How to Hike Mount chocorua and Middle Sister in One Day 

A White Mountains Trail Report

Last Updated: 6/24/2025

Want to hike Mount Chocorua and Middle Sister in the White Mountains but not sure where to start? In this post, I’ll share the unique point-to-point route I took to summit both peaks in one day—complete with 3 waterfalls, 2 52 With a View peaks, and 1 Terrifying 25 trail. I’ll break down the terrain, mileage, and logistics (including the car shuttle), and share what made this hike one of my favorite NH adventures.

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What to Expect Hiking Mount Chocorua and Middle Sister

The hike to Mount Chocorua and Middle Sister is a fun but challenging hike that takes you up a very ledgy trail with stunning views all the way up, and enough miles to keep you entertained all day. It took us about 7.5 hours to finish the entire route, with a long lunch break on the Chocorua summit.

If you include the car shuttle, it’s closer to 8 hours to finish the hike as there is a 15 minute 1 way drive between the trailheads.

If you’re hiking the 52 With a View list or the Terrifying 25, then this is a hiking route you’ll want to consider! We were able to cross off 2 of the 52WAV and 1 of the trails from the T25 list.

Even if you aren’t working on these lists I would still recommend taking the route I’m going to detail below. On the way up you get stunning views along the Carter Ledge trail, which is both challenging and rewarding. At the top of Middle Sister you get a gorgeous and unique view of Mount Chocorua from the back and side, giving you a nice clear view of all the work ahead of you!

Quick Hiking Stats

Map + Route Overview

Map

Route Overview

Step 1: Parking

Begin by meeting your hiking partner at the Champney Falls Trailhead off the Kancamagus Highway as the AMC Guidebook does NOT recommend going down the Carter Ledge Trail! 

Once one car is parked at Champney Falls Trailhead, drive the 15 minutes to Piper Trailhead with the other car to begin the day’s journey. There is a small fee at both parking areas. 

Step 2: Begin Hike

Starting  at the Piper Trailhead, follow the Piper Trail past the junction with the Wetamoo Trail, making sure to stay on the Piper Trail until it meets with Nickerson Ledge Trail. Take the slight right in the fork to follow Nickerson Ledge Trail until it joins with Carter Ledge Trail, which you will take until it joins Middle Sister Trail. 

Middle Sister Trail will take you along the top of a ridge to summit Middle Sister, which is only marked with a cairn so keep your eyes peeled for it! Once you summit Middle Sister, follow the Middle Sister Trail past the juncture for Champney Falls Cutoff Trail, rejoining with the Piper Trail to summit Mount Chocorua. 

Step 3: Head Back Down

On the way back you’ll retrace your steps along the Piper Trail, back to the Middle Sister Trail, and then take a left to follow Champney Falls Trail back to the parking lot where you parked the first car. Make sure to take the cutoff trail that brings you to the waterfalls- it adds about .4 miles to the total hike but it is more than worth the extra work! 

Step 4: Car Shuttle

Once you make it back to Champney Falls Trailhead parking lot, shuttle the car back to the Piper Trailhead along route 16 and the day is done!

Detailed Trail Breakdown (Section by Section)

Piper Trailhead to Middle Sister

Piper Trail → Nickerson Ledge Trail 1.2 miles

Terrain: Fairly easy grade with a challenge at the last 0.5 mile.

Begin at the trailhead to the Piper Trail. Following the Piper Trail through a beautiful forest, the first 0.6 miles to the Wetamoo Trail intersection are pretty easy.

After you pass the Wetamoo Trail which was well marked, you’ll continue along the Piper Trail for another 0.6 miles until the intersection with Nickerson Ledge Trail.

The second 0.6 mile section of this hike picks up a little in difficulty as you gain about 450 feet in 0.5 miles. The intersection of Piper Trail and Nickerson Ledge Trail is well marked, but make sure to double check your map.

Nickerson Ledge Trail → Carter Ledge Trail 0.8 miles

Terrain: Steep, rocky, open ledge.

Once on the Nickerson Ledge Trail, there is a short burst of intense climbing that eventually levels out as the trees open up, giving you some views of the stunning scenery around you. After a fairly uneventful 0.8 miles you’ll join with the Carter Ledge Trail, which you’ll soon be able to check off your list of T25.

