Exploring Stunning Hiking Trails Near Waterfalls, Rivers, and Bodies of Water Ideal for Family Outings
Top 11 Family-Friendly Day Hikes with Watery Highlights in the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Region
Explore the beauty of nature with your family in the AMC region, where picturesque trails lead to ponds, rivers, waterfalls, and more. Here are eleven hikes that offer a perfect blend of family-friendly trail conditions and watery scenery.
- Lost Pond & Square Ledge Trail – Begin your adventure near the AMC Pinkham Notch Camp on Rt. 16. This trail takes you to a scenic pond, past beaver ponds and streams, and culminates in breathtaking views of Mt. Washington and Pinkham Notch. 1
- Deer Brook Road (Fire Road 28) – This easy fire road trail parallels the Swift River, providing great opportunities to see wildlife and enjoy river scenery. It has many side loops for variable hikes, accessible near the Albany covered bridge off the Kancamagus Highway. 1
- Black Cap Trail – A well-known family trail through spruce and beech forests ending at Black Cap summit. Water features along the route make this trail even more engaging for kids. 1, 2
- Artist Bluff Trail – A moderate trail with rocky sections and superb waterfalls and stream views. Good for families with some hiking experience. 2
- Mount Willard – The hike includes crossing two small streams early on, adding watery interest without difficulty. The summit offers outstanding views suited to family day trips. 2
- Welch Mountain and Dickey Mountain Loop – While more moderate level, this loop includes streams and varied wet habitats that can be educational and fun for children able to handle a slightly longer hike. 2
- Copicut Woods Discovery Trail – A quarter-mile accessible path designed for all ages, featuring easy walking near small wetlands or water bodies. 4
- Harriman State Park trails (AMC Harriman Outdoor Center area) – Numerous family-friendly hikes near lakes and streams with opportunities for swimming and paddling, ideal for families seeking watery highlights and shorter hikes. 5
- The Swift River Trail (near Kancamagus Hwy) – This less-specific trail parallels the river, offering easy hiking with many kid-friendly water views. 1
- Square Ledge & Beaver Ponds (related to #1, but as a separate component) – Highlights smooth pond shores and aquatic wildlife, ideal for children fascinated by ponds and small water bodies. 1
- Nanamocomuck Trail (connecting from Deer Brook Fire Road) – An extension offering more forest and stream encounters suitable for adventurous families looking for longer hikes with water features. 1
These hikes combine family-friendly trail conditions with streams, ponds, rivers, or waterfalls found in AMC-managed regions, mainly around New Hampshire's White Mountains and adjacent AMC areas. They range from very easy quarter-mile loops to moderate 3-5 mile hikes, balancing watery scenery with accessibility for children and family groups. 1, 2, 4, 5
When planning hikes with children, always consider trail length, elevation gain, and seasonal water conditions for the best experience. Some trails feature boardwalks or easy river crossings, which add watery appeal without danger.
Additional Recommendations
- Burton Island, a Lake Champlain island in St. Albans, Vermont, is recommended for family hikes. The approach to the island is by boat.
- The hike up two rounded granite hills at the northern end of Jordan Pond includes options for a single summit or a route with two separate summit loops.
- Bash Bish Falls, on the border of New York and Massachusetts, features a 60-foot waterfall, which is the highest single-drop cascade in Massachusetts.
- After the hike, visitors can stop by the Jordan Pond House for lunch, tea, or popovers with jam.
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens offer an easygoing out-and-back walk on Marsh Land and River Trail, passing beside the last freshwater tidal marsh in the District of Columbia and along the Anacostia River.
- Glen Ellis Falls in Pinkham's Grant, New Hampshire, features one of the most impressive falls in the White Mountains and is a short walk.
- Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, Massachusetts, offers hikes with boardwalks leading to a rockery, a set of tunnels and staircases made as part of an arboretum in the 1900s.
- The lower of the two hills, South Bubble, has better views of the pond at its summit. Near the top is Bubble Rock, a glacial erratic of white granite.
- The views from Burton Island extend across water in any direction to the Green Mountains, Adirondack Mountains, and the forested shorelines of nearby islands.
- Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown and Middlefield, CT, offers a loop hike with two waterfalls, including Wadsworth Falls and Little Falls.
- The loop trail around the pond leads to plenty of swimming opportunities and berry bushes line the shore in places. A small cliff provides big views.
- The Wadsworth Falls hike is 3.3 miles long with an elevation gain of 100 feet.
- The hike to Bash Bish Falls is 1.5 miles round-trip.
- The Bubbles is a family-friendly hike in Acadia National Park, Maine, described as a short but irresistible mountain climb for kids.
- The Kaaterskill Falls hike is 1.4 miles long with an elevation gain of 200 feet.
- The sanctuary also has a small rockery pond where painted turtles often sun themselves, and offers potential sightings of river otters, beavers, and great blue herons.
- Kaaterskill Falls in Haines Falls, New York, leads to the state's highest waterfall, a two-tiered, 260-foot cascade.
- The 253-acre island is almost flat, making the hiking easy, and offers trails through fields, marshes, sumac forests, and rocky lakeshore.
- Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, features an enchanting network of artificially constructed lakes, streams, and waterfalls.
- Immerse yourself in a blend of fashion and nature on your family outing, as you traverse these hiking trails in the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) region. After enjoying the family-friendly day hikes, unwind at the Jordan Pond House, offering delicious food and popovers with jam.
- Complement your family-friendly lifestyle with a unique fusion of home decor and natural beauty. Picture your family gathering around the dinner table after a day of hiking, enjoying a meal prepared with locally sourced food items, while admiring the views of the White Mountains from the comfort of your vacation home in the AMC region.
