The 8 Best Hikes Near Keene NH

Keene is a small city in southwest New Hampshire and offers a charming New England experience. Although the city offers much to do, including restaurants, museums, and historical buildings, it is also near many beautiful natural areas.

You can enjoy an easy hike to a beautiful pond, walk through a stunning gorge, or hike to the top of the second most-hiked mountain in the world. And the best part? These trails are within an hour from Keene.

If you want to visit Keene and hike during your stay, you are in the right place. This guide has everything you need to know about the best hikes near Keene!

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Tips for Hiking Near Keene, NH

The trails in Keene are rugged. Although the mountains in southern New Hampshire are not the tallest in the state, they are not easy to climb. The trails have roots and rocks, so it is crucial to have supportive shoes with traction. Even the easy hikes have obstacles.
The weather in the mountains can change quickly. The weather can be unpredictable in the mountains, and Keene is no different. It could be a sunny and warm day in the morning and change into a windy and rainy day within a few hours. It is essential to check the weather before starting the hike.
Make sure to have a trail map. Some hikes near Keene do not have cellphone service, so it is crucial to pack a physical trail map or have an offline one.
Make a reservation in advance if you want to hike Mount Monadnock. Mount Monadnock is the second most-hiked mountain in the world, and reservations are required to enter the state park. I recommend making a reservation in advance to ensure you can enjoy the fun hike!
Arrive early at the trailheads. Most trailhead parking lots are small and fill up quickly, especially on the weekends. I recommend arriving early to secure a spot. Also, have a backup plan in case the parking lot is full.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

Where to Stay Near Keene, NH

Keene has a beautiful downtown area with many accommodations for all budgets. I love staying near the downtown area because I can easily access many delicious restaurants and cute shops. If you want a quieter place to stay, many nearby towns offer beautiful accommodations away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Hotels Near Keene:

Campgrounds Near Keene:

What to Pack for Hiking Near Keene, NH

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

Map of Hikes Near Keene, NH

The Best Hikes Near Keene, NH

Keene is near many beautiful trails, but this guide only mentions a few of my favorites!

Chesterfield Gorge

Length: 0.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 150 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Chesterfield Gorge is a beautiful gorge just outside of Keene with small, beautiful waterfalls. The trailhead is a quick drive from downtown Keene and perfect for the entire family to enjoy!

The 0.7-mile trail is mostly flat as it follows along the stream into the gorge. Along the way, you can see many small waterfalls cascading along the rocks. Although they are not the tallest waterfalls in the state, they are beautiful! Once you hike Chesterfield Gorge, you will quickly fall in love with the short hike near Keene.

Mount Caesar

Length: 1.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 420 feet

Difficulty: Easy/moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

Mount Caesar is one of my favorite hikes near Keene because the views are stunning! The hike is in a neighboring town and a quick drive from its downtown area.

The trailhead is a little difficult to find since it does not have a sign and is tucked next to a cemetery. We went onto Simeneau Lane towards the Mount Caesar Cemetery and took the first right. There is a small parking lot on the right with a trail map of Mount Caesar.

You can hike Mount Caesar in a few different ways. You can hike it as an out-and-back via the Yellow Trail or Red Trail or hike the entire loop. We opted for an out-and-back via the Red Trail, but I heard the loop is fun!

If you want to hike the 1.7-mile loop, many hikers recommend following it counterclockwise to take the longer, more gradual way to the summit. The Red Trail follows a wide path through a beautiful forest and gradually climbs towards Mount Caesar. Once at the top, the views of the surrounding area are stunning, even though they are not 360-degree views. The summit also has a small bench to enjoy a snack break.

You can either continue back the way you came or finish the loop by descending the Yellow Trail. This trail is shorter and more steep and a great option if you want a quicker descent to the parking lot.

Goose Pond Loop

Length: 2.1 miles

Elevation Gain: 120 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Dog Friendly: Yes

If you do not want to travel far from Keene to hike, you are in luck! Goose Pond is in Keene, and it is a lovely hike for the entire family to enjoy.

The 2.1-mile loop wraps around Goose Pond, providing beautiful views of the water and surrounding mountains. You can hike the loop in either direction since the trail is relatively flat. If you follow it clockwise, you will cross a small stream. After it rains, the water can be an inch deep but nothing too crazy. If you do not want to get your feet wet at the beginning of the hike, you can hike the Goose Pond Loop clockwise and cross the water at the end.

