Source: AMC's Best Day Hikes in the White Mountains
What you’ll see: Ammonoosuc Lake feels remote from civilization, yet it’s only a 15-minute walk from the Highland Center at Crawford Notch. A great trail for kids, the Around-the-Lake Trail loops around the lakeshore through a shady forest of evergreens. At 0.3 mile, a side trail directs you to the Red Bench, a strategically placed seat in a clearing with a great view of Mount Washington and the Presidentials.
What you’ll experience:
- Aerobic Difficulty: Easy
- Technical Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 2.0-mile round-trip
- Elevation Gain: Minimal
- Estimated Time: 1.5 hours
What’s in the area:
- You might see a moose, beaver, or wood duck
- A swimming area
- A rest stop in the woods at Red Bench, which provides views of Mounts Washington, Clay, Jefferson, and Eisenhower
- Snowberries, fireweed, and swamp candles
- Evergreens, plus a variety of beech, sugar maple, and yellow birch
- The Highland Center at Crawford Notch, a unique, full-service lodge offering both private and shared accommodations, free daily programs, and more.
Getting There - Take US 302 west about 20 miles from the junction of NH 16 and US 302 in Glen. From Franconia Notch, follow US 302 about 8 miles south from its junction with US 3 in Twin Mountain. Park at the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch.
