Welch Mountain tops out at 2,598 feet near Waterville Valley, and while it falls short of 4,000 feet, it ranks among the most popular hikes in the White Mountains for good reason. The Welch-Dickey Loop, a 4.5-mile circuit with 1,650 feet of gain, traverses long stretches of open, glacier-scraped ledge with broad views of the Mad River Valley, the Sandwich Range, and the Southern Whites throughout the route — not just at the summit.
The trail begins off Orris Road in Thornton and is typically hiked counter-clockwise, putting the steepest ledges on the ascent of Welch and the gentler slopes of Dickey on the descent. The exposed rock sections are excellent in dry conditions but slippery when wet, and ice lingers into spring. Welch Mountain appears on the NH 52 With a View list.
