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Slackpacking® New Hampshire
Lebanon, New Hampshire
8 Days
From $3695
Hiking and Slackpacking
Slackpacking® New Hampshire
Lebanon, New Hampshire
8 Days
From $3695
Hiking and Slackpacking
Trip Overview
Slackpacking the Appalachian Trail: New Hampshire — Rugged Terrain, Deep Forests, and the Summit of Mount Moosilauke
For many, hiking the Appalachian Trail is a lifelong goal—but the thought of lugging a heavy backpack and sleeping outdoors isn't always appealing. That's where slackpacking comes in: it offers the thrill of thru-hiking, without sacrificing the comfort of a cozy bed and hot shower at the end of each day.
The New Hampshire AT offers some of the most scenic and challenging terrain of the entire trail. We'll cover just over 60 miles of the southern section throughout the week, covering notable peaks like Smarts Mountain and Mount Cube, and reaching almost 5,000 feet at the summit of Mount Moosilauke, the gateway to the White Mountains. We'll see a variety of different terrain—from the quaint streets of Hanover to the quartzite ledges on Mount Cube—and tackle significant elevation gains and losses. Evenings are spent relaxing at our comfortable lodging near the quiet town of Warren, New Hampshire, at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest.
Expect to hike 8 to 14 miles per day—making this trip ideal for experienced hikers in excellent physical condition who are looking for a challenging and rewarding stretch of trail.
Maximum group size: 12
Highlights
Inclusions
Not Included: Airfare/travel to and from Lebanon, NH, alcoholic beverages, guide gratuities, and Travel Insurance.
Trip Info
This trip is rated a 5 due to the challenging terrain, significant daily elevation gain and loss and cumulative mileage over the multiple days of hiking. We will be hiking 8 to 14 miles per day with many steep climbs and descents over rocky, rooty and sometimes slippery terrain. It requires being in excellent physical condition with prior hiking experience. Participants should feel comfortable hiking up to 8 - 10 hours a day for multiple days in a row. Additional endurance training, longer aerobic exercises and strength training is required to fully enjoy this trip. There are no options for shortening the daily hikes but you can always choose to take a rest day at the lodging. Please do not underestimate the fitness needed to hike the rugged and beautiful Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire!
Rating: 1 2 3 4 [5]
Curious about how we rate our trips and how to prepare for yours? Explore our AGC Fitness Guide for more details.
This is a challenging hiking trip on the southern New Hampshire section of the legendary Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail travels 160 miles in New Hampshire. You will be hiking in the mountains with constant elevation gain and loss on a trail that is rocky, rooty and steep. Depending on weather, hikers may encounter muddy trails and rocks and roots that will be slippery when wet.
Wondering what kind of gear works well for our trips? Our AGC Gear Guide highlights some of our go-to favorites.
We'll spend the week at a nostalgic, seasonal timber-frame camp on 195 acres, perfectly situated on the granite banks of the Baker River flowing down from Mount Moosilauke. This family-owned property boasts two cabins that we'll call home for the week, complete with screened-in porches, decks overlooking the river and swimming holes, and the comfort that only a well-loved family home can offer. This rustic and historic camp offers a tranquil and quiet environment—the perfect place to disconnect while slackpacking and unwind after a day on the trail. Please note that one of the cabins does not have Wifi, but cell service is available at both cabins. There are a limited number of single supplements (shared bathrooms) available.
Ready to picture yourself on this adventure?
Download the detailed trip summary for a closer look — daily highlights, travel notes, and everything you need to know before you go. It’s the perfect way to dream, plan, and share with a friend!
Itinerary
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
DAY 1
Make your way to Lebanon, New Hampshire by 3:00 PM, where we'll be picked up at the airport or bus station by your guides. If you are driving to the lodging in Warren, you may arrive at 4:30 PM or later. Our cozy accommodations at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest await—the perfect backdrop for the upcoming week of camaraderie, friendship, and tackling this rugged, beautiful section of the Appalachian Trail!
