Hiking the Whites: Our Guide

The Notch Hostel’s (Brief) Nobo Guide to the White Mountains Written by Declan (Winkle, SOBO ‘20)

The Whites are challenging––physically and logistically––but incredibly beautiful. Below is a recommended itinerary for the remainder of the AT thru the Whites. Check the Mount Washington Observatory–Higher Summits Forecast for a detailed 48hr forecast of the weather above treeline in the Presidential Range.

Moosilauke:

● Slackpack: 8.5 mi. Glencliff to Kinsman Notch (or start S of Glencliff to cover + miles)
● Plan for slow pace when picking thru rocky, often wet Beaver Brook Trail (final 1.5 mi)

Kinsman Ridge:

● Slackpack: 16.9 miles from Kinsman Notch to Franconia Notch

– Don’t underestimate: this is a rugged section of trail and not your average 16 miles.
● OR 2 days: Stay at Eliza Brook Shelter (7.5 miles) or Kinsman Pond Sh (11.5)
● Return to Lincoln/N Woodstock from Franconia Notch to resupply.

Franconia Notch to Pinkham Notch:

Day 1: Franconia Notch (I-93, Flume Visitor Center) to Garfield Shelter (10 miles) – No good water between Liberty Springs Tentsite and Garfield Shelter

Day 2: Garfield to Ethan Pond Shelter (15 miles, the last 5 are flat)

Day 3: Ethan Pond to Mizpah Hut/Nauman Tentsite (9.5 miles)

– It is possible to resupply in Crawford Notch (Rt 302). Hitch north (trail west) about 4 miles to the AMC Highland Center or 8 miles to a gas station.

Day 4: Mizpah/Nauman to Osgood Tentsite (15 miles) OR Pinkham Notch (20 miles) 2025 DETOUR: 17.5 miles from Mizpah/Nauman to road. Can hitch or walk to Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center or get a ride north to Gorham. Libby Hostel picks up from Pinkham Do not attempt to cross the Presidentials in inclement weather. 12 miles of this section are above treeline, totally exposed to rain and high winds.

– The only camping options after Nauman involve a long off-trail descent or a $150 hut stay at Lakes of the Clouds or Madison.

*ALTERNATIVE: 302 Boomerang – get dropped off at 302 and hike 27 miles back to The Notch in 1-3 days, breaking up this long, difficult section. Talk to staff for details.*

Wildcat-Carter-Moriah Range: 21 miles from Pinkham Notch to Rt 2 (Gorham). – Can be done as a challenging slackpack, or carry 2 days of food.

2025 DETOUR: 18.5 miles from Pinkham Notch (where AT detour and Rt 16 meet) to Rt 2 – makes this slack slightly easier, bypassing the steepest mile of the AT up the Wildcats.

Mahoosuc Range: 31 miles to Grafton Notch. Resupply in Bethel or Andover.

Road-to-road sections

Kinsman Ridge –– 16 miles –– Kinsman Notch to Franconia Notch (NH 112 to I-93)

Franconia Ridge & The Pemigewasset region –– 27 miles –– Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch (I-93 to Rt 302)

Presidential Range –– 26 miles –– Crawford Notch to Pinkham Notch (Rt 302 to NH 16)

Wildcat-Carter-Moriah Range –– 21 miles –– Pinkham Notch to Androscoggin River (NH 16 to Rt 2)

Mahoosuc Range –– 31 miles –– Route 2 to Grafton Notch (Rt 2 to ME 26)

Shelters, Tentsites, & Huts

By section, in order going northbound

(Huts should not be relied on for overnight accommodation, but are a good source of food and shelter from bad weather.)

Eliza Brook Shelter, Kinsman Pond Shelter, Lonesome Lake Hut

Liberty Springs Tentsite, Garfield Ridge Shelter, Galehead Hut, Guyot Shelter(0.8 off trail), Zealand Falls Hut, Ethan Pond Shelter

Mizpah Hut/Nauman Tentsite, Lakes of the Clouds Hut, The Perch (off-trail), Valley Way Tentsite (off-trail), Madison Spring Hut, Osgood Tentsite

Carter Notch Hut, Imp Shelter, Rattle River Shelter