Nestled on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River with the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the distance, Littleton is your picturesque New England town. Throughout the year, many visitors use Littleton’s charming downtown as their home base as they explore the region by skis, two wheels, or by foot. Even on the coldest winter days, Littleton offers several trail systems to get your blood flowing and your lungs some fresh mountain air. If you’re staying in town, many of these winter walks can be accessed by foot as well.
Moore Dam and Reservoir
Located on the Upper Connecticut River between Littleton, New Hampshire and Waterford, Vermont, Moore Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric dams in New Hampshire. The 3-mile Moore Dam Trail is open for hikers and mountain bikers. The trail through the woods mostly follows along the scenic river. There are several other nature trails near some of the 15 Mile Falls boat launches, including North Littleton Boat Launch, and Dodge Hill Boat Launch.
PRKR Mtn Trails
Popular with mountain bikers, the PRKR MTN Trails is open to hiking and trail running as well. The network of 23 miles of trails is managed and maintained by the local Littleton community and is one of the region’s best-kept secrets. Several of the trails lead to the summit of Parker Mountain, which is the highest elevation in Littleton. The best views are from “Linda’s Lookout,” which is a cliff that offers panoramic views of the northern Presidential Range and the town of Littleton.
The trails can be accessed at several locations throughout town. The Pine Hill Trail System, which connects to Parker Mountain, can be accessed from School Street, Summer Street, or Pine Hill Road. Additional parking is available at Remick Park and QBR. A trail map can be downloaded here or picked up from Littleton Bike & Fitness.
Find out more why we love PRKR MTN Trails and Fatbiking in Littleton.
Pine Hill Trails
Pine Hill Trails is an easy, one-mile trail through an old White Pine forest. Over a century ago, the hillside was once a large pasture known as Oak Hill Pasture. The 35-minute hike will take you past several large boulders known as glacial erratics which were left there 10,000 years ago as the ice sheets began to melt during the last Ice Age. The trail system also connects to the PRKR MTN Trail system and Remich Park.
Kilburn Crags
The Kilburn Crags Trail is an award-winning nature trail in Littleton. In 2015, it was named as the best “locals only hiking trail” by the New Hampshire Magazine. The trail is an easy yet scenic 1.4-mile winter walk on the northeastern shoulder of Walker Mountain in Littleton. From the summit of “The Crags” at 1,300 feet, you can view the Presidential Range, parts of the Ammonoosuc River Valley, and even the peaks of Lafayette and Cannon Mountains.
Kilburn Crags Trail is dog-friendly and kid-friendly, so you can bring the whole family. There’s a picnic table at the lookout where you can enjoy a snack while taking it the great views. The trailhead and small parking lot are located on Route 18/135.
The Dells
Located just over a mile from the Post Office on Route 18, The Dells is another popular walking and hiking area in Littleton. In 1917, local Daniel Remich, who has a park in town named after him, gave the area known as The Dells to the Town of Littleton to preserve as parkland for the foreseeable future. The short trails located around the pond is the perfect place to enjoy bird watching. The Dells is home to many native birdlife, like chickadees, great blue herons, hooded mergansers, and more. There are picnic tables, fireplaces, and even a handicapped deck to help you enjoy nature more comfortably.
Mt. Eustis Ski Hill
Mt. Eustis Ski Hill can be enjoyed year-round. Standing at 1,373 feet, Eustis Hill looms over downtown Littleton. Once a bustling little ski hill in the 1930s, Mt. Eustis is now Littleton’s community ski hill where children of all ages can learn to ski on the cheap. Run entirely by generous volunteers, Mt. Eustis is also great for hiking during the warmer months or by snowshoe in the winter. The top of the old slopes offers beautiful views of downtown Littleton and several mountain ranges in the distance.
Winter walking and hiking offers the quiet solitude that you might not get during the summer months when the trails are more crowded. Lace up your boots or snowshoes and hit the trails to enjoy some quiet time surrounded by Mother Nature on this and many more winter walks.
Are you interested in getting monthly updates about Littleton? Know what the locals do, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
