Welch Mountain and Dickey Mountain Loop
Welch Mountain and Dickey Mountain Loop
Welch Mountain and Dickey Mountain Loop
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
94 reviews
Excellent
76
Very good
16
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Bden99
Manchester, NH1,373 contributions
Feb 2020
We have done this hike multiple times in all seasons. There is a large parking area due to the popularity of this hike. You can minimize the crowds by going early in the morning or in the off season. Grades on the lower portions of the loop are moderate, while the upper part is very steep. This is one of our favorite short hikes in the area.
Written February 25, 2020
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Dana
Methuen, MA3 contributions
Jul 2023
This is NOT a family friendly hike. MANY areas for younger children to slip on rock and ledges. After a rainfall, LOTS of exposed roots. I highly suggest only taking kids 14+ . Bring lots of water. So many great view spots. It's hard but worth it! Not for the beginner hiker.
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JLCireland09
New Jersey75 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
I didn't expect this hike to be as difficult as it was. You'll reach the "Welch Ledge", which is your first scenic view, in about 45 minutes. Most people head right back down to the parking lot from there. If you're going to do the full loop, the hike gets more strenuous from this point. Continue on, following the yellow blazes and the cairns. You'll be scrambling up a lot of steep rock slabs, it's not an easy climb. As others have stated, it's not marked well, so keep your eyes peeled for yellow blazes and cairns to keep yourself on the trail. There are a lot of blind corners....every time I thought I had summited, I was wrong...the trail just keeps going up and up. When you finally summit Welch, take a breather and enjoy the view!! From here you'll be starting your descent into the col between Welch and Dickey. In a bit you'll start your ascent to Dickey, again scrambling up steep rock slabs. When you finally reach the top the views at the top are fantastic! Take a break and enjoy the scenery. As you continue on you'll be in your descent. Again, keep an eye out for blazes and cairns. Eventually you'll reach the "knife edge"; another great place to take a breather and enjoy the view. From here the descent gets steep. It's not an easy climb down. Your legs will feel it the next day.
Overall it was a great hike, but had I known how tough it was I wouldn't have done it (had ACL surgery this winter and am still building up strength). I will admit that as I was hiking it I thought to myself more than once "what did I get myself into?!" I also debated turning around a few times but didn't want to go down the steep rock faces...plus with all the blind turns I always thought I was so close to summiting, I didn't want to turn back. I would do it again next year when my legs are stronger, and this time I'll know what I'm really up against. Also, keep in mind that the trail up Welch to the ledge is very popular....you'll see quite a few fellow hikers out on the trail, but if you continue onto the loop you won't pass nearly as many folks. Just something to keep in mind if you're a solo hiker.
Overall it was a great hike, but had I known how tough it was I wouldn't have done it (had ACL surgery this winter and am still building up strength). I will admit that as I was hiking it I thought to myself more than once "what did I get myself into?!" I also debated turning around a few times but didn't want to go down the steep rock faces...plus with all the blind turns I always thought I was so close to summiting, I didn't want to turn back. I would do it again next year when my legs are stronger, and this time I'll know what I'm really up against. Also, keep in mind that the trail up Welch to the ledge is very popular....you'll see quite a few fellow hikers out on the trail, but if you continue onto the loop you won't pass nearly as many folks. Just something to keep in mind if you're a solo hiker.
Written July 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay Kelly
Boston, MA238 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
This loop gets overshadowed by some of its taller and more famous neighbors in the Whites, but after finally giving this one a shot, my wife and I now count it among our favorites! It’s a steep ascent, and much of the mountain is rock. As a result, you get broad panoramic views for much of the hike. The peak gives you 360 degrees of valley and ridge views. This is well worth putting at the top of your list for a trip to the Whites.
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
harold b
Thornton, New Hampshire, United States2 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
skip this hike. it has nothing you would be interested in. the views are terrible, the distance long, and there's never anyone around to offer help when you compound fracture your femur.
Written December 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott
Minot, ME92 contributions
Jul 2013
Took our 3 boys (ages 9, 7, & 4) on this hike and they did great. Near the top of Welch and Dickey, it was steeper, but with a little help, even the 4 year old was able to conquer it. If you stop at the first rock ledge, you are missing alot. The trail continues upward and is definitely worth the effort. Unbelievable views. The kids were exhausted after the 4.4 mile loop, but had a great time. If you are out of shape or have medical conditions, you should stop at thr first rock ledge (speaking as a physician).
Written July 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
walkwoman
Jackson, NJ72 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
If you've ever dreamed of walking up a wall…then hiking on the near vertical ledges of both mtns. Welch & Dickey is for you. Views are awesome. Plenty of rock scrambling, hand-over-hand and on a clear day Mt. Washington is in view. Try and do this in the fall. Mind blowing!
