Forest Society to reveal 2025 Mount Major visitor survey result

ALTON — Mount Major stands as one of the most popular hiking destinations in New Hampshire, offering stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee and drawing an estimated 80,000 regional, national, and global outdoor enthusiasts every year. To better understand the experiences, needs, and preferences of these visitors, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests recently conducted a comprehensive Visitor Use Management Study.

The public is invited to a community presentation from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Gilman Library, located at 100 Main St. in Alton, where the Forest Society will share the findings of this 2025 Visitor Use Survey.

The study relies on data gathered between June and November 2025, during which trained field researchers conducted brief, voluntary on-site interviews with hikers at the Mount Major trailhead. The initiative designed its data collection to improve the overall quality of visitor experiences, assess crowding and environmental pressures, and guide future communication, infrastructure, and investment priorities. Additionally, researchers examined hiker preferences toward future management actions to help promote a more welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable recreation environment on the mountain.

"As we celebrate our 125th anniversary of conserving and caring for New Hampshire's forests, understanding how the public interacts with iconic landscapes like Mount Major is more important than ever," stated Jack Savage, president of the Forest Society. "With tens of thousands of annual visitors, Mount Major serves as a vital regional economic driver and a gateway to the outdoors for countless schools, camps, and families. This survey data provides the essential roadmap we need to balance robust community recreation with the permanent protection of the natural environment, ensuring a high-quality, sustainable experience for generations to come."

To learn more about hiking Mount Major, coordinating group visits, reviewing trail updates, or exploring ways to volunteer and support ongoing conservation efforts, visit the Forest Society at forestsociety.org.