Three White Mountain walks and short hikes for families
Updated October 20, 2026: corrected the pond name at Rocky Gorge and clarified the lake-walk and viewpoint routes. Use the linked maps and check access before travelling.
A family outing in the White Mountains can mean a pond walk or a climb to a rocky viewpoint. Choose for the least experienced person in your group, and check the route and conditions before setting out. The three options below have different demands; a short distance alone does not make a hike easy.
1. Falls Pond at Rocky Gorge
The White Mountains Attractions Association’s Kancamagus map identifies Falls Pond as the pond reached by the footbridge at Rocky Gorge and a short connecting walk. The pond has a surrounding nature path. Use that name when checking a map: the earlier version of this article incorrectly called this Church Pond.
2. Ammonoosuc Lake near the Highland Center
AMC’s Highland Center lists the Ammonoosuc Lake and Red Bench trails among routes reached on foot from its Crawford Notch lodge. Ask the information staff for a current map and an appropriate route, including the status of bridges and connecting paths. Do not confuse this lake walk with the separate Saco Lake beside Route 302.
3. Bald Mountain and Artists Bluff
New Hampshire State Parks’ hiking guide describes the combined Bald Mountain and Artists Bluff outing as a 1½-mile loop, with a steep side path to Bald Mountain. This is a climb with exposed viewpoints, rather than a level pond walk. Plan the actual route instead of using the earlier article’s approximate half-mile description for the whole outing.
Plan for the day you visit
The park advises sturdy footwear, close supervision of children and attention to sudden mountain weather changes. Follow current signs and staff directions. Check access, weather and daylight before choosing a route; this guide does not establish that a trail or bridge is open, and summer descriptions do not establish winter suitability.