from Crawford Notch, and in the White Mountains, it has an excellent ratio.

Mount Osceola, Mount Moosilauke, Mount Jackson, and Mount Tom are the other 4000-footer easily accessible peaks with stunning views.

Good Mountains for Finishing the NH 48

Do you think Mount Washington is the highest peak, and should you end your journey here? Some hikers end their journey on Mount Washington, but most choose Mount Monroe and Mount Washington to climb both mountains.

Mount Madison and Mount Adams are the most challenging climbs; you should save them for last. Consider Mount Lafayette and Mount Isolation if you have a good fitness level and have developed your skills because they are the most challenging peaks.

Wildcat D or Cannon Mountain is an excellent option to celebrate with your loved ones after completing the challenge in the summer. In the summer months, the tram makes it accessible on both mountains for non-hikers to come up to the finishing line and join their loved ones.

Non-hikers can join the others on Mount Washington through the Mount Washington Auto Road or the Mount Washington Cog Railway.

NH 48 in Winter and Beyond

After completing the previous challenge, many climbers plan to hike the NH 48 in the Winter. There is no change to the rules from the original 48, except that trips must be between the spring equinox and the official winter solstice.

In Winter, the weather conditions are not very accessible, so it is a significant achievement to conquer all of NH 48. There is clearance during Winter climbs for both snowshoes and skis. However, for winter climbs, you must have proper clothing and gear.

The rules of Four-Season NH 48 are the same as those of NH 48, except each peak must be climbed according to the equinox or solstice time and date. It has a total of 192 summits.

There is also The Grid, which Ed Hawkins invented, with 576 peaks. The Grid is designed for NH residents, and climbing the NH 48 throughout the year is helpful.

Other Mountain Challenges in NH

52 with a View (52 WAV):

Climbing 52 of NH’s peaks is challenging but offers stunning views. These peaks are under 4,000 feet and include Mount Chochorua, Mount Willard, and Mount Monadnock.

The Terrifying 25:

This challenge includes hiking NH’s most difficult 25 trails, including the Great Gulf Trail, Mount Morgan Trail, and King Ravine Trail.

The New England 67:

This challenge is also known as the New England-4000 Footers. The New England 67 has the complete NH 48, 14 additional peaks in Maine, and 5 in Vermont.

NH 48 4000 Footers Map

Hiking Safety in New Hampshire

Here are some safety tips for hiking in NH.

New Hampshire Hike Safe card:

You must have the Hike Safe Card before starting a challenge. The per-person cost of this card is $25, and for each family is $35. In any emergency, the hike safe card will assist in rescue efforts, and not a single penny will be charged for your rescue.

Don’t Rely on Your Phone for Navigation:

A paper map of the White Mountains is essential because you cannot fully trust your phone’s GPS. It is recommended to use the Map Adventures waterproof White Mountains trail map.

Stay Hydrated:

Each person should bring two liters of water daily to stay hydrated during the journey. If you can purify water, you can also use a natural water source for refilling. Purifying water includes a Steri-Pen, a small filter pump, a Lifestraw water bottle, or water purification tablets.

Check the Weather:

It is always important to check the weather conditions and plan accordingly. In the late summer, NH can be prone to afternoon rainstorms.

Make Sure Someone Knows Where You’re Hiking Daily:

For your safety, remember to check in with them before starting your hike. Ensure they know where you’re going, and let them know you’re safe afterward.

Easiest 4000-Footers to Climb

Cannon
Eisenhower

Field
Garfield
Waumbek

Hale
Moosilauke
Osceola

Pierce
Tecumseh
Tom

Most Difficult 4000-Footers to Climb

Bond
Adams
Bondcliff

Isolation
Owl’s Head
Washington

West Bond
Wildcat & Wildcat D

4000-Footers With The Best Views

Carrigain

Lafayette
Bondcliff
Adams

Liberty
Lincoln
Bond

Garfield
Eisenhower
West Bond

Jefferson
Moosilauke
Madison

Washington
Monroe

Waterfalls Near 4000-Footers

Bondcliff	Franconia Falls Zealand Falls
Lafayette	Stairs Falls Swiftwater Falls Cloudland Falls
Bond	Zealand Falls Franconia Falls
Zealand	Zealand Falls
West Bond	Franconia Falls Zealand Falls
Pierce	Gibbs Falls
Owl’s Head	Franconia Falls
Monroe	Gem Pool Ammonoosuc Ravine
Lincoln	Stairs Falls Swiftwater Falls Cloudland Fall
Washington	Crystal Cascade Weetamoo Falls Ammonoosuc Ravine Gem Pool

Least Crowded 4000-Footers

Cabot

Wildcat, D Peak
Moriah
Hancock, South

Carter, Middle
Osceola, East
Carter, South

Tripyramid, Middle
Hancock
Hale

Owl’s Head
Isolation
Wildcat

Willey
Tripyramid, North
Waumbek

Unobstructed 360-Degree Views at the Summit

Cannon
Bondcliff
Adams

Bond
Garfield
Carrigain

Jefferson
Flume
Eisenhower

Liberty
Jackson
Lafayette

Moriah
Madison
Lincoln

Wildcat, D
West Bond
Twin, South

Monroe
Moosilauke
Washington

Best 4000-Footers for Rainy Days

Willey
Hancock, South
Tom

Hale
Owl’s Head
Cabot

Field
Hancock

Great 4000-Footers Snowshoe Hikes

Carrigain
Cabot
Garfield

Field
Kinsman, North
Kinsman, South

Hale
Pierce
Passaconaway

Tom
Tecumseh
Willey
Waumbek

NH 48 FAQ

What mountains on the NH 48 have the best views?

The mountains with the best views on NH 48 include Cannon Mountain, Mount Adams, Mount Pierce, and Adams.

What are the best 4000-footers to start with?

Mount Pierce is a great choice to start your NH 48 challenge. Tecumseh, Moosilauke, and Osceola are good options for beginning your journey.

How long does it take to complete the NH 48?

There’s no time limit to complete this challenge. However, many people completed this journey in 10 days.

What are the other mountain challenges besides the NH 48?

Many mountain-climbing challenges exist beyond the NH 48, such as the New England 52, 67 with a View, and Terrifying 25.

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