The 4.4 mile Welch-Dickey Loop Trail in Thornton, NH is non-stop panoramic views and granite slabs. While parking is plentiful at the trailhead, this hike is popular! Arrive early to make sure you can get a spot and don’t forget to bring your $5 park fee. I recommend you hike the loop counterclockwise, heading toward Mount Welch first. The first mile or so is steep and rocky. There are some large boulders and stone stairs along the way. After about a mile, the majority of the loop is above treeline, which makes for some incredible views! I love how you can see the trail twisting down Welch Mountain behind you and spreading out ahead of you over the granite ridge!
This much time above treeline means it’s incredibly important, before setting off on the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail, to be prepared for the weather no matter the season. If you are hiking in the summer, make sure you have protection from the sun and ALWAYS bring more water than you think you’ll need. Sunburn can happen quickly on the open rockfaces, especially when you stop to gape at the gorgeous views. Also, I would never personally attempt to hike this trail in the rain, or even soon after a rainstorm, because the rocks could be dangerously slippery. Of course, winter hiking is a whole ‘nother animal, and you will need to have proper footwear and spikes if you want to take on the Welch-Dickey Loop Trail during snowy weather.
All this to say, before hiking it for the first time, I was quite intimidated by trail photos and I almost skipped it altogether! The granite slabs are impressively vast and steep (even more than the photos can show), and some scrambling may be required. But I want to reassure you that while the trail it’s rated hard, and you must take extra precautions for the weather and be physically fit enough for a moderate/hard hike, the Welch-Dickey Loop trail is absolutely doable with proper preparation! I felt so incredibly proud after completing this gorgeous trail and it gave me the confidence to try other more difficult hikes! Check out some of these incredible views in the carousel below … I tried to restrain myself and limit the photos to just five … I mean seven.
One last note: while dogs are allowed, you should consider whether or not your dog will be comfortable with some rock scrambles. The first time I did this trail, I saw a tiny bichon frise-type dog fearlessly running the trails with its owner! However, it is fairly easy to scoop up that type of dog and carry it over the really steep climbs. For his safety and my peace of mind, I leave my pup at home when I hike the Welch-Dickey Trail Loop.
- Difficulty - HARD
- Distance - 4.4 Mile Loop
- Plenty of Parking
- Dogs Allowed
- Park Fee
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