Where to Find the Best East Coast Mountains in the US
Mountains are my favorite landscapes to visit. While I love the ocean and beaches, mountains are truly what hold my heart. If you are an avid hiker or outdoorsy person like myself, then this article is for you. In this article you will read about all the best east coast mountains in the US and what mountains to hike, ski at, and more.
I grew up in upstate New York, in the capital region, which is not too far from the Adirondack Mountains. That is where I’ve done most of my hiking and I am an Adk 46er. I’ve also hiked and alpine skied a lot in Vermont and New Hampshire. I genuinely believe that mountains and nature can heal people. Thus, if more people spent more time outside, I really believe people would be happier. I love reading about new mountains that I need to plan a visit to, so, hopefully after reading this article, you will have a few more mountain ranges on your list to visit as well.
In this article you will read about the best east coast mountains, best east coast mountains for families, best east coast mountains to climb, best east coast mountain towns, best east coast mountain hikes, best east coast mountain views, best east coast mountains to ski, best east coast mountain towns, Sugarloaf Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Saddleback Mountain, Mount Washington, Mount Katahdin, the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Appalachian Mountains.
This post is all about the best east coast mountains.
Best East Coast Mountains :
Best East Coast Mountains : Maine
Okay, to start off our list, I wanted to start with the most northern state on the east, Maine. Maine is home to the White Mountains, Acadia National Park, Longfellow, and the Mahoosuc mountain ranges. It also ends the EPIC Appalachian Trail at Mount Katahdin, where many people take their famous “end” pictures. Some epic ski mountains in Maine are Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Saddleback Mountain, Shawnee Peak, Lost Valley and Mont-Tremblant (in Quebec, Canada).
Within these mountains, some popular trails to hike are Mount Katahdin (end of the Appalachian Trail), Sugarloaf Mountain, and West Peak. Also, White Cap Mountain, Saddleback, Coburn, The Traveler’s Loop, Mount Chase, Puzzle Mountain, and Goose Eye Mountain are great. Lastly, Baldpate, Cadillac Mountain, Dorr Mountain, Pemetic, Penobscot, Spaulding, and Mount Abraham are great options as well.
Maine also has 14, 4,000 footers, meaning the mountains heights are above 4,000ft. You can hike all these peaks, however, there is no patch for the Maine 14, however, there is a patch if you hike ALL the New England 4,000 footers. This includes Vermont’s 5, 4,000 footers, Maine’s 14, 4000 footers, and New Hampshire’s 48, 4,000 footers. These are the most STUNNING peaks in these areas, so if you can, I HIGHLY recommend hiking any of the 4000 footers.
{ Related Post : The Best Ski Resorts in Maine }
Best East Coast Mountains : New Hampshire
Without a doubt, one of the best mountain ranges in the US are the White Mountains. I would also say, that the White Mountains are one of the best mountain ranges in the entire world. They are spectacular. The trails are well maintained (most of them) and have truly BEAUTIFUL summits. If you like green forests, green top mountains, and rock top summits with long ridge lines, you will absolutely fall in love with the Whites. They also have the tallest mountain in the east, Mount Washington, standing at 6,288ft.
Some of the best mountains to hike are all the 48s, Mount Washington. Also, the Presidential Range, Pemi Loop, Carter-Moriah Range, Franconia Ridge, Baldface Loop, Mount Chocorua, Mount Willard, Mount Cardigan, and Flume + Liberty Loop.
Some really great skiing/snowboarding mountains in New Hampshire are Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Gunstock, Bretton Woods, Attitash, Waterville Valley, Wildcat, and Mount Sunapee. The best east coast mountains for families in New Hampshire are Loon Mountain, Bretton Woods, Gunstock Mountain, and Attitash.
The best east coast mountains to hike are for sure in New Hampshire and New York. If you want the best East coast mountain getaways for hiking, I would stay in either Lincoln, New Hampshire or Lake Placid, New York. Now, if you want the best ski or snowboard mountain getaway, I would stay in Burlington, Vermont.
Best East Coast Mountains : Vermont
The Green Mountains in Vermont are best known for skiing/snowboarding and backcountry skiing/snowboarding. There is some good hiking in the summer, especially the Vermont 4,000 footers. However, ski mountains are AWESOME in Vermont. There are so many Vermont ski resorts to go to, some great ones that I recommend are, Jay Peak and Sugarbush. As well as, Mad River Glen, Smuggler’s Notch, Pico, Mount Snow, Okemo, Stratton, Magic, Killington Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort.
Overall, Vermont has the best east coast ski resorts and the best snowboarding on the east coast. They also have the most ski mountains by far. They have the best east coast mountain resorts and the best East coast mountain vacations for winter. Thus, this would be the best place to bring your family and have a great time. I would say the most family-friendly ski resorts in Vermont are Okemo, Pico, Killington, Smuggler’s Notch, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen.
Jay Peak is also a great resort, but I would save that for older kids that are good skiers because Jay, mostly has epic glades to ski instead of beginner and intermediate runs. The best east coast mountain town to live in, is by far Burlington, Vermont. Lake Placid, New York, Lincoln, New Hampshire and Camden, Maine are also great, but I think they’re better hiking towns instead of ski towns.
Some other great hikes in the Green Mountains Vermont are Pico, Deer Leap Trail, Killington Peak, Mount Mansfield, and Camel’s Hump. Also, Mount Abraham, Mount Ellen, Mount Olga, Stratton Mountain, Mount Ascutney, Bald Mountain, Belvidere, Burke, and more you can find here.
