Maine hikers can summit these 3 New Hampshire peaks in a single day

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 21, 2026

The White Mountains are a playground for many Mainers. The biggest hike I tackled was what’s known as the Franconia Ridge Loop. This challenging 9-mile route travels up and over three major peaks (Little Haystack, Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette), all rising over 4,000 feet above sea level. This puts them in a special category for hikers in the Northeast. In fact, many make it their mission to hike all 48 mountains in New Hampshire that are over 4,000 feet. In addition, many hikers tack on Maine’s 14 mountains that reach over 4,000 feet, several of which are located in Baxter State Park.