Beginner hikers or those short on time will enjoy this hike. The grade is moderate and only the final sections require a little extra effort. The advantage in taking the loop in a clockwise direction is the view of the Presidentials and Mt. Washington you get when you reach the summit from the south. The grade remains fairly constant for the first two miles, passing through birch and hemlock, then dropping in and out of a ravine with a small brook nestled along the bottom. Take a minute here to stop and listen for water, wind, and the beeping of nuthatches and chickadees, the most common forest birds in this area. Continue climbing until the trail narrows and emerges out on the East Ledges. From here it's one mile to the exposed rock of the main summit. Be careful near the edges once you reach the top, especially if conditions are wet or icy. Mt. Hedgehog is located just north of Mt. Passaconaway in the Swift River Valley. Hedgehog separates the valley of Oliverian Brook on its east from that of Downes Brook on the west. Mt. Hedgehog, Mt. Potash, and Mt. Whiteface surround Passaconaway Mountain, one of the area's peaks above 4000 feet. Hedgehog is strikingly shaped, with Allen's Ledge on the north and the huge East Ledges on Little Hedgehog.

The vantage point from Allen's Ledge, located 1.1 miles up the west fork of the trail, affords a remarkable view. You can see Passaconaway, Chocorua, the Moats, the Presidential Range, Carrigain Range, and other eastern peaks. On clear days even the observatory on top of Mt. Washington is visible.