Gap Mountain

Length: 2.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 675 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

Gap Mountain is my favorite hike near Keene because it is moderately strenuous and offers beautiful views of Mount Monadnock and the surrounding area. And in the summer, there are many blueberry bushes you can enjoy! Nothing is better than eating wild blueberries as a snack on a summit.

The 2.6-mile trail begins off Bullard Road in a small parking lot. This parking lot fills up quickly on the weekends, especially in the summer and fall! The trail starts flat for the first half mile before beginning to climb to the summit. The trail intersects with a few others, so it is crucial to make sure you follow the correct trail markers.

The final mile to Gap Mountain climbs steadily with few breaks. It will make you sweat, but the effort is worth it for the views! The trail is also well-maintained, with many stone staircases. Once near the top, the trail flattens out and climbs a few rock slabs before the summit.

Gap Mountain has beautiful views of Mount Monadnock when you first reach the summit! If you continue to the other side, you get breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Gap Mountain also has many wild blueberry bushes to enjoy at the top. We saw many people with bags full of blueberries.

Pitcher Mountain

Length: 0.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 240 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Dog Friendly: Yes

If you want to hike a short trail to a beautiful mountain, look no further! Pitcher Mountain is north of Keene and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area. And the best part? The trail is short and easy!

The 0.6-mile loop travels through a beautiful forest and gradually ascends to the summit of Pitcher Mountain. At the top, you have stunning 360-degree views! You can also climb the short fire tower to get even better views. The summit also has wild blueberries to enjoy as a snack while you hike!

Pitcher Mountain will quickly become one of your favorite hikes near Keene!

Mount Monadnock

Length: 3.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Dog Friendly: No, dogs are not allowed in Monadnock State Park

Note: You need a reservation to get into the state park.

Mount Monadnock is the most-hiked mountain in the United States and the second most-hiked mountain in the world behind Mount Fuji. Although it is not the tallest mountain in the state, it offers breathtaking 360-degree views!

Do not let the amount of people hiking Mount Monadnock fool you. The 3.8-mile loop is not easy and requires a lot of rock scrambling. The trail gradually climbs along the start before it reaches the White Dot and White Cross junction. You can take either trail to the top since both are steep and the same length.

After the junction, the trail climbs steeply to the summit, and as you get closer to Mount Monadnock, it has a lot of rock scrambling. The rock scrambling is fun, in my opinion, but can be difficult when wet. Once at the top, you get incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see Boston!

If you do not want to hike this loop, the state park has many other trails to choose from that lead to Mount Monadnock. But most of them gain relatively the same elevation and require rock scrambling near the summit.

Little Monadnock

Length: 2.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 700 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

Little Monadnock is in Rhododendron State Park just south of Mount Monadnock and is a fun hike near Keene! Rhododendron State Park is one of the most beautiful state parks in southern New Hampshire when the rhododendrons are in season!

The 2.7-mile hike to Little Monadnock is easy to follow and travels along a beautifully maintained trail. The first half-mile is relatively flat and follows along a beautiful forest. The final mile of the hike ascends more steeply to the summit, but the trail overall is not too strenuous. Once at the top, you have beautiful views of Mount Monadnock in the distance!

Pack Monadnock

Length: 2.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 810 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Dog Friendly: Yes

Although you can drive to the summit of Pack Monadnock, I recommend hiking to it! Pack Monadnock is in the oldest state park in New Hampshire, Miller State Park, and offers beautiful views of Mount Monadnock and the surrounding area.

Pack Monadnock has a few trails leading to its summit, with the most popular being the 2.6-mile loop ascending Marion Davis Trail and descending Wapack Trail. Although you can hike the loop in either direction, I enjoyed following it counterclockwise to ascend the steeper trail.

The trailhead is in the parking lot at the base of the road leading to Pack Monadnock, and the hike begins on the right side. Marion Davis Trail is a beautiful trail that gradually climbs to the summit. It has a few rock scrambles near the top, but the views at the top are worth the effort!

Once at the summit, I recommend hiking the summit loop around Pack Monadnock to experience all the beautiful viewpoints. You can also hike to the top of the fire tower to enjoy 360-degree views. Each lookout is stunning, and a few have picnic tables to enjoy a snack break.

Once you are ready to descend, you will hike the Summit Loop on the left side of the parking lot and turn left onto Wapack Trail. The beginning of the trail offers beautiful views of Mount Monadnock before descending back into the forest on the Wapack Trail.

You will quickly fall in love with this beautiful hike near Keene and realize why many people love Pack Monadnock!