Two Hours From Boston Is New Hampshire's State Forest With Scenic Trails And Mountain Views

Most of New Hampshire — an astonishing 83% — is covered with forests. That includes 236,000 acres designated as 219 state forests. So the "Granite State" should be your next destination when you need to escape the city — particularly Mount Major State Forest, where challenging hikes are rewarded with panoramic views. The forest is less than two hours from Boston.

Mount Major is a 1,786-foot peak northwest of Alton, New Hampshire. The town, home to just over 6,000 people according to the U.S. Census Bureau, sits on the southern tip of Lake Winnipesaukee, a getaway of beaches and cute villages. The summit is set within the Belknap Mountains, in the southwest corner of New Hampshire's largest lake, which is part of the Lakes Region. The outdoor playground lures millions of visitors to the New England state each year.

A local man, George Phippen, bought Mount Major's peak in 1914. His $125 investment granted him a stunning view with wild blueberries en route. He wanted to share both, so he had a stone hut, open to everyone, built on top in 1925. Though the roof on Phippen's cabin continued to blow away, the mountain became a popular hiking destination and, eventually, public land during the Great Depression. It's now Mount Major State Forest, a wild, 76-acre space with an additional 200 acres in the adjoining Mount Major Reservation.

When you reach the base of Mount Major, just off Route 11, you'll find a paved parking lot, hiking information, and portable bathrooms. This is also where numerous trails, marked with colored blazes, begin. The shortest route to the top is, of course, the hardest. The Mount Major via Main Trail, which features blue markers, is a 3.2-mile, out-and-back trail that starts on a former logging road. It then meets one exhilarating, steep section after another relatively quickly. One AllTrails user warns, "depending on your athletic situation, you may be scrambling closer to the top."

Luckily, for some, there are other ways to reach the summit. The 4.1-mile Mount Major via Brook and Main Trail Loop starts on the Main Trail's old logging road. When you see the Brook Trail's yellow blazes, follow them into the forest, over a brook, and around glacial rocks, before a shorter, steep section leads you to the peak. You'll meet the Main Trail again upon your descent.

Another option for a moderate hike is the Mount Major and Boulder Loop Trail. This orange-marked, 3.2-mile trail approaches Mount Major from the south rather than the north. It follows a snowmobile track before reaching boulders and a forest. Unlike the other trails, you'll have views to the east and south as you make the final climb to the top of Mount Major.

No matter which trail you choose, you'll enjoy the same spectacular panorama from the top. First, you'll reach the remains of Phippen's cabin. Though there's not much left, it offers some protection on a windy day. If it's clear, you can appreciate the extensive view of "Lake Winni," as residents lovingly call it, with the White Mountains towering in the background.

As with all of New Hampshire's state forests, there's no cost to visit Mount Major State Forest. However, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which maintains Mount Major's trails and facilities, does request a donation to park.

You can easily reach Mount Major State Forest by plane. Portsmouth International Airport (PSM) is roughly 40 miles to the southeast, while Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) is about 50 miles south. Since both airports receive nonstop flights from a limited number of cities, check out flights to Boston Logan International Airport(BOS), too – New England's largest airport might be 95 miles away, but you can fly there from cities all around the world. Regardless of your route, leave plenty of time to explore the area once you arrive. Gilford is a charming town in the heart of the Lakes Region, and less than 15 miles north of Alton. Laconia, a town situated between two of New Hampshire's prettiest lakes, is just beyond that.