NEW HAMPSHIRE

If your dog is the type who loves to see hike descriptions that include the words “rugged” and “challenging” and “demanding” you will swoon over the Granite State. When National Geographic published an article on the “World’s Best Hikes: 20 Dream Trails” there was only one day hike in the Lower 48 on the list and that was the Franconia Ridge Trail Loop in the White Mountains. There are 48 4,000-footer here, all of which are open to your dog who can even qualify for an Appalachian Mountain Club award for completing them all. America’s first hiking trail was carved up the flank of 6,288-foot Mount Washington in 1819 and a dog was likely one of the first to summit. With such fabled trails in your backyard this has to be a canine hiking nirvana, right? Not so fast. There are plenty of unforgettable alpine hikes but dogs are also forbidden at some of the best New Hampshire has to offer - the Flume Gorge, Mount Monadnock - one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world, the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and more. North Hampton State Beach, which claims 13 of the state’s 18 miles of Atlantic beach, is a no-go for dogs. While many of the most famous state parks permit dogs to tackle the trails they aren’t allowed to spend the night afterwards in the campground. We love the mountains but that is a lot for our best trail buddies to miss out on.

The Best Day Hike You Can Take With Your Dog In New Hampshire

Franconia Ridge Trail Loop
White Mountain National Forest • Franconia

When National Geographic published an article on the “World’s Best Hikes: 20 Dream Trails” there was only one day hike in the Lower 48 on the list and this was it. That’s a lot to promise your dog.

Sooner or later all trail dogs make their way to Franconia Notch. The destination is 5,260-foot Lafayette Mountain and it will take crossing two others, Haystack (4,840 feet) and Lincoln (5,089 feet), to complete the loop. Most canine hikers opt to begin this classic New England journey on the Falling Waters Trail, boulder-hopping along and across several waterfalls.The ascent to Franconia Ridge is accomplished on the grueling “45,” climbing 3,840 feet in only four miles. Some of the rock formations may make Seaman think for a second but there is nothing insurmountable for him on this spectacular hike.

Upon reaching the ridge Seaman meets the Appalachian Trail and the fabled Franconia Ridge knife-edge - ex-posed rock that dips and rolls for 1.7 thrilling miles. If you catch a clear day the views, including the entire Presidential Range, are the best in New En-gland.

The leg back down is on the Old Bridle Path that will give a new ap-preciation of the sturdiness of horses before the coming of the automobile. When the long, rocky descent across open slopes dips into stunted pines the nine-mile loop is coming to its re-warding end. Seaman will go to sleep dreaming about this one.

HIKING TIME: 6-7 hours

(from the book 300 Day Hikes To Take With Your Dog Before He Tires You Out: Trails where you won’t be able to wipe the wag off your dog’s tail)