White Mountains

I was in awe the first time I climbed it up the Howker Ridge Trail to Mt Madison. Howker runs along the top of a ridge that’s capped by these strange rocky peaklets, called Howks, which poke out above treeline at intervals along the route. Their tops are barely a …

Mt Paugus is an infrequently-visited  3000 footer that has great views of Mt Chocorua and Mt Passaconaway because it’s situated in between these two popular peaks. I hiked up it over the weekend to sit on its south-facing cliff, which is a huge expanse of open ledge, that’s perfect for …

Province Pond is a picturesque 10-acre backcountry pond with an Appalachian style lean-to on the east side of the White Mountain National Forest, near North Conway, New Hampshire, just south of Evans Notch and the Maine state line. It’s a short and easy hike to the pond and campsite, making …

There are 651 trails in the AMC’s White Mountain Guide which add up to about 1460 miles of trails and anywhere from 2200 to 2800 miles of actual hiking. People known as “redliners” aim to hike them all, a process that can take years and require thousands of miles of …

Sawyer Pond is a picturesque backcountry pond on the east side of the White Mountain National Forest, near Crawford Notch and Bartlett, NH. It’s easy to hike into, making it an ideal destination for families, small groups, or couples who want a quiet place to camp without undertaking a huge …

Mt Parker is a 3004 ft mountain in the Presidential-Dry River Wilderness with expansive views of Mt Washington and the Southern Presidential Range. It’s also on the 52-With-a-View Peakbagging List, which many New Hampshire hikers gravitate to after they’ve completed a round of the White Mountain 4000 footers and want …

Oakes Gulf is a glacial cirque on the south side of Mt Washington, similar in size and scale to Tuckerman Ravine, but much harder to access because it’s so far from a paved road. Home to the avalanche-scarred Dry River, which isn’t dry at all, it’s located in the Presidential-Dry …

Redlining has become very popular in the White Mountains Hiker Community, so here’s an overview of what it entails and how to keep track of your progress using the official Redlining Spreadsheet. What is Redlining? Redlining involves hiking every trail listed in the Appalachian Mountain Club’s White Mountain Guide within …

The Caps Ridge Trail is a popular above-treeline trail in the White Mountains because it’s the shortest route to climb Mt Jefferson (5712′), the third-highest 4000 footer on the AMC’s 4000 footer list. The trail starts in the forest and gradually climbs above treeline over a series of rocky outcrops …

Sugarloaf Mountain is a 52-with-a-view peak in the Nash Stream Forest, a conservation area in Northern New Hampshire, about 10 miles north of Mt Cabot and the northernmost border of the White Mountain National Forest. The Nash Stream Forest is considerably less developed than the White Mountains to the south, …

North Tripyramid is a 4000 footer located in Waterville Valley, NH, in the southern half of the White Mountain National Forest. While there are a number of different trails you can follow to climb it, the most challenging one is via the Mt Tripyramid Trail, which climbs an avalanche slide …

The Ice Gulch Trail is located in Randolph, NH across from the high peaks of the Northern Presidential Range. It’s a narrow ravine filled with giant boulders that is strenuous and challenging to hike and scramble through. The AMC White Mountain Guide (p 564, 30th edition) describes it as follows: …

Peaked Hill Pond is a lovely destination in the Southern White Mountains and an easy day hike for kids and harried parents. The trail to the pond is a short 1.6 miles in length and easy to follow. Fishing is also an attractive option, by float, or with waders. It’s …

March is the best month to climb the higher peaks in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range when temperatures warm up and the days are longer, but it’s still full-on winter conditions above treeline. This is home of Mt Washington, the White Mountains highest peak, which is on the same ridge with …