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
DAY 2
After a hearty breakfast, we'll kick off our week on the Appalachian Trail by crossing the border into Vermont, where we'll hike the northernmost section of the Vermont AT and end the day at the Vermont-New Hampshire border: the Ledyard Free Bridge across the beautiful Connecticut River. The terrain today—some typical rocks and roots and a few miles along the road through West Hartford, VT and Norwich, VT—makes for a great warm-up day before the longer and steeper days ahead. In true AGC fashion, a delicious home cooked meal awaits you tonight, to replenish your energy and refuel for another day on the trail.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (2 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5-6 hours, 9.5 miles, 1,971 feet of elevation gain, 2,027 feet of elevation loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (2 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5-6 hours, 9.5 miles, 1,971 feet of elevation gain, 2,027 feet of elevation loss)
DAY 3
Our second full day on the trail begins at Three Mile Road, where we'll start with a steep climb up to the wooded peaks of Moose Mountain South and Moose Mountain North. The terrain today is rocky and rooty, as is typical for this section of the AT—paired with higher mileage and steeper ascents and descents than yesterday. We'll encounter beaver ponds and a couple of road crossings along the way—but taking in the view from Holt's Ledge out over Smarts Mountain and Mount Cube will make today's effort well worth it! Tomorrow brings an even longer day on the trail, but our trail legs are warmed up by now and ready for the challenge.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1.5 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 8 hours, 11.2 miles, 3,146 feet of elevation gain/3,423 feet of elevation loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1.5 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 8 hours, 11.2 miles, 3,146 feet of elevation gain/3,423 feet of elevation loss)
DAY 4
Today will be our longest day on the trail—but also one of the most rewarding! After a good night's rest and a delicious, energizing breakfast, we'll make our way back to the Lyme Dorchester Road trailhead. This section begins with a long, steep climb up to the summit of Smarts Mountain, and we'll be treated to fantastic views from several points along Lambert Ridge. The view from the Smarts Mountain firetower, however, is sure to be a highlight! On a clear day, we might catch glimpses of taller White Mountain peaks as well as Mount Cardigan and Mount Kearsarge, and the high peaks of Vermont across the Connecticut River. As we continue to descend and ascend again throughout today's hike, we'll notice that it's more rocky and rooty than previous days, and we'll navigate a few quartzite ledges—but nothing we can't handle! The summit of Mount Cube will reward us with more wonderful views. Our home-cooked meal this evening will taste even better, knowing what we've already accomplished in just three days on the Appalachian Trail!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 10 hours, 14 miles, 4,290 feet of elevation gain/4,486 feet of elevation loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 10 hours, 14 miles, 4,290 feet of elevation gain/4,486 feet of elevation loss)
DAY 5
After a challenging couple of days, today's more moderate section will be a welcome change. The wooded summit of Mount Mist will be the highest point of the day, but the elevation gain and loss is spread out more evenly throughout this section and there are fewer rocks, making it a pleasant and less demanding day on the trail. According to William Little, in his written history of Warren published in 1870, Mount Mist earned its name from the vapor often rising from nearby Lake Tarleton—but we'll be hoping for a clear, sunny day on the trail. We'll make sure to savor the moderate effort today before tomorrow's challenge: summiting Mount Moosilauke!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (20 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 7 hours, 9.7 miles, 2,438 feet of elevation gain, 2,323 feet of elevation loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (20 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 7 hours, 9.7 miles, 2,438 feet of elevation gain, 2,323 feet of elevation loss)
DAY 6
It's hard to believe that today is our penultimate day on the trail together, but it's sure to be a highlight of the week. We'll switch things up today and hike southbound on the Appalachian Trail due to the technical nature of this peak. Our climb up Mount Moosilauke this morning will be the most difficult we've seen thus far—after a week spent climbing, descending, and navigating rocks and roots, however, we are well-prepared for the challenge. Standing 4,795 feet tall, Mount Moosilauke is one of the highest peaks in New Hampshire, and its wide-open summit provides stunning 360-degree views. The ascent is steep, rocky, and rooty, with some stairs along the way, but we'll take care with each step we take through this difficult section and listen to the rushing Beaver Brook as we climb. Eventually, we'll emerge above the treeline and follow the many cairns to the summit, where we’ll enjoy our final trail lunch. The descent is long and steep, but less technical than the climb—and perhaps we'll dip our feet in Oliverian Brook as we celebrate our accomplishments not only for today, but for an incredible week on the New Hampshire AT!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (30 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 9 hours, 9.5 miles, 3,124 feet of elevation gain, 4,000 feet of elevation loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (30 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (approx. 9 hours, 9.5 miles, 3,124 feet of elevation gain, 4,000 feet of elevation loss)
DAY 7
Our final day on the trail, already? We'll head back to the Vermont-New Hampshire border this morning, which will feel like a full-circle moment after the week we've shared and the challenges conquered since that first day on the trail. We'll make our way through the quaint town of Hanover and the campus of Dartmouth College before beginning the climb up to Velvet Rocks. This wooded, rocky summit is the perfect, tranquil spot for a break before continuing along the undulating trail to Three Mile Road, where the AGC van will be waiting for us—bringing this incredible experience to a close! Our celebrations will continue this evening with a farewell dinner, and an appreciation for the new friends and memories we made this week on the Appalachian Trail.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1.5 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4-5 hours, 8.2 miles, 2,125 feet of elevation gain/1,150 feet of elevation loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Warren, NH Riverside Home
Travel Time: Driving (1.5 hours)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4-5 hours, 8.2 miles, 2,125 feet of elevation gain/1,150 feet of elevation loss)
DAY 8
After sharing one final breakfast together, we'll have to leave our vacation home and head back to the airport for those flying out. But we'll leave with wonderful memories and plans to continue our quest to hike the Appalachian Trail. If you are taking the bus from Lebanon, you can depart on the 10:00 AM bus; if you are flying from Lebanon (LEB), you can select a flight anytime after 12:00 PM. If you are flying from Boston (BOS), you may choose a flight at 3:00 PM or later.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Included Meals: Breakfast
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Reviews
This trip is brand new — be among the very first to experience it with AGC!
Dates & Prices
| Year | Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2026 |
July 18 to July 25 |
FULL |
$3695.00 |
Make It Your Adventure
Turn any trip into a private experience for your group, or let us design a custom itinerary just for you! Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, we’ll make your journey unforgettable.
Common Questions
The guides will be cooking breakfasts and most dinners at the vacation home. Before you leave in the morning the guides will put out lunch options and you will prepare a packed lunch. You'll go out for one dinner where you can order off the menu; other nights you'll relax in the vacation home and have dinner there.
If we know well in advance, we can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-sensitive diets. We cannot guarantee a completely gluten-free diet and we cannot provide a kitchen guaranteed to be free of cross-contamination. If you are vegan, we ask that you bring some additional protein bars; and if you are gluten-sensitive, please bring some gluten-free snacks. If you have severe allergies, Celiac disease and/or other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register.
You only need to pay a single supplement if you want to guarantee you have your own room. Limited single supplements are available on each departure. Otherwise, we'll pair you up with another AGC traveler.
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