New England doesn’t always get the credit it deserves as a hiking destination — but anyone who has white-knuckled their way across Katahdin’s Knife Edge or battled the wind above the clouds on Mount Washington knows that New England hiking is seriously underrated. Most New England mountains can be completed as a day hike, which means sometimes you don’t even need to use any vacation time to check off some seriously impressive summits!
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There are a lot of New England hiking bucket lists out there — the New England 4,000-Footers (NE67), Fifty Finest (NE50F), New Hampshire’s 4,000-Footers (NH48), 52 With a View, or the Terrifying 25. But if you’re looking for a goal that’s a little less time consuming, totally achievable, and takes you to some incredible summits across the region, hiking to the highest points in all six New England states might be the perfect challenge for you this summer!
The range of experiences across these six summits is almost comically wide, from a 0.3-mile stroll with 6 feet of elevation gain to one of the most epic ridgeline hikes in the entire eastern United States. Each has its own charms, challenges, and bragging rights. Here’s everything you need to know to complete all six.
The Six Summits at a Glance
|
State |
High Point |
Elevation |
Distance |
Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New Hampshire |
Mount Washington |
6,288 ft |
~12 mi loop |
Strenuous |
|
Maine |
Mount Katahdin |
5,269 ft |
~9.5 mi loop |
Strenuous |
|
Vermont |
Mount Mansfield |
4,393 ft |
~5 mi loop |
Moderate–Strenuous |
|
Massachusetts |
Mount Greylock |
3,491 ft |
~6 mi out-and-back |
Moderate |
|
Connecticut |
(Side of) Mount Frissell |
2,380 |
~2.5mi out-and-back |
Easy–Moderate |
|
Rhode Island |
Jerimoth Hill |
812 ft |
~0.3mi out-and-back |
Easy (very) |
New Hampshire: Mount Washington — The Tallest and Windiest
Mount Washington State Park | ~12mi loop (Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail) | 4,225′ elevation gain | $5 parking
Mount Washington is the tallest mountain in New England at 6,288 feet and holds the record for the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth (231 mph in 1934)!
We hiked Washington via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail — a ~12-mile loop with 4,225 feet of elevation gain that includes rock scrambles, creek crossings, and waterfall crossings. The highlight on the way up is Lakes of the Clouds, a pair of alpine lakes at 5,032 feet that are the highest elevation lakes in the United States east of South Dakota.
Not into a 12-mile summit hike? You can also take the Cog Railway steam train (~$79-111 per person) or drive to the top via the Mount Washington Auto Road ($36 per adult).
If you’ve lived in New England for any length of time, you’ve absolutely seen the bumper sticker “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” on roughly one in every eight vehicles here. (Maybe it’s cheesy and played out, but Jordan and I HAD to buy two, because our last name is Carr. Get it?! We took pictures with the bumper stickers on our butts ofc.)
Mount Washington summit has restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafeteria, and having a delicious hot slice of pizza after a long climb up was a great reward for summiting New England’s highest peak!
Things to note: Always check the Mount Washington Observatory website for current summit conditions before heading up. Weather at the summit bears no resemblance to weather at the base and can change in minutes. Snow is possible almost any time of year outside of July and August. The exposed stretch above treeline on the descent is long and relentless so make sure you protect yourself from the sun — Jordan came home with a sunburn even though it was chilly!
Maine: Mount Katahdin — The Crown Jewel
Baxter State Park | ~9.5mi loop (route below)| ~4,000′ elevation gain | $10/car + $20/out-of-state hiker
Mount Katahdin is the tallest peak in Maine, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, and home to the Knife Edge, a narrow, exposed, and somewhat terrifying ridgeline that is one of the most legendary hikes in the eastern United States. Summiting Katahdin earns bragging rights in and of itself.
The Knife Edge is exposed, windy, narrow, and has sheer drops on both sides. It is not for the faint of heart. We took the very technical/scrambly Cathedral Trail up, the Knife Edge across to Baxter Peak, then descended via the Helon Taylor Trail. The Saddle Trail is a less technical alternative if you want to summit without the ridgeline exposure.
Katahdin requires some planning. Parking/hiking reservations are required for all Katahdin trailheads, go on sale April 1st for the summer season, and sell out fast. For a detailed guide on exactly how to score reservations and hike the iconic Knife Edge, check out our full post Katahdin’s Knife Edge: The Wildest Ridgeline in New England.
Vermont: Mount Mansfield — The Classic
Underhill State Park | ~5mi loop (Laura Cowles to Sunset Ridge) | 2,555′ elevation gain | $5/person
As Vermonters, we’re pretty proud of seeing Mount Mansfield in this lineup. Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont at 4,393 feet, and from the east it looks like an elongated human face with a Chin, Nose, and Forehead. The summit is the Chin.
There are three ways to get to Mansfield’s summit:
1) Hike the whole thing (what we did): There are several hiking routes to the Mansfield summit. Start at Underhill State Park and pay the $5 per person fee (bring cash). If you want a direct, steep, scrambly route up, the Laura Cowles Trail is a great option. Then take the Sunset Ridge Trail down, which is longer, more gradual, and has incredible ridge views on the descent.
