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In the fall of 2024, Jarrett and I had a lot of free weekends (which never seems to happen!) so we were able to check a lot of hikes off our list! One of those was Hedgehog Mountain, which is on New Hampshire’s 52 With A View list. We both loved the hike. The parking lot is a good size and it’s free! There are no bathrooms though, so keep that in mind. We used the U.N.H. Trail, which can be found on AllTrails. The beginning of the trail is flat and I believe is used for cross country skiing during the winter. It quickly starts to gain elevation though in classic New England style.
About a mile from the summit is a short spur trail to Allen’s Ledge, which offers beautiful views. I had fun looking for moose here and taking some shots with my telephoto lens. The summit of Hedgehog has plenty of places to sit for a snack and you can see Mount Passaconway towering above. The loop takes you along the east ledges, which continues the scenic views. You can see Mt. Chocorua in the distance too!
🥾 Approx. 4.85 miles round trip
⛰️ Approx. elevation gain 1,404 ft.
🌲 Moderate to Hard (depends on fitness level)
💰 Free!
🦮 Dogs allowed
🚽 No bathrooms
Click on the map above to be taken to the AllTrails page!
Overall I didn’t find the trail difficult (I mean, elevation is always a pain!) but there weren’t too many obstacles to avoid. Be mindful on the ledges though, they are pretty wide, but if children or dogs are with you, keep an eye out! Also, be careful during wet or wintery conditions!
📍I acknowledge the lands mentioned in this post are the ancestral lands of the Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), Pennacook and N’dakina (Abenaki / Abénaquis) people.
The Adventures of Suze 
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