WVAIA has a four-season hiking program (see SNOW SHOE for winter hikes), concentrated in the southwest corner of the White Mountain National Forest, including the Sandwich Range, Moosilauke area, Franconia Notch, routes off of the Kancamagus Highway, Route 302 hikes, as well as other destinations. We also specialize in unique backcountry excursions on old logging roads, streambeds; bushwhacking trail-less peaks to out of the way destinations with special features, such as waterfalls, cliff faces and old logging sites, not to mention spectacular views. There is no charge for WVAIA members. Guests are asked to make a small donation.

Each hike is led by either one or two experienced hikers. They are most often all-day adventures, beginning at 9AM. Exceptions to this are outings that are rated EASY, for trails without much ascending, and usually not more than 3 miles roundtrip. Water crossings are rare, and are small and easy to negotiate, and we're normally out for a half a day. The MODERATE hikes are typically 4 to 6 miles roundtrip, more than a half a day, with sustained ascending, but with nothing very steep. Water crossings are more frequent, but never wide or difficult. If the hike is 7-9 miles long, it is often MORE DIFICULT, in that there are always long periods of steady ascent, with relatively short steep sections, more challenging water-crossings, and significant overall mileage that keeps us on the trail all-day. The DIFFICULT hikes are usually over 10 miles roundtrip, characterized by prolonged sections of steep and very steep terrain, in many cases with several stream-crossings, and a challenging overall distance, often finishing in the early evening.