{ Relate Posts : Best Ski Resorts in Vermont & New Hampshire}
Best East Coast Mountains : New York
The Adirondacks, are without a doubt the gnarliest and most remote mountains along the east coast and within the US (apart from Alaska). I am bias when it comes to the Adirondacks, because I grew up not too far from them. However, I genuinely believe they are some of the most stunning mountains in the US. They are surrounded by dense green forests, rocky ridge lines, and BEAUTIFUL summits, particularly the 46 High Peaks. I promise, if you want STUNNING views and kick ass hikes (like 20 mile long climbs) HIKE the high peaks.
Some great hikes are Whiteface Mountain, Mount Marcy, all the 46ers, Big Slide, Giant’s Nubble, Bear Den. As well as, Giant Mountain and or Rocky Peak, Gothics, Colden, Colvin, Ampersand, Mount Adam’s Fire Tower, Hurricane, Rooster Comb, Noonmark, and SO MANY more that you can find here.
Some great New York ski mountains are Gore Mountain, Whiteface Mountain, Belleayre (SO MUCH BETTER than Hunter Mountain, DON’T GO to Hunter), Windham, Bristol, and Titus.
{ Related Posts : Best ski resorts in New York & 25 of the best things to do in the Adirondacks }
Best East Coast Mountains : Virginia & West Virginia
The best mountain ranges in these states are the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian, Shenandoah National Park, Grayson Highlands, Dolly Sods, Cacapon State Park, and Monongahela National Forest. The Grayson Highlands are breath-taking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you can hike by wild horses with gorgeous scenery. In addition, Shenandoah in the Appalachian Mountains is also amazing.
Some great hikes within these mountain ranges in Virginia are Humpback Mountain + Rocks, Dripping Rock South, Apple Orchard Falls. Also, Black Ridge Trail, Virginia Creeper Trail, McAfee Knob, Crabtree Falls Trail, Wilburn Ridge, Three Ridges Loop, Stony Man. In addition, Bearfence Mountain, Hawksbill, Sugarloaf Loop, Old Rag, and Mount Rogers.
Lastly, some great hikes within these mountain ranges in West Virginia are Breathed Mountain, Blackbird Knob. Also, Raven Ridge, Bear Rocks & Lion’s Head Loop, High Falls Trail, Douglas Falls Trail, Table Rock, and North Fork.
The best east coast ski towns in Virginia and West Virginia are Blue Ridge, Virginia and Snowshoe, West Virginia. Some great ski mountains in these two areas are Blue Ridge, Bryce Resort, Massanutten Resort, Wintergreen Resort, Snowshoe Mountain, Canaan Valley Resort, and Timberline Mountain.
Best East Coast Mountains : Tennessee
The best mountain ranges within Tennessee are the Great Smokies and Blue Ridge Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains are so graceful especially if you like green forests, and green mountain tops. The Smoky Mountains run through Tennessee and North Carolina.
Some popular hikes within the Tennessee Smoky mountains are Grotto Falls, Abrams Falls Trail (great for swimming), Laurel Falls. Also, Little River Trail, Newfound Gap & Charlie’s Bunion, Mount Cammerer, Alum Cave to Mount LeConte. Lastly, Cades Cove Loop, Thunderhead Mountain, Rocky Top, Gregory Bald, Mount Sterling, and Chimney Tops Trail.
Some famous mountains to hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee are Grassy Ridge Bald and Jane Bald.
{ Related Post : The Best Mountain Towns in the US }
Best East Coast Mountains : North Carolina
The mountains to visit in the USA in North Carolina are the Appalachian, Great Smoky, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you like nice rolling mountains with exceptionally peaceful scenery, then any of these mountain ranges are for you.
Some famous mountains to hike in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of North Carolina are Mount Mitchell, Shuckstack Tower, Andrews Bald. Also, Deep Creek Loop Trail, Grandfather Mountain, Waterrock Knob, Reinhart Knob & Richland Balsam Loop, Sugar Mountain, and Stone Mountain.
Some great Appalachian mountains in North Carolina to hike are Max Patch Loop, Lemon Gap to Hot Springs. Also, Deep Gap Trail, Albert Mountain, Silver Bald Mountain, and Lover’s Leap.
The best ski mountains in North Carolina are Sugar Mountain Resort, Beech Mountain, Appalachian Ski Mountain, and Cataloochee Ski Area.
Best East Coast Mountains : Georgia
Some famous mountains in Georgia are the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Georgia is actually where the infamous Appalachian Trail starts. It starts at the well-known, Springer Mountain, going all the way up to Mount Katahdin in Maine. It covers more than 2,000 miles and usually takes people anywhere from 3-5 months to complete.
Some great Blue Ridge Mountains to hike in Georgia are Brasstown Bald, Lake Blue Ridge Loop. Green Mountain via Whissenhunt Trail to Toccoa River, Panther Creek Falls, Benton MacKaye Trail, and Blood Mountain,
Some great Appalachian hikes in Georgia are Springer Mountain to North Carolina Border. Three Forks to Springer Mountain, Long Creek Falls, Hightower Gap, Woody Gap, Preachers Rock, Slaughter Mountain. Also, Lake Winfield Scott Trail, Tesnatee Gap, Indian Grave Cap, and Dicks Creek Gap.
And that wraps up the best mountain ranges on the east coast. Also, if you are interested in reading about the best east coast mountain lakes, I wrote an article about the best lakes. I truly love mountains so I hope this post inspires you to go check out some of natures neatest places to be and see. Thank you so much for reading and take care!
In this article you read about the best mountain ranges on the east coast, the best mountain ranges in the us, mountains to visit in USA, famous mountains, Whiteface Mountain, Mount Washington, Mount Katahdin, the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Appalachian Mountains.
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