Slackpacking the Whites

Slackpacking is a great way to experience some of the toughest terrain on the Appalachian Trail without carrying your full pack. We offer shuttle support, help with planning, and storage for extra food and gear so you can travel lighter and move more comfortably through these rugged sections. Read below for details on each option. (click here to return to the main AT info page)

Moosilauke slackpack

Overview

NOBO: Stay at Hikers Welcome, then slack north over Moosilauke in the morning and stay at The Notch that evening.

SOBO: Stay at The Notch, then slack south over Moosilauke in the morning and stay at Hikers Welcome that evening.

Route

Rt. 112 / Beaver Brook Trailhead ↔ Rt. 25 in Glencliff / Hikers Welcome.

Mileage & elevation

9.4 miles, 4,000 ft. elevation gain NOBO / 3,200 ft. elevation gain SOBO

Shuttle Information

We offer free shuttles four times daily to Kinsman Notch (Rt. 112). Text/call us to sign up for a pick up time. If your plans change during the day, keep us posted. There is cell service at the top and some hikers are able to text at the parking lot.

Cost

$25 paid to Hikers Welcome for transporting your pack north. $10 for SOBOs if staying the night with them.

Hike Difficulty & Details

Heading north from Rt 25: Go past Jeffers Brook Shelter and follow the AT up the road to the Glencliff Trailhead. Ascend the less steeply-graded Glencliff Trail. Reach the exposed summit of Moosilauke at mile 5.6, and enjoy the incredible views. Heading down, you will pass Beaver Brook Shelter. After that, the trail descends steeply to the trailhead at Rt. 112. Plan for a slow pace when picking through the rocky and often wet Beaver Brook Trail (final 1.5 miles).

Kinsman slackpack

Overview

The Notch is ideally situated for a 16-mile slackpack between Kinsman Notch and Franconia Notch. This rugged stretch of trail typically takes two days with a full pack, but you can knock it out in one. We’ve slacked thousands of hikers across this section since opening in 2015.

Some hikers still prefer to tackle this section in two days/one night. Those folks have the option of leaving excess gear and food at The Notch so they can travel light, returning to the hostel again before moving forward north or south.

Route – start/finish

Rt. 112 / Beaver Brook Trailhead ↔ Flume Visitor Center (Franconia Notch)

Mileage & elevation

16.9 miles, 4,800 ft. elevation gain

Shuttle Information

We offer free shuttles four times daily to both trailheads:
• Kinsman Notch (Rt. 112)
• Franconia Notch (Flume Visitor Center)

Take the first shuttle out in the morning to your starting point. Before you leave, sign up for a return shuttle. If your plans change during the day, keep us posted — most hikers have service at either end and intermittent service along the ridge.

Cost

FREE when staying at The Notch for two nights.

Hike Difficulty & Details

The first 9 miles are rugged, with plentiful PUDs and classic White Mountain terrain. Highlights include the steep climb out of Kinsman Notch, the relentless Mt. Wolf PUDs, infamous mud pits, and a steep ascent up South Kinsman.

On clear days, the summit of South Kinsman offers incredible views. After descending North Kinsman, food and water are available at Lonesome Lake Hut.

From Lonesome Lake, enjoy a relatively mellow 3 miles to I-93. Use caution at Cascade Brook in high water. After crossing under I-93, turn right (trail east, due south) and follow the paved bike path 0.9 miles to the Flume Gorge Visitor Center, where cell service is reliable.

Return to The Notch for night two — and either shuttle back to Franconia Notch the