Basecamp: Cardigan Lodge
- Summer hiking picks Mt. Cardigan
- Summer camp for the whole family: AMC Family Adventure Camp
- Volunteer for a family-friendly weekend trail crew
- Take a dip on a summer waterfall hike to Welton Falls
- Spend the night near the summit of Cardigan at High Cabin
- Explore the Newfound Lake area
- Paddling at Squam Lake
Just a two hour drive from Boston, Cardigan Lodge is an historic AMC lodge located at the base of Mt. Cardigan in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. The recently renovated lodge is a great do-it-yourself destination for families and groups.
Looking for lower elevation hikes ideal for kids or to warm up your hiking muscles? Cardigan boasts 50 miles of hiking trails with varied terrain. This summer, Cardigan Lodge is also offering Family Adventure Camp with activities especially for families with kids ages five to nine.
1. Summer hiking picks Mt. Cardigan
Often described as a first "big mountain climb" for children, Mt. Cardigan offers nearly twenty trails with a great variety of terrain, from hardwood forests to its bald summit—where you’ll catch views of Mt. Monadnock, Mt. Washington, and Lake Winnipesaukee.
Beginner summit route
The easiest route to the bald summit of Mt. Cardigan is via the Holt, Cathedral Forest, and Clark Trails, as detailed by AMC's Trip Planner. This is an excellent hike for first-time hikers and families and an enjoyable trek for those of all ability levels. The trail is steepest as you near the summit, traversing open granite slabs for the final 500 feet from the Warden’s Cabin to the fire tower.
Upper Holt Trail summit route
Be prepared for a challenging ascent when summiting by this route. The Holt Trail's upper ledges make this route one of the more difficult scrambles among the regular hiking trails in New England.
Circuit hike
For a circuit hike, ascend Mt. Cardigan by the Holt, Cathedral Forest, and Clark Trails—or take the Holt Trail all the way if you're experienced—and return over Firescrew (north peak) via the Mowglis and Manning Trails.
This route to the summit is 2.6 miles from Cardigan Lodge, and expert hikers can opt to take the Holt Trail to shave some time off the trip. Once atop "Old Baldy," you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of the Lakes Region, White Mountains, and Vermont.
Highlights along the way include P.J. Ledge off of the Clark Trail, where you’ll enjoy expansive views back over the valley and Cardigan Lodge and off into the distance to the east.
2. Summer camp for the whole family: AMC Family Adventure Camp
This summer, spend a week at Family Adventure Camp at Cardigan Lodge during select weeks in July and August. The week features a full schedule of daily, family-friendly guided explorations, naturalist activities, and outdoor skills programs -- including pond studies, forest ecology, day hikes, map and compass, wildlife tracking, and a trip to Squam Lakes Science Center. The family camp experience at Cardigan Lodge is designed especially for families with kids ages five to nine years old.
3. Volunteer for a family-friendly weekend trail crew
Make a meaningful contribution as a family this summer and learn new skills in scenic mountain settings as part of a weekend-long trail crew at Cardigan Lodge. Parents work together with their children and other volunteers on trail crews clearing new growth and fallen trees, cleaning drains, and helping with other maintenance tasks on the trails near Cardigan Lodge.
4. Take a dip on a summer waterfall hike to Welton Falls
Take the family on a short, 1.2-mile hike to Welton Falls, a popular local attraction where you can take a dip or swim in the pool below the falls to cool off on a hot summer day. To reach the main falls located in the Welton Falls Reservation, head out from Cardigan Lodge on the Lower Manning Trail. The main attraction is the lower half of Welton Falls, a 15-foot plunge surrounded by cliff walls on all sides.
5. Spend the night near the summit of Cardigan at High Cabin
Gather a group of friends and stay overnight near Mt. Cardigan's summit at AMC’s High Cabin. For over 70 years, High Cabin has offered a rustic, year-round retreat on Mt. Cardigan for groups in search of a unique backcountry trip. High Cabin’s self-service accommodations include one common room with woodstove and 12 bunks, as well as a kitchen space with propane camp stove.
6. Explore the Newfound Lake area
A few miles from Cardigan Lodge is Newfound Lake, a gorgeous spot for paddling and fishing. Families and groups can make a day of it picnicking on the shores of the lake and enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountains at Wellington State Park. The Peninsula Trail is an easy and picturesque one-mile hiking loop that skirts the water.
In Groton at Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, the 30-foot cascade of Cockermouth River has carved out a gorge and three-to-four-foot-deep potholes. Spend some time by the river’s edge watching the whitewater or spend an hour taking an easy hike in the forest near this river ravine.
The Newfound Audubon Center in Hebron includes Paradise Point Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. There are several trails to explore on the North shore of Newfound Lake at Paradise Point, where environmental education services are also offered during the summer, plus additional trails at the Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, which contains the only marsh on the lake, and Bear Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary.
Profile Falls Recreation Area in Bristol is another worthwhile stop in the area. It is a short, easy climb and descent to the base of a forty-foot cascade in the Smith River. On a hot day you can cool off in the pool below the falls, where you might just notice a human profile cut in the rock—hence the name, Profile Falls.
7. Paddling at Squam Lake
The memorable location for the filming of the movie "On Golden Pond," Squam Lake is located off I-93 a 45-minute drive from Cardigan Lodge nearby its more bustling neighbor, Lake Winnipesaukee. With 65 miles of shoreline and numerous islands, reefs, coves, and bays to explore, Squam Lake is a paddler’s paradise. Spend the day exploring the lake’s crystal waters spotting loons and catching great views of Rattlesnake Mountain from the north end of the lake.
Beginning in May, the Squam Lakes Association rents canoes, kayaks, and sailboats to the public at the SLA Resource Center.
While you’re here, bring the family to check out the Squam Lakes Science Center. Beginning in May, the center features self-guided trails for visitors to explore and learn about native New Hampshire wildlife.
