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Places We Protect

Green Hills Preserve

New Hampshire

An expansive view of forested hills that span across a mountain valley.
Green Hills Preserve View of Mount Washington Valley from the Green Hills Preserve in North Conway, NH. © Joe Klementovich, Klementovich Photography

Welcome to one of New Hampshire's most beloved preserves, nestled in the Mount Washington Valley.

Announcing trail closures at Green Hills Preserve this fall.

IMPORTANT UPDATE (10/20/25): Starting Monday, October 20, Tulip Trails will begin realignment work on Black Cap Trail. The trail will remain open for now, but heavy equipment will be operating on the lower section. Please use caution and watch for closure signs near gates on each end of Hurricane Mountain Road. Closures will be temporary and only when necessary. Thank you for your patience as we make the trail safer and more sustainable! 

Why We’re Improving Black Cap Trail
Black Cap is one of the most popular hikes in the Green Hills Preserve, and heavy use has led to erosion and widening of the trail in sensitive areas. To protect wildlife habitat and maintain a safe, enjoyable experience for visitors, we’re realigning sections of the trail and reinforcing its structure. These improvements will reduce environmental impact, improve drainage, and ensure the trail remains sustainable for years to come—all while preserving the scenic beauty that makes Black Cap and the Green Hills Preserve a favorite destination.

Overview

Description

Just east of the hustle and bustle of North Conway Village lies a ridge of small mountains with bald peaks and outstanding views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range. More than 5,500 acres of this ridgeline and three mountain peaks are protected in The Nature Conservancy’s Green Hills Preserve.

Here, visitors are rewarded with excellent hiking and opportunities to view unusual red pine rocky ridge habitat and rare plants like White Mountain silverling, smooth sandwort and green adder’s mouth. In addition to its exposed ridge habitats, the preserve also features wetlands, mixed hardwood forests and hemlock groves, which support a diversity of White Mountain wildlife like black bear, bobcat and wood warblers. On summer evenings, the bald peaks also provide a great place to watch for common nighthawks and listen for the ethereal songs of whip-poor-wills, which are thought to nest near the summits.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Hours

The preserve is open from dawn to dusk daily.

Highlights

Enjoy incredible views of the Mount Washington Valley while hiking, running, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing along more than 50 miles of trails. Mountain biking and snowmobiling are allowed on designated trails only. Hunting is allowed; be aware of hunting seasons.

Size

5,500 acres

Explore our work in New Hampshire

Photos from Green Hills Preserve

Adults and children alike love this popular hiking destination, where TNC is working with partners to manage the forest for long-term resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Mist settles around a set of mountains with fall colors in the foreground.
A woman in a red winter coat puts her hand on a tree. You can see her breath.
A man in a hat holding a tiny tree sapling.
A whip-poor-will sitting on a branch in a tree.
An aerial view of a forest with mountains in the background.
A red-breasted nuthatch songbird.
A mountain biker on a trail in the woods.
A black bear cub stands next to a tree.
A group of hikers making their way up a trail.
A smooth rocky slab on a mountain side.
Mist settles around a set of mountains with fall colors in the foreground.

Green Hills Preserve: A mountainous view at the Green Hills Preserve in the Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire. © Joe Klementovich

A woman in a red winter coat puts her hand on a tree. You can see her breath.

Hiking in the Green Hills:: Bekah Herndon enjoys the evergreens while hiking to Black Cap Mountain on a very cold and scenic day in the Green Hills Preserve in North Conway, New Hampshire. © Ben Herndon/Tandemstock.com

A man in a hat holding a tiny tree sapling.

Smile for the Trees: Northern New Hampshire Land Steward Mike Crawford plants a tree seedling at the Green Hills Preserve in North Conway. © Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography

A whip-poor-will sitting on a branch in a tree.

Eastern-Whip-Poor-Will: (Antrostomus vociferus) © Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren

An aerial view of a forest with mountains in the background.

Managing for the Future: In partnership with land managers across the state, TNC is using innovative management techniques to help the forests at the Green Hills Preserve be more resilient. © Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography

A red-breasted nuthatch songbird.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch: A red-breasted nuthatch clings to the side of a tree at the Green Hills Preserve © Daryl Burtnett/TNC

A mountain biker on a trail in the woods.

Cruise Control: A mountain biker on a trail at the Green Hills Preserve. © Joe Klementovich

A black bear cub stands next to a tree.

Black Bear Cub: Protecting forests provides critical habitat for wildlife and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing carbon in trees. © Dave Shaffer/TNC Photo Contest 2022

A group of hikers making their way up a trail.

Black Cap: Hikers make their way to the summit of Black Cap Mountain at the Green Hills Preserve. © Joe Klementovich

A smooth rocky slab on a mountain side.

Peaked Mountain: The unusual red pine rocky ridge habitat at Green Hills Preserve is home to several rare plants. © Harold E. Malde

Hidden Lives (2:48) Explore the hidden lives of the wildlife that roam the Green Hills.

