Winter day hikes are scattered all over New Hampshire. Luckily, if you find yourself in the White Mountains, you do not need to look far before finding a real gem. There are many trailheads right off of the main roads to choose from. Today we’re going to bring you with us as we hike Mount Willard and tell you a little bit about the history of this popular trail.

Located off of NH Rt 302 is the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch, that is where you will find parking. If you are coming from points south this will be located on your left and if you are coming from northern NH you will pull in on your right. This hike is also on the 52 with a view list, which you can find here: http://4000footers.com/list_52wav.shtml

You will have to cross the railroad tracks behind the Crawford Depot, (an active tourist train so be careful) to get to the trailhead. You will then need to cross two brooks (may be a challenge depending on the time of year) before starting the real ascent. It’s a little over 3 mile out and back hike in total, and is pleasantly steady (900 feet or so elevation gain). With the proper gear given the time of year you are going (spikes feel like almost a requirement on this one in the winter) we think this is a perfect beginner winter day hike! With that being said, you will more than likely run into a lot of people on this hike, given its accessibility paired with the epic view of Crawford Notch you get when you make it to the ledges close to the true summit. So, if you’re looking for a secluded hike in the White Mountains, this is definitely not the trail for you!

Check out the video to see what the hike is like, and remember to brush up on the 10 essentials for hiking before heading out on your next outdoor adventure!
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As we say in the video, we hiked Mt. Willard on December 10th of 2022. That very same day a man named Joe Eggleston, or “Eggy,” died after falling from the ledges at the summit. Eggy was a longtime employee of the Cog Railway, and I (Harrison) met him and saw him fairly regularly as I worked for a couple of seasons at the State Park on top of Mt. Washington. While we were at the summit, we saw the rescue and recovery team beginning to repel off the cliff face to make their way down to him (of course we did not know the circumstances of what happened at the time, or that it was actually somebody that we knew). This team is known as the Mountain Rescue Service, and in their own words:

“The team is ‘on call’ 24 hours per day, all seasons, with volunteers being mobilized for a full range of incidents: complicated multiday and nighttime searches in the depth of winter throughout the White Mountain National Forest; technical rope rescues on the region’s many rock climbing cliffs; swift water rescue assistance; and lift evacuations at area ski resorts."

Here is a link to the MRS donation page, if you wish to support their incredible efforts here in the White Mountains in honor of Eggy:
https://nhmrs.org/donations/?fbclid=I...
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As promised in the video, here are a few links to additional resources to learn more about Crawford Notch and the Crawford family:

Library of Congress: History of the White Mountains by Lucy Crawford:
https://www.loc.gov/item/01008802/

Nh.gov: https://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdev...

NH State Parks: https://www.nhstateparks.org/getmedia...
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If you're interested hiking in the White Mountains yourself, here are a few links to resources that we consistently use and that we've found to be extremely helpful!

Eastern Mountain Sports Footwear Traction Spikes: https://amzn.to/3RvVQza

Climbing New Hampshire's 48 4,000 Footers:
https://amzn.to/3NoUhAY

Map Adventures White Mountains Waterproof Trail Map:
https://amzn.to/3WjGyQk

AMC's White Mountain Guide to Hiking Trails in the WMNF:
https://amzn.to/3Ubepc5

These are links to specific Amazon products. We do not have any affiliation or sponsorships with the individual brands within these results. When you buy something using these retail links you should be aware that we may earn a small commission. It supports our efforts to continue doing what we love, so we thank you!
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#MtWillard #CrawfordNotch #52WAV #winterhiking #beginner #dayhikes #newengland
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Looking for something specific? Hopefully these chapters will help!

00:00 Arrival at the Crawford Depot
1:27 Brook Crossings
4:31 Microspikes!
5:16 Centennial Pool (Entitled Hiker Harrison)
7:30 History of Mt. Willard
9:50 The summit
11:36 Eggy
14:46 Catch us next time!