Jump into Spring

New Hampshire
The White Mountains offer some of the most glorious hiking along the East Coast. The stony granite slopes open up more expansive views than the dense forest that covers most of the rest of the Appalachians. Late spring, in between the bugs of summer and the mud of late winter, is a wonderful time to go. Trees are budding, but before they fully leaf out the wildflowers are glorious. Look for trout lilies, Canada mayflowers, trilliums. Claire Grabher, owner of New England Hiking Holidays, says, "Sometimes they carpet the woodlands."

However, weather in the Whites is notoriously extreme, especially at higher elevations. In spring, it's best to stick to the lower elevations and be prepared for sudden changes in weather.

But there is a bonus for hiking this time of year: fewer people. The White Mountains are famous for their inns. And in the spring, the scarcity of people translates into good availability. Weather going to be nice this weekend? Go for it!

Read Tom Dunkel on Hut-to-Hut Hiking in the Whites