Carter Ledge Trail → Middle Sister Trail 1.7 miles

Terrain: Steep, rocky, open ledge.

Once on Carter Ledge, things get a bit hairy. For about 1 mile you’ll be scrambling up open face rock ledges, crossing questionable patches of granite, and generally questioning your life decisions.

As challenging as this section was however, the open trees and ledges allowed for a stunning view of the many lakes and mountains around, allowing for many photo opportunities. And the scary ledges you climb over add to the sense of adventure of the day, making the 1.7 miles between Carter Ledge and the Middle Sister Trail a memorable part of the day.

Most of the trail was open with small areas where stubby trees provided shelter from the sun and moss was growing happily. While I was happy to see the trail sign indicating that we were merging with the Middle Sister Trail (well marked and very clear), the Carter Ledge Trail was a memorable experience that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to include in part of your next adventure.

Middle Sister Trail → Middle Sister Summit 0.4 miles

Terrain: Mostly flat and open ledge.

Once you’ve joined with the Middle Sister Trail, most of your climbing is done for Middle Sister and you can enjoy the mostly open, beautiful ledge leading up to the summit.

At this point it’s mostly flat as you walk along giant exposed granite rocks with cairns indicating the path to follow. After 0.4 miles of mostly gentle grade you’ll come to the summit of Middle Sister, which is a pile of rocks in a small clearing.

The views are 360 and are truly breathtaking. Once you’ve soaked in your fill of the views on Middle Sister, it’s time for the last big push of the day- summiting Mount Chocorua.

Middle Sister to Mount Chocorua

Middle Sister Trail → Piper Trail 0.4 miles

Terrain: Gradual camel backs with slight up and down variations.

The 0.4 miles from the summit of Middle Sister to the intersection of the Piper Trail is fairly moderate terrain.

You’re still on a ridge so there are little peeks of the views as you take a slight down turn from the summit of Middle Sister, then a slight up, followed but a slightly steeper down as you come to join the Piper Trail.

Just after the Middle Sister summit there is a tricky point where there is a poorly marked shortcut to the Champney Waterfall Trail, make sure you’re staying on the Middle Sister Trail! After a fairly fun and easy 0.4 miles, it’ll be time to join the Piper Trail again and summit Mount Chocorua.

Piper Trail → Summit Mount Chocorua 0.4 miles

Terrain: open, rocky, challenging.

Now that we’ve arrived at the final push, things get really interesting. Right at the base of the open and rocky summit dome of Chocorua there is a split in the trail with a trail sign pointing you either up Chocorua or around the summit dome, and this can get a little confusing so just make sure that you’re sticking to the Piper Trail.

After a brief sojourn in the forest where this trail intersection is, the Piper Trail thrusts you right out onto the open and rocky summit dome of Mount Chorucra, which is essentially 0.4 miles of open rock scrambling.

Note that the trail can get a little hard to follow here as there are only blazes guiding you up. Another danger is how exposed this section of the trail is- make sure the weather is clear before attempting. After one big scramble up a large and flat granite slab you’ll be at the summit, where you’ll be provided far reaching views of the area. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Mount Chocorua to the Waterfalls & Trailhead

Mount Chocorua Summit via Piper Trail → Champney Fall Trail 0.4 miles

Once you’ve had your fill, take the Piper Trail back down until you reach the marked intersection with Champney Falls Trail. Before you get there you’ll pass the intersection of Piper Trail on the right, and you’ll stay with Middle Sister Trail for less than 0.1 miles until the intersection of Champney Falls Trail on your left.

Champney Falls Trail → Champney Falls Trailhead 1.2 miles

Terrain: Steep, rocky, some scrambling, can be slippery if wet.

Once on the Champney Falls Trail you will reconnect with the cutoff only a hundred yards along the trail, so make sure you’re sticking to the Champney Falls Trail which swings slightly left, otherwise you’ll head back to the Middle Sister Trail which you don’t want.

As you descend Champney Falls Trail the terrain becomes quite steep and at points slippery as there are a couple rock scrambles. Take your time, and this is the part of the trail that you’re really going to want trekking poles for.

