Difficult/Challenging hikes close to seacoast nh? (Dover, Barrington: home, live)

[jhanson7183]

I've been driving from dover nh where I live to the white mountains this summer as I wanted to pick up hiking as a hobby. Already did the most difficult trail I could find (Huntington ravine on mt Washington) on my first outing and have since been trying to find other hikes like it

Getting a little sick of the gas driving there and back though and wanted to know if anyone knew of some good challenging hikes a little closer to my area? I recognize there aren't any "real" mountains close by but any good bouldering spots that would allow a decent free climb with some good elevation gain or exposure?

If not and I do leave for the white mountains tomorrow, what would be up there in terms of a good challenge? Again not looking for endurance or distance, its more about finding a hike with a little risk involved

Thanks!

[Wells5]

White Dot Trail on Mount Monadnock; shortest, steepest and rockiest of the trails. From there you can test your endurance by hiking on the 50 mile Monadnock- Sunapee trail.

[nativenewenglander]

The Six Husbands Trail is a good one in the Whites, steep, climbing ladders even snow sometimes still in late July. I'm not a rock climber, so I can't help you with rocks to climb in your area.

[Scribesoft]

How about the sheer granite walls on the Boulder trail in Pawtuckaway Park? Lots of huge boulders and cliffs to play on. Easy to reach from Round Pond road in Nottingham. (20 min from Dover)

There's also the Goodwill Conservation area in Barrington (just a bit west of Calef's on route 9), They have some decent cliffs less than a mile in on the left. (10 min from Dover) Keep your expectations low on this one, but it's worth checking out.

There's always Stonehouse Pond in Barrington with a 150 ft tall cliff to play on. The actual hike is pretty short/easy, but if you climb rocks, that's a big one. (10 min from Dover)

We've been hitting the trails/48 in the whites when we can, but there a lots of decent little hikes around the seacoast. Pawtuckaway alone has over 40 miles of trails. You won't be challenged like in the Whites, but some of these trails can still get your heart rate moving and keep you in shape for the big trips up north.. Plus you can go early in the am and still be home for lunch!

[Valerie C]

The closest 'real' mountain from the seacoast with some exposed rock is probably going to be Mount Chocorua. It's just a tad under 3500 ft. but lots of rock and great views of the 4000 footers. I haven't climbed it in years (decades...) but I remember it as being a very challenging hike, with some areas that I needed to use both hands for the trip to the top.