How to Hike Mount Tom, Field, and Willey

Mount Tom, Field, and Willey: Starting point

The Avalon Trailhead is located at the Crawford Depot in the Crawford Notch State Park, off Route 302. Parking is available at the trailhead. Arrive early to assure you get a spot, though this parking area is larger than most of the others.

If you need a bathroom before or after your hike the AMC Highland Center is right next door! 

Mount Tom, Field, and Willey: Trail description

The Avalon Trail is a well-marked and well-maintained trail that climbs gradually through a mixed forest of hardwoods and conifers. The trail is approximately 10 miles long and gains about 3,500 feet of elevation.

On our hike, we began on the Avalon Trail, hiked out and back to Mount Tom, then continued on to Mount Field before finally making our way to Willey’s summit. After reaching the peak of Willey, we retraced our steps back to Mount Field before descending via the Crawford Notch Trail to complete the loop, ultimately ending the hike on the same trail we started on

Mount Tom

After hiking for approximately 2.5 miles, you will reach the summit of Mount Tom, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding White Mountains. The summit is marked by a small cairn and is a great spot to take a break and enjoy the views.

The ascent to Mt. Tom was surprisingly manageable, and I found this section to pass by quickly! The trail offered a pleasant and steady climb, making the hike up to Mt. Tom a relatively enjoyable experience.

Mount Field

From Mount Tom, continue hiking along the Avalon Trail for another 1.3 miles until you reach the summit of Mount Field. The summit of Mount Field is marked by a large cairn and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Moving from Mount Tom to Mount Field was another pleasantly manageable section of the hike, and the transition between the two peaks felt surprisingly swift. The trail made the journey over to Mount Field seem shorter than expected, allowing us to enjoy the scenic beauty and make good progress along the way.

Mount Willey

From the summit of Mount Field, continue hiking along the Avalon Trail for another 1.1 miles until you reach the summit of Mount Willey. Mount Willey offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

There is a friendly gray jay, the biggest one we’ve ever seen! If you have any food crumbs, put them on your hand and the gray jay will most likely come over and say hi!

The hike over to and back from Willey was the hardest part for us! This could’ve been because of the trail conditions, it might be easier when the snow melts. We were hiking mid May which meant the monorails were very thin, lots of postholing and microspikes were necessary. We still had fun, just had to take it slow.

Mount Tom, Field, and Willey bonus peak: Mount Avalon

During your descent, be sure to keep an eye out for the “Mt. Avalon 100 Yards” sign and take a moment to explore this hidden gem! A short five-minute climb will lead you to breathtaking vistas and stunning panoramic views. This is the perfect spot to pause, enjoy a final snack break, and replenish your energy before continuing the rest of the hike downhill.

Return Trip

To return to the trailhead, you can continue on retracing your steps along the Avalon Trail back to the Crawford Depot.

Take it slow on the way down, there are some rocky sections where having poles will help a lot!

NH White Mountains: Tips

The hike to Mount Tom, Mount Field, and Mount Willey via the Avalon Trail is considered moderate to challenging, so be sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, and appropriate hiking gear.

Hiking poles can also be helpful, especially when descending on steeper sections of the trail, we regretted not bringing ours. It’s also important to check the weather forecast before starting your hike and to be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Our hike stats

• Length: 10.21 miles
• Elevation gain: 3,458 feet
• Moving time: 6:17:23
• Avg pace: 36:59
• Calories: 3,273
• Total time: 7:27:13

We use All Trails to track our hikes!

Conclusion

Embarking on the adventure of hiking Mount Tom, Mount Field, and Mount Willey via the Avalon Trail in the NH White Mountains is a truly rewarding experience! From the well-marked trail to the breathtaking views, this journey has it all. As we tackled each peak, the trail proved to be well-maintained, guiding us to the mountain tops. The snow-covered summits added an extra touch of adventure, requiring microspikes and presenting postholing challenges. Nonetheless, the effort was worth it!

Remember, preparation is key for this moderate-challenging hike. Carry enough water, snacks, and appropriate gear. Be mindful of changing weather conditions and follow Leave No Trace principles. As you stand on the peaks, take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds you…it’s just amazing!

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Have a blast and stay safe on this hike! If you have any questions, please ask in the comments below!