Green Hills Preserve — Middle Mountain Summit
A 1,857-foot summit with panoramic views of the Mount Washington Valley, Conway Lake, and into Maine, accessed through The Nature Conservancy's Green Hills Preserve. Tourists drive to Cathedral Ledge or hike Kearsarge North. Locals walk out their back doors and hike Middle Mountain for the same quality views with a fraction of the traffic.
Green Hills is the locals' morning hike. The summit offers 360-degree views that rival any of the popular White Mountains lookouts, but the trail never appears in the standard guidebooks. The Nature Conservancy manages the preserve for habitat protection, which means the trail system stays quiet and well-maintained without the AMC hut crowds.
From North Conway village, take Thompson Road south. The Green Hills Preserve trailhead is on the left, about 1 mile from the village center. Small gravel parking area fits 6-8 cars. Follow the Middle Mountain Trail to the summit. No fee. No permit needed. Dogs welcome on leash.
Packing Checklist
- ☐ Sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes
- ☐ 1-2L water (no refill sources)
- ☐ Trail snacks / energy bars
- ☐ Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
- ☐ First aid kit basics
- ☐ Map or downloaded trail (no cell service expected)
- ☐ Layers — mountain weather changes fast
Green Hills is the locals’ morning hike. While the tourist guidebooks send everyone to Cathedral Ledge or up the Kancamagus to Kearsarge North, Conway residents walk out their back doors and head for Middle Mountain, where 360-degree summit views unfold over the entire Mount Washington Valley without sharing the trail with a single tour group.
The Nature Conservancy manages Green Hills Preserve for pitch pine and scrub oak habitat — rare ecosystems in New Hampshire that support species found nowhere else in the state. The trails benefit from Conservancy stewardship: well-blazed, clear of blowdowns, and maintained without the bureaucratic complexity of National Forest permitting.
From the summit, Mount Washington dominates the northwest skyline. Conway Lake fills the valley below. On clear mornings, the Presidential Range stretches from Madison to Monroe in an unbroken ridgeline that makes the climb worth every step of elevation gain.