Welch-Dickey Trailhead — Attraction in Thornton

This trail is the Jekyll and Hyde of the white mountains because it really consists of two very different types of hikes. Take the trail to the right as you pass the map and pay ($5 to park) display board. This will take you on the preferred counter-clockwise route and thus give you the option to experience a moderately difficult in-and-out hike to the beautiful overlook or to continue on to complete the full loop. The walk from the trailhead to the overlook is a moderate climb up a nicely carved forest trail with plenty of footholds. There are a few switchbacks that keep the climb reasonably easy. It is here we were blessed with the sight of an adult black bear roaming the forest about 50 yards uphill from us. Truly a beautiful (somewhat unnerving) sight. There is one bare granite scramble just before you emerge from the forest onto the bald granite face where the overlook presents you with a beautiful view of the valley below and the mountain range miles beyond. Purple mountains majesty indeed! Enjoy this view! This is where less experienced or less adventurous hikers should, in my opinion, stop and turn around. The view from here is comparable to any you will experience should you decide to continue following the yellow trail markers around the rest of the loop. Be advised that, should you decide to continue climbing from here you will be met with terrain features that are physically challenging. You will encounter some challenging rock ledges to climb and bald granite faces to scramble over. Most of the bald scrambles lack any sort of handhold and a slip (in wet weather) or misstep on a few of them could spell disaster. The views of distant mountain peaks are marvelous from the top but,for some, the effort required to reach the bald granite dome of Welch may be too much. Ideally I would hike to the overlook (and back) in September/October to enjoy the spectacular Fall foliage for,in my opinion, that hike represents a reward commensurate with the effort required to obtain it. My wife and I, both fit for our fifty years, completed the entire loop in four hours (though to us if felt much...

A Mix of Challenge and Beauty!

Last Saturday, we embarked on an adventure at the Welch Dickey Trailhead. Our morning started off in a thick fog, but Mother Nature soon unveiled her true colors as the fog lifted by the time we reached the first summit. What greeted us was a picturesque panorama that was worth every step.

However, the trail is not without its share of challenges. Most notably, the large rock slabs that form substantial parts of the route can become extremely slippery. Even though the trail has a moderate difficulty level, a few of my fellow hikers had trouble navigating these slick surfaces and needed assistance. This might be a point to note for novice hikers or those with limited physical agility.

In terms of trail clarity, there is some room for improvement. A few crucial trail signs are missing, which made navigation a bit of a guessing game at times. On more than one occasion, we found ourselves straying from the path. While this added to the sense of adventure, it might pose challenges for those less familiar with the area or those hiking in less than ideal conditions. To sum it up, Welch Dickey Trailhead is a beautiful, rewarding hike, but it could benefit from some maintenance and additional safety measures. The trail requires a level of fitness and navigational skills due to the slippery rock slabs and the lack of clear path markers. Nonetheless, the stunning views and the feeling of accomplishment make the Welch Dickey trailhead a worthwhile experience for...

Trip on Sunday 10/11/2020 We really loved this hiking trail! We are beginners in hiking and so far we've been hiking only about 10 times for the past 3 years (6 of those happened this year actually). But so far this trail, in my opinion/based on my experience, is the most picturesque. We had to stop probably like over 10 times ( or even more) to take pictures because every spot was so beautiful. I would say this is a moderate level trailhead (coming from a person who never goes to the gym and is not in a strong physical shape). Some spots are more challenging and steep but manageable. And it was definitely a busy trailhead but not overwhelming. People were nice and let you pass by if you needed. We arrived around 9.30 am and the parking lot was already full so we had to park on a side street. Be careful and read the signs sins on one of the side street you can park only on a certain side (we saw cars with tickets parked on the opposite side when were leaving the trail). We've seen people hiking with dogs. But it's not a good trail to bring small kids, in my opinion. Have some cash on you since there is a donation fee of $5 for parking. You'll have to take an envelope at the entrance to trail that has a pass for your car and another where you put $5 in, fill out the information and drop it in a...