WATERVILLE VALLEY | ONE OF AMERICA'S OLDEST PUBLIC HIKING TRAILS NETWORKS

Set in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Waterville Valley Resort has easy access to dozens of great hiking trails Thanks to the White Mountain National Forest, Waterville Valley has one of the oldest public hiking networks in America. Hikers have been exploring Waterville Valley's outdoors since the 1800s, when a group of guests at Greeley's Hotel formed the Waterville Athletic and Improvement Association. The association, also known as WVAIA, is still in existence today and continues to oversee the Valley's 100+ miles of hiking trails, which range from easy walking paths to heart-thumping ascents. In the forest, trails lead to boulders, waterfalls, sweeping vistas, and ponds.

Visitors can stroll around Corcoran Pond in the Town Square, wander the woods and search for wildflowers, or hike up the 4,315-ft. summit of Mount Osceola. No matter the location, there’s always a view. 

WVAIA has a four-season hiking program, concentrated in the southwest corner of the White Mountain National Forest, including the Sandwich Range, Moosilauke area, Franconia Notch, routes off the Kancamagus Highway as well as other destinations. They also specialize in backcountry excursions on old logging roads, streambeds; bushwhacking trail-less peaks to out of the way destinations with special features, such as waterfalls, cliff faces and old logging sites, not to mention spectacular views. There is no charge for WVAIA members. Guests are asked to make a small donation.