Mt Chocorua: Champney Falls and Other Nearby Activities

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Mt Chocorua is a must-hike mountain in New Hampshire! This peak has an elevation of 3,500ft and sits in the southeastern region of the White Mountains National Forest in the Sandwich Range. The views at the summit are absolutely outstanding and the trails to hike Mt Chocorua are so much fun for any hiker.

Mt Chocorua is an extremely prominent peak in the surrounding area and it earns its place on New Hampshire’s 52 with a View list. You can see the top for miles rising in front of you as you drive north on Route 16 and its sharp point is both inviting and intimidating (largely depending on the weather that day).

There are a plethora of trails that can be used to summit Mt Chocorua (about 10 or so). I strongly recommend purchasing an AMC White Mountain Guide to learn the full details of the trails and purchase the map set to see how they all connect.

When I hiked this mountain on November 11, 2021, I hiked Champney Falls Trail with my friends. This is one of the most popular trails, if not the most. We completed this hike on Veteran’s Day since we had off work that day and were rewarded with a spectacular sunrise!

For more information on hiking Mt Chocorua, keep reading the following sections of this post:

Hiking Mt Chocorua on Champney Falls Trail

My experience with hiking Mt Chocorua has so far only been on Champney Falls Trail. This trail is known as the most popular option for hiking Mt Chocorua as it is easy to reach and provides for a moderate day hike. The trail begins off the southern side of the Kancamagus Highway from a large parking lot. There is a trail sign on the road pointing out this trail to help those looking for it. 

In my hiking posts, I like to provide the trail stats to hopefully give a better idea of the elevation gain and how long a trail could take. Below are my trail stats from my AllTrails recording for our Champney Falls Out-and-Back. Of course, all hiking paces are different and any other combination of trails at a different time of day or year would have a different outcome.

The hike up Champney Falls Trail was extremely enjoyable. It was a little difficult to follow in the dark at the end of fall due to the fallen leaves everywhere. However, once you get to the switchbacks that lead to the junction between Mt Chocorua and Middle Sister about 2.5 miles in, you are all set.

There are a lot of trail junctions as you near Mt Chocorua’s summit which is why I recommend having a map on hand to stick to your path.

Champney Falls was not technically challenging but it was still steep in parts. Luckily, it wasn’t consistent for the whole incline as there were short flat sections now and then, especially right before and after the switchbacks. Then there’s the final push to the summit!

Other Trail Options for Hiking Mt Chocorua

Champney Falls is the only trailhead on the northern side of Mount Chocorua. The other trails used to hike this mountain are largely from the eastern and southern sides. Some trails do connect on the west side of the peak from other areas in the Sandwich Range though.

From the South:

Wide Open Summit on Top of Mt Chocorua

The second you reach the summit of Mt Chocorua, you know the struggle has been worth it. This mountain has definitely earned its place on the 52 with a View list in New Hampshire! Any mountains on this list are under 4,000 ft in elevation and are known for having outstanding views.

As my friends and I were hiking Champney Falls Trail, we really had to push to the summit at the end to make sure we didn’t miss the sunrise. Hopefully it comes through in my pictures, but this sunrise was insane! The colors were exceptionally vibrant and I couldn’t have been happier while standing at the peak.

There was amazing visibility as well and we could see Mount Washington illuminated by a beautiful pink and purple sky. Of course there was snow covering the northeast’s tallest peak, but the white point only contrasted the sunrise further. Luckily, Mt Chocorua’s summit just had a little ice at this point (mid-November) but the microspikes (I love my Hillsounds!) were still very useful for navigation.

If you ever have the chance to hike Mt Chocorua to enjoy this summit, I highly recommend it!

Camping Near Mt Chocorua

The area surrounding Mt Chocorua is extremely accessible and there are many trail options to explore in the Sandwich Range. Because of this, many visitors seek camping options near the peak. It is important to be aware of New Hampshire’s rules and regulations when it comes to camping in the White Mountains. 

Certain regions have more restrictions than others so it is worth doing your research before setting out. In addition to camping, there are restrictions on where you are allowed to start fires as well. A few rules regarding the Sandwich Range specifically (these are not comprehensive of all rules for the area!):

• Groups for hiking and camping may not exceed 10 people 
• No camping within 0.25 mi of Champney Falls Trail or the Kancamagus Highway
• Overnight stays are allowed in Jim Liberty Cabin (0.5 mi off the southeastern side of the summit, no fires allowed)
• Camping allowed at Camp Penacook (off Piper Trail) with limited spots

White Ledge Campground, off of Route 16, is a fantastic option for those looking for an official campground to park and stay at. This campground is at the base of the Carter Ledge Trail and is a perfect place to start and end your day.

Lastly, there are a few campgrounds on the Kancamagus Highway you can check out though they are not directly on one of Mt Chocorua’s trails. These include Covered Bridge, Blackberry Crossing, Jigger Johnson, and Passaconaway. The Forest Service website has a page on Campground Camping in the White Mountains and links with more details on the sites.

Chocorua Lake

If you are hiking Mt Chocorua in the warmer months- After you descend, I highly recommend checking out Chocorua Lake if you have time. I passed this lake dozens of times and only recently took a chance on my first stop there. How was I not making this part of my routine before??

At Chocorua Lake, there are entrances to public and private parking areas immediately off of Route 16. The private parking areas are for town residents only. And while the public spots can fill up extremely quickly, if you manage to snag one it is well worth a quick post-hike dip in the lake on a hot summer day. 

The parking is free along a road parallel to the lake. There are multiple paths through the trees to little openings that let you enter the water. Some of these spots have private beach areas and boat launches while some are very small and best used for a quick in and out.

Hiking the Sandwich Range: Hikes Close to Mt Chocorua

Mt Chocorua is the easternmost peak in the Sandwich Range in New Hampshire.  The Sandwich Range is fantastic since it has so many access points on the northern and southern sides of the range for visitors. There are mountains for different hiking abilities to tackle and you can challenge yourself by grouping peaks and different trail combinations together.

Not in the Sandwich Range, but Mt Tremont is a great little hike that can be reached from Sawyer Pond Trail off the northern side of the Kancamagus Highway just down the road from Mt Chocorua.

Other Inspiring 52 with a View Hikes: What to Hike Next

After hiking Mt Chocorua, if you are looking for more hikes with amazing views in New Hampshire, you must check out the 52 with a View list! As mentioned earlier, this list contains mountains that have an elevation under 4,000 ft and are known for having wonderful views. Note that the views may not always be at the summit as sometimes they are at an outlook on the trail instead.

Also, just because the mountains sit below 4,000 ft, don’t be fooled into thinking they are all easy! There are still some long and strenuous hikes in this list. Lastly, over time the list may be updated due to changing landscapes or trails. My list on this website always states when it was last updated and links to the official website to ensure you can always find the most up to date version for your adventures.

Below is a short list of other 52 with a view posts I’ve written. They can all be browsed by typing the tag ‘52wav’ into the search bar on my website or clicking the link I have just placed on the tag in this sentence.

• Avalon
• Blueberry
• Israel
• Pemigewasset
• Roberts
• Shaw
• Stinson
• Willard

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about hiking Mt Chocorua. I hope you are inspired to try this hike yourself and I would love to hear all about it! Comments below this post are open as is my Contact page for any questions or other inquiries.

Be sure to check out other posts I have written about New Hampshire, my Hiking page for all my gear links and hiking lists, and the other pages of this site for anything else you might be curious about!