Visit

  • The Green Hills Preserve is part of a larger matrix of contiguous conservation lands including town land, the Conway State Forest and the White Mountain National Forest. More than 50 miles of hiking trails on the preserve provide moderate to strenuous routes to the summits of Middle Mountain, Peaked Mountain and Black Cap, and also lead to the town’s Pudding Pond conservation area where the lovely Pudding Pond Trail follows a brook through spruce-fir and hemlock woods to Pudding Pond. During your visit you'll encounter:

    • Panoramic views: From Black Cap, Middle Mountain, and Peaked Mountain, enjoy sweeping vistas of the White Mountains and Mount Washington Valley.
    • Geology on display: Look for Conway Granite ledges and glacial polish—smooth, marble-like surfaces created by ancient ice.
    • Rare forest communities: Explore red pine rocky ridges, uncommon in New Hampshire, and mixed hardwood forests shaped by historic fires.
    • Wildlife encounters: Keep an eye out for moose, black bear, and songbirds along forest edges and open ledges.
    • Seasonal color: Brilliant fall foliage and spring wildflowers make this preserve a year-round destination.

  • Download the Green Hills Trail Map and Guide

    Black Cap Trail – 2.4 miles round trip (moderate)
    A steady climb through hardwood forest to open granite ledges with 360° views of the White Mountains and Conway Valley. Great for sunrise or sunset.

    Middle Mountain Trail – 3.2 miles round trip (moderate)
    Winds through mixed forest and past glacial features before reaching ledges with views toward Mount Washington and the Saco River valley.

    Peaked Mountain Trail – 2 miles round trip (moderate)
    Shorter but steeper, this trail rewards hikers with glacial polish and dramatic ledge views. Look for red pine stands along the ridge.

    Connector Trails
    Several short connectors link these summits, allowing for loop hikes or extended treks across the ridge.

    • Parking: Trailheads are located off Hurricane Mountain Road; there is a parking area. Note that this preserve gets very busy and parking is limited—carpool when possible.
    • Trail conditions: Surfaces are rocky and uneven; sturdy footwear recommended.
    • Seasonal notes: Trails can be icy in winter and muddy in spring; check conditions before heading out.
    • Hunting: Allowed in parts of the preserve—wear blaze orange in fall.
    • Leave No Trace: Pack out all trash, stay on marked trails, and respect wildlife.
    • Pets: Dogs are allowed but must be leashed at all times.

  • To minimize disturbance of the wildlife and habitat of this nature preserve and to support the enjoyment of all visitors, please follow these guidelines:

    • Leave No Trace—please keep the preserve clean by carrying out your trash.
    • Snowmobiles are allowed on designated multi-use trails only. All other motorized use is prohibited.
    • Mountain biking is allowed on designated trails, but is prohibited anywhere on “foot travel only” sections of the trail system.
    • Off-trail mountain biking is strictly prohibited.
    • Absolutely no mining, drilling or removal of any plants, minerals, sand, gravel or rock.
    • Help us protect wildlife on the preserve and be respectful of other hikers by keeping dogs leashed and under verbal control.
    • Respect the natural world around you! Do not remove or destroy plants, wildlife, minerals, rocks or cultural items.
    • No camping or open fires allowed.
    • Hunting is allowed in parts of the preserve. Please obey all posted signs and contact the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department for dates and regulations.
    • The use of Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices is limited to: Non-combustible engine, no wider than 36", weigh less than 500 lbs and doesn’t exceed walking speed. Restricted to woods roads and the Mason Brook Snowmobile trail.
A woman in a red winter coat and white backpack stands on a snowy ridge and looks out over a mountainous vista.
A Cleaner, Healthier Future Bekah Herndon takes in the dramatic vews of the Presidential Range and surrounding hills of the Mount Washington Valley while snowshoeing along Black Cap Mountain Trail near the summit of Black Cap Mountain at sunset in the Green Hills Preserve near North Conway, New Hampshire. © Ben Herndon

History

A Landscape Forged by Stone, Fire and Stewardship

Shaped by stone and ice. The Green Hills ridgeline is Conway Granite, formed about 200 million years ago. You can see bedrock ledges—and classic glacial polish—on Middle, Peaked and Black Cap mountains, where open slabs deliver wide White Mountain views.

A forest written by fire. In the early 1900s, wildfires swept the summits and set the stage for New Hampshire’s largest and best example of red pine rocky ridge—roughly 700 acres spanning Peaked, Middle, Rattlesnake and nearby ledges. Many ridge‑top red pines are similar in size because they established after those historic burns.

Protected by people who cared. The modern conservation story began in 1966, when Katherine Billings and Anna B. Stearns hiked Peaked Mountain and set out to protect the Green Hills. After years of negotiations, TNC purchased 2,822 acres in 1990—with crucial support from Anna B. Stearns—followed by a 1,400‑acre donation in 1998 and 24 more acres in 2010. Today, TNC’s holdings here total more than 5,500 acres.

A living lab for climate‑smart forestry. The Green Hills is now a Climate Resilient Forest Management demonstration site, co‑designed with partners (including the University of Vermont) to test tactics like patch cuts, crop‑tree release, biological legacies and future‑adapted seedling plantings that diversify forests and support wildlife while also storing more carbon. Explore our Climare Resilient Forest Management work.

Nearby Preserves

Need more nature? Visit The Nature Conservancy's other preserves.

Find More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

See the Complete Map

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