What better way to celebrate the arrival of September and the fall season than to get outside and walk to a pretty place? As the month goes on and the foliage begins to turn, conditions only improve for hiking. Yes, the hours of daylight are decreasing, but the days are still plenty long, and the weather conditions will never be better.

At this time of year it is more important than ever to carry lots of water and to dress in layers in anticipation of changing temperatures. I guarantee that any sandwich you eat after walking through the beautiful woods and finding a perch on a granite summit will taste better than ever.

Here are some ideas of where and how to explore the possibilities.

Sunset Hill Trail in Newbury is a 2.5-mile round-trip walk in the Hay Forest Reservation that all ages can enjoy. The trail starts across Route 103A from The Fells parking lot.

As you pass through a forest of beech, sugar maple, and white birch, you will see evidence of former settlements in stonewalls and cellar holes, so there is no rush. Take your time; there’s no prize for rushing, and you might be surprised at what you can see along the trail.

At the top, looking west, the views of the south end of Lake Sunapee are terrific, and if you time it right, you can watch the beginning of the sunset before descending along the same path.

Another rewarding hike is to the summit of Mount Major (1,786 ft) near Alton Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee. The large parking area for the trailhead is 2.4 miles south of the junction of New Hampshire Routes 11 and 11A. It is 1.5 miles to the summit via the Mount Major trail, but there are several options for routes up and down.

After scrambling over some rocks, you arrive at a vast, open space with spectacular 360° views of the lake and surrounding forests. The hike itself will probably take about 2.5 to 3 hours, but allow a good amount of time to enjoy your time at the top.

If you are more comfortable heading out on a guided hike, consider joining one the walks sponsored by the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG) group. A bonus of joining one of these hikes is the opportunity to meet other hikers.

If you have observations, photos, or questions about the natural world of Andover,  please send them to AndoverNaturally@nullgmail.com.