After 1.2 miles you’ll come across a sign on the right hand side of the trail pointing towards the waterfall viewing area- I HIGHLY suggest taking this! It’s only 0.4 miles out of your way and you get to see some truly stunning waterfalls. The first waterfall you’ll see is the namesake Champney falls, before being taken down towards Pitcher falls.

If there has been decent rainfall you may be able to see another hidden waterfall towards the left of Pitcher falls that cascade over the top of a beautiful flume-like rock wall that you can hike up to- it was truly a wonderful surprise! This is the final adventure of the hiking trip, so take your time and explore.

Once you reconnect with the main trail it’s pretty smooth sailing all the way back to the parking lot. With the hike over, the final step is driving the 15 minutes back to the Piper Trailhead to retrieve the other car.

Important Logistics

Car spot details

The AMC Guidebook opposes going down Carter Ledge Trail, so meet your hiking partner at the Champney Falls Trailhead off the Kancamagus Highway. From there, drive the second car to the Piper Trailhead off of route 16 in Albany, New Hampshire. Once the hike is complete, you’ll both drive in the first car from Champney Falls parking area back to the Piper Trailhead, which is about a 15 minute drive. From there both cars can go their own way.

Parking Fees

Both trailheads require a $5 cash parking fee. Use the brown fee station to fill out the envelope, place your payment inside, tear off the hang tag for your dashboard, and drop the envelope in the box. To skip the hassle, you can also purchase a $30 annual White Mountain National Forest recreation pass.

Gear recommendations

Here’s a gear list for this hike that I found useful, in addition to the required Ten Essentials:

• Trekking poles
• Extra water shoes
• 3 pairs of extra hiking socks
• Iodine tablets
• Packable puffer jacket
• Electrolyte packets
• Energy goo

Best Time of Year For This Hike

I think you could hike Mount Chocorua and Middle Sister this anytime except winter! I think that once the ice and snow really settles in you wouldn’t want to be hiking Carter Ledge Trail or hiking the rocky summit of Chocorua as the blazes on the rocks were hard to find.

Who This Hike is Best For

This is a great adventure for hikers chasing the 52WAV or the T25 list. I also think this would be fun for anyone looking for an accessible single day adventure in the Whites that doesn’t require staying a night.

I would say this would not be a good fit for a beginner hiker as there is some navigation involved and Carter Ledge Trail and Champney Falls Trail both get a little scary in places.

Other Ways to Hike Mount Chocorua and Middle Sister (If You Only Have One Car)

Piper Trail (Out-and-Back) – Classic route to Chocorua with steady elevation gain and great views, but gets crowded on weekends.

Champney Falls Trail (Out-and-Back) – Scenic waterfall trail that makes a great single-peak hike if you skip Middle Sister or skip Mount Chocorua.

Middle Sister Trail – Shorter option that focuses only on Middle Sister’s unique perspective of Chocorua.

Liberty Trail (Out-and-Back) – The most popular and direct route up Mount Chocorua, Liberty Trail offers a moderate climb with a steady grade, but it skips most of the open ledge views that make the Carter Ledge route so dramatic.

Final Thoughts: Why I Loved This Hike and Why You Will Too

This hike was such a rewarding adventure, and I’m so glad we tackled it the way we did. I was genuinely surprised by how beautiful the Champney Falls Trail was—those waterfalls were the perfect way to end a long day, and honestly, they alone would be worth the hike.

But the real highlight for me was Carter Ledge Trail. I know it’s on the Terrifying 25 list, but I found the tricky sections to be more fun than frightening. Scrambling up ledges, catching views at every turn, and feeling like you’re really earning those summit rewards made this section one of my favorites in the White Mountains so far.

If you’re hiking the 52 With a View or Terrifying 25, this route checks off some big wins in one go. And even if you’re not chasing a list, this is just a downright awesome day hike—challenging, scenic, and memorable from start to finish.

Have You Hiked Mount Chocorua or Middle Sister?

Let me know in the comments if you’ve done this hike—or if you’re planning to! I love hearing about other people’s routes, experiences, and favorite trail moments.

And don’t forget to follow along for more detailed trail reports and hiking guides throughout New Hampshire and beyond!

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