Written October 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter A
Rye, NH20 contributions
May 2016 • Family
Went out in May on an iffy day with intermittent mist and light rain. I read a guide that said this was an "easy hike for families" and we figured we could handle a little rain and we'd finish in roughly 90 minutes.
It was definitely not easy and probably not for families. Trail is relatively well marked, although there are a couple of switchbacks near the top that were confusing. There are some long, relatively steep stretches and patches of sheer rock that got very, very slippery in the light rain. There are some beautiful vistas -- in fact we saw a rainbow in the valley BELOW us -- not often you get to look down at a rainbow.
Between the more-challenging-than-expected terrain and the precipitation (which changed to big fat snowflakes on the upper half of the mountain) it took us more than 3 hours. A fun trip, but more than I was anticipating.
It was definitely not easy and probably not for families. Trail is relatively well marked, although there are a couple of switchbacks near the top that were confusing. There are some long, relatively steep stretches and patches of sheer rock that got very, very slippery in the light rain. There are some beautiful vistas -- in fact we saw a rainbow in the valley BELOW us -- not often you get to look down at a rainbow.
Between the more-challenging-than-expected terrain and the precipitation (which changed to big fat snowflakes on the upper half of the mountain) it took us more than 3 hours. A fun trip, but more than I was anticipating.
Written May 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RonnieLane
Boston32 contributions
Oct 2015 • Family
I've been hiking Welch Dickey since I was a kid and had my family and another family, each with three kids ages 8-13 hike it this Columbus Day weekend. Easy to find off 93 and plenty of parking (and hikers). We started to the right up to Welch. Easy incline and nice adjacent bubbling stream. Pretty wet though. The first view is good, not amazing. That's the easy part. If we went back down, not so bad. Up to the Welch Summit is definitely more challenging and some of our party was having a tough time with it as were several other hikers near us. The wet granite slabs did not make it any easier. Steep rock faces (OK if yo go hands and feet) but definitely not great for inexperienced hikers. The initial decline from Welch to DIckey is not easy either, with a couple of areas that you can easily loose the yellow marked trail. Summiting Dickey posed similar steep granite faces. The payoff is spectacular. Great views to the south and up to Franconia. The decent from Dickey is not bad and great views from a lower ridge before descending into the trees. A great fall hike but definitely not for beginners.
Written October 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4EverGreen
Princeton, NJ106 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
Vacationed at Lake Winnipesaukee this summer which had us close to the White Mountains so hiked a couple of days. This 4 1/2 trail is not easy but doable for "active" families. We were advised to take the Welch trail up and the Dickey trail down (in retrospect VERY GOOD advice). Summiting Welch is not easy - it's a bald rock scramble that is steep. Good hiking shoes are a requirement! But what a FANTASTCI view from the top (360 unobstructed). Very much worth the climb. Then it's 1/2 mile hike to Dickey (good views but not as impressive as Welch). However some of the views when descending Dickey are incredible. Total hike time for us (family of 4, including a 17 and 21 year old) was 5 hours (including a couple of breaks at both summits). One of the best family hikes we've done (and we've done about a dozen). Challenging but doable with spectacular views! Oh, and there are blueberries on the Dickey descent (Very tasty)!!! P.S. There is parking at the trailhead but it costs $3 and you need exact change since you put your money in a envelope and drop it in a box.
Written August 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
About how many cars fit in the parking lot? Is there an overflow area nearby? If I hike mid-October, on a weekend, and arrive by 9am what are my chances of getting a parking spot? Thx
Written October 11, 2019
20-30 cars . Not sure where there is overflow parking, I hike there every Fall, arriving between 7am 9am in the moth of October and have always got a spot. but I wouldn't risk starting any later then 9am
Written October 13, 2019
We are looking for a shorter hike, as a family with a combo of moderate and novice experince. Any sense of how long it would take us to go just to Welch peak and back down?
Written October 15, 2017
sorry, just saw this... if you have a fear of heights, then this may not be the hike for you...i didn't know and after i finished the first leg of this hike (beautiful), it continued to a path which was ALL boulders (with painted arrows on the rocks for direction), and 360 degree views... stunning but very scary.
Written March 17, 2018
Hello! We are looking to hike this trail with our 3 year old lab. Do you think it is doable with a dog? Thanks.
Written June 17, 2016
We took our 3 year old dog on this hike. It was not strenuous for him, but, when we got to the second peak, I wish I had put him on a leash because there are large boulders and crevices off trail that he explored and we got very worried that he might fall between the rocks and we would have a hard time getting him out. This did not happen, however and we were all much relieved.
Written July 6, 2016
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