Day 1: Basecamp at Highland Center
The AMC Highland Center is your destination for family adventure in the White Mountains. Located in Crawford Notch, one of the most popular areas for visitors to the White Mountains, the Highland Center sits on a network of trails that includes many family-friendly options. Hike to the summit of Mount Willard (1.5-miles one way), arguably the best view for the least effort in all the Whites. Arethusa Falls, meanwhile, is just a short drive away.
Back at the lodge, you’ll find a children’s playscape, private rooms for your family, and buffet-style breakfast and dinner included with your reservation. Plus, guests have free access to the L.L. Bean Gear Room, which offers boots, backpacks, outerwear, snowshoes, and more in child and adult sizes.
Day 2 (Option 1): Highland Center to Zealand Falls Hut
Total Distance: 2.8 miles one-way (out and back)
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Difficulty: Moderate. Expect to be active 4+ hours per day.
From its treehouse-style architecture to the namesake waterfall next door, Zealand Falls Hut looks like something out of a storybook. No wonder kids have loved coming here for almost a century. Whether you’re introducing your children to a place full of nostalgia, or this is a first-time adventure for you, too, your family will not be disappointed.
From the Highland Center, drive or take the AMC White Mountain Hiker Shuttle to the Zealand Trailhead. The trailhead is located at the terminus of Zealand Road, off NH Route 302. Directions from there are easy: Follow the Zealand Trail for a mostly flat and gradual 2.8-mile hike through forest terrain. The final stretch includes a short climb up to the hut.
There’s plenty of ways kids can explore once you arrive! Take a dip in Zealand Falls or relax on the rocks and just enjoy the views. Join the hut naturalist for an engaging educational program. Each hut has a dedicated naturalist to lead a rotating list of educational programs and aid AMC conservation research. In the evening, enjoy a home-cooked dinner prepared by the Croo, and then unwind and connect with fellow hikers before settling into your bunk.
After breakfast—which includes a costume-filled skit from the Croo—simply retrace your steps back down Zealand Trail and head home or back to Highland Center.
Day 2 (Option 2): Highland Center to Mizpah Spring Hut
Total Distance: 2.7 miles one-way (out and back)
Elevation Gain: 2,000 ft
Difficulty: Moderate. Expect to be active 4+ hours per day.
Located on the southern edge of the Presidential Range, Mizpah Spring Hut is an achievable feat that offers kids a taste of the more ambitious hikes.
From the Highland Center, carefully cross NH Route 302 and head up the Crawford Path past several small waterfalls. First cut in 1819, the Crawford Path is considered the oldest continuously used and maintained hiking trail in the U.S. After 1.9 miles, turn right onto the Mizpah Connector and continue to the hut.
Mizpah Spring Hut is a great spot for families with its extensive library room, including plenty of games. Thanks to its location, the hut is also a wonderful place for bird watching and bird songs. The hut naturalist can help your kids identify birds. Enjoy dinner with the Croo and fellow guests before turning in for the night.
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast served with a skit from the Croo, hike back down the trail to Highland Center.