2) Drive partway and hike a little: The Stowe Auto Toll Road is a 4.5-mile winding, mostly-unpaved scenic road from the Stowe Base Lodge to the Nose, open late May to mid-October ($38 + $14.50 for additional passengers in 2026; foliage dates are more expensive). From there it’s a 2.8 miles round trip and another 1,000 feet of elevation hike up to the Chin.
3) Take the gondola and hike a little: The Stowe Gondola Skyride runs mid-June to mid-October ($44/person 13+ in 2026). From the top you can hike the Cliff House Trail — a challenging 1.6-mile round trip with 800 feet of elevation to the Chin.
However you reach Mansfield, the views are worth it!
Things to note: Many high elevation trails in Vermont, including Mansfield, are closed during Mud Season (mid-March through Memorial Day weekend) to prevent trail erosion. So save this one for the summer or fall.
Where to stay: Outbound Stowe. Close to downtown Stowe and direct access to the Stowe Recreation Path. Stay in one of their iconic Scandinavian-inspired one bedroom cabins! Or camp at the Smugglers’ Notch State Park featuring 20 tent sites, 14 lean-tos, restrooms with flush toilets, hot/cold running water, and coin-op showers.
Massachusetts: Mount Greylock — The Underrated One
Mount Greylock State Reservation | ~6mi out-and-back (Bellows Pipe Trail) | ~2,200′ elevation gain | Free
Mount Greylock doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I grew up in the town next door, so Greylock holds a special place in my heart and I’ve hiked it more times in my life than any other mountain (any many of those times were before I even liked hiking). At 3,491 feet, it’s the highest point in Massachusetts, and on a clear day the summit views stretch into five states.
From late May to mid-October, the auto road opens to vehicles, giving access to the Veterans War Memorial Tower and Bascom Lodge at the summit. If you’re visiting in October, the Ramble — a community hike up Greylock during peak foliage — is a wonderful way to experience the mountain.
Connecticut: Side of Mount Frissell (in MA) — The Surprise
Salisbury, Connecticut | ~2.5mi out-and-back | ~905′ elevation gain | Free
Fun fact: If you want to stand at the highest point in Connecticut, you won’t actually be standing at a summit … because the highest point in Connecticut is on the side of Mount Frissell, a mountain whose actual summit is across the state line in Massachusetts! The hike itself is a fun 2.5-mile round trip with ridge views, mossy woods, and a bit of scrambling.
Bonus: If you want to also bag the highest peak in Connecticut, the Bear Mountain trailhead is right across the road from where you park. It’s a separate 2.4-mile round trip with 620 feet of elevation gain to the summit of Bear Mountain at 2,316 feet. Both are great hikes and perfect entry points for anyone just getting into hiking, and knocking out both in a single day is a very satisfying way to spend an afternoon.
Rhode Island: Jerimoth Hill — The Victory Lap
Foster, Rhode Island | 0.3mi out-and-back | 6′ (yes, you read that correctly) elevation gain | Free
We saved the best for last. Jerimoth Hill is the highest point in Rhode Island at just 812 feet above sea level. The “hike” is less than a half mile total with only 6 feet of elevation gain. It is basically a gentle stroll through the woods to a small summit marker in the trees. There are no views but the woods are nice. The whole hike takes about 15 minutes. It is absolutely, unambiguously the easiest state high point in New England.
And yet, you just can’t skip it. Because Rhode Island deserves better. And when you’ve white-knuckled your way across Katahdin’s Knife Edge and battled the wind on Washington’s summit, there is something deeply satisfying about a 10-minute walk in the woods that earns you the same bragging rights. Check it off the list, take your photo at the summit marker, and feel great about yourself. You’ve earned it.
Tips for Completing All Six
Plan ahead. Katahdin reservations are the hardest logistical puzzle on this list — they are available starting April 1st and sell out quickly. Get your Katahdin date locked in first and plan everything else around it.
Download offline maps. Cell service is unreliable or nonexistent along most of these trails. Download AllTrails maps before you leave.
Arrive early. An early start is required so you don’t lose your reservation at Katahdin. It usually also means better weather windows and fewer crowds on the trail.
Don’t underestimate the weather. Katahdin and Washington in particular can have rapidly changing, and sometimes downright dangerous weather at the summit. Check summit conditions the morning of and be prepared to turn around if necessary.
Bring layers even in summer. Both Katahdin and Washington are cold and windy at the summit even on warm days at the base. And don’t forget sun protection — the exposed stretches above treeline will get you.
Bring Your America the Beautiful Pass. At $80/year it covers entry to all U.S. National Parks, but it also covers Mount Washington’s trailhead fee — it pays for itself quickly if you’re visiting any national parks (and makes a great birthday or Christmas gift for the adventure-lover in your life!)
The Bragging Rights
Six states. Six summits. One of the most satisfying hiking goals in New England. Whether you knock them all out in a single summer or chip away at them over a few years, completing the New England High Points is a goal that will take you to some epic views (and maybe one or two anticlimactic ones). And who knows — once you’ve bagged all six, you might just find yourself looking into the wider world of Highpointing: the community of hikers dedicated to summiting the highest point in every U.S. state. The New England six is certainly a pretty great place to start.
We hope this inspires you to get out there and start checking them off. The summit markers are waiting!
