About us
Welcome to the Hiking/Backpacking (HB) Committee of the Boston Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). AMC connects people to the outdoors. We offer a variety of volunteer-led hikes year-round, including: shorter hikes, easy to strenuous day hikes, introductory instructional programs, and overnight trips (hut and cabin trips and backpacks). While we lead trips throughout New England, our trips are most frequently located in the greater Boston area / MA and NH. AMC offers a structure for leadership training and peer-approved leaders so that we can operate safe and well-organized hikes. Our hikes are open to everyone based on ability (and requisite gear as applicable), although participants on backcountry trips are usually screened to ensure a good fit. You don't need to be a AMC member to join us for most trips, though we encourage you to support AMC’s work by becoming a member. We look forward to hiking with you!
Please read the full trip description first, not just the trip titles, before registering for the trip on the AMC website. Thank you.
Sign up for HB Announce, our newsletter that advertises our upcoming hikes twice per month.
Check out AMC’s activities, the official site for all AMC trip postings, for the Hiking/Backpacking Committee hikes and for trips from other committees.
Upcoming events
32
A Winter Adventure on Mt Jefferson
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Robert Mackin, Julie Huber
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN0000027a41
Register By: 2/26/2026
Audience: AdultsDescription: Mount Jefferson in New Hampshire offers rugged, close-up views of Mt. Washington and Mt. Adams from its alpine ridges all amidst stunning glacial cirques (Jefferson, Castle Ravine, Great Gulf). We will spend a significant amount of time above the tree line which will afford us magnificent views. This out and back hike on the Jewell and Gulfside trails is roughly 10 miles with an elevation gain of over 4000 feet. This is a very strenuous hike, which is very exposed to winter weather conditions . Weather permitting, we plan to maintain a slightly faster than average pace. Participants need to be in good shape and have significant winter hiking experience.
Full winter above treeline gear is needed, including base, insulation, and shell layers, plus full face and eye protection. Participants should have waterproof winter hiking boots with 400g insulation . Hydration is critical in winter and participants should carry at least 2 liters of water in wide-mouth shatterproof bottles and bring plenty of snacks. Participants should be comfortable using all forms of traction. Microspikes and technical crampons need to be fitted to your footwear. Kahtoola K10's or Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro with ¾" or longer spikes are an acceptable alternative to technical crampons. Mountaineering snowshoes are required. Plan to be on trail for 7.5-8.5 hours. Our goal will be to complete the hike by sunset, but you should bring a headlamp with spare batteries should conditions make that impossible.
See the link below for more details on winter gear: https://hb.amcboston.org/images/docs/Gear_lists/Winter_Dayhike_equip.pdf To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather, unacceptable trail conditions or excessive crowding, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join in that activity or opt out.Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeLiberty! Liberty! Liberty!.....Liberty! And Flume!
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 6 - Strenuous
Trip Leader(s): Katie Colleran, Jane van Heteren
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX0000010k3t
Audience: AdultsDescription: Join us for Mount Liberty and Mt Flume, bagging two 4000 fters on the Franconia Ridge on relatively sheltered trails with some amazing views. The route covers about 9.5 miles with about 4200 feet of gain. We will aim to hike at a moderate pace (up to 1.5 mph) and estimate a hike time of 8 hours. You will need microspikes, snowshoes, a headlamp and a winter shell. Use the AMC winter day hike gear list for reference.
To address unforeseen challenges such as adverse weather or unacceptable trail conditions, the planned trip destination, activity and/or meeting place and time may be modified. In that event, participants may elect to join the revised trip or opt out.Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeMiddle Sugarloaf and North Sugarloaf in Winter (a 52 With A View Hike)
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): John Willis, Karl Munger, Philip Weiser
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UUN000002B5Mb
Register By: 2/26/2026
Audience: AdultsDescription: Join us for an exciting winter hike to two scenic summits in the White Mountains: North Sugarloaf and Middle Sugarloaf. Middle Sugarloaf earns a spot on the 52 With a View list and, weather permitting, will deliver exceptionally expansive scenery. Some describe it as offering some of the most impressive vistas of any small peak in the range. North Sugarloaf also rewards hikers with excellent viewpoints.
Don’t be scared by the ladder shown in the photo! It is located just below the exposed ledges near the summit.
The round-trip hike covers approximately 6 miles with a total elevation gain of about 1,150 feet. Winter conditions make this outing longer than usual due to the seasonal closure of Zealand Road.
This hike is best suited for seasoned winter hikers equipped with full cold-weather gear, including insulated winter boots, microspikes, mountaineering snowshoes, and layered clothing systems. We will maintain a steady, moderate pace of roughly 1.5 miles per hour.
We will hike in most weather and will cancel only for truly dangerous hiking or driving conditions, such as extreme cold (forecast highs below 0) or substantial precipitation forecast with temperatures around freezing. If conditions are questionable, we will decide by 5 pm Friday before the hike. Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeWindham Rail Trail Hike, Windham, NH
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 3 - Easy
Trip Leader(s): Marc Hurwitz, Robin Doyle
Registration Type: Show & Go
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX00000123XV
Audience: AdultsDescription: 5- to 6-mile hike with AMC Boston Local Walks & Hikes along a scenic New Hampshire rail trail just north of the MA border that includes wetlands and deep woods (total elevation gain of about 100 feet).
Bring snack/lunch, water, trekking poles, and sturdy, water-resistant footwear, and also consider bringing gaiters and both traction devices and snowshoes if you have both just in case, though with 45-50 degree weather and sunshine forecasted, we may be able to just "bareboot" it if it isn't slippery due to the higher temperatures.
Meet at the Windham Rail Trail parking lot on Route 28 just south of the Route 111 intersection on the Windham/Salem line. From Route 93 in Windham, take Route 111 east (exit 3) and go 1.1 miles to Route 28. Take a right on Route 28 south and in about 0.4 miles, pull into the lot on the right. (GPS coordinates for parking lot: 42.8071371,-71.2463689; street address: 1 Rockingham Road, Windham, NH, 03087). Steady rain/snow cancels.
NOTE: This is a show-and-go hike, but please consider registering online by Friday evening so you won't need to fill out the paper waiver at the meeting spot.Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendee
Past events
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