Dickey Mountain sits at 2,722 feet in the White Mountain National Forest near Waterville Valley, paired with 2,605-foot Welch Mountain on one of the most frequented loop hikes in New Hampshire. The two summits share a single trail system, and most hikers visit both in the same outing via the Welch-Dickey Loop, a roughly 4.5-mile circuit with about 1,800 feet of elevation gain.
The defining feature of the route is the extensive open granite — broad slabs that angle steeply skyward, broken by short scrambling moves on the Welch approach. The trail is best hiked counter-clockwise, ascending Welch first; the granite slabs encountered on the way up are significantly more pleasant to climb than to descend. After crossing a saddle between the two peaks, the climb to Dickey involves another stretch of open rock, though the summit itself carries more tree cover than Welch. Ledges near the top open to views of the Mad River Valley, the Sandwich Range, and Mount Tecumseh.
The exposed slabs demand care in any season. Wet granite can be treacherous, and from November through May microspikes or snowshoes are typically needed. The descent off Dickey runs west across rock before dropping back into forest; blazes are sparse on the slabs, so tracking your position is worth the effort. The trailhead on Orris Road requires a White Mountain National Forest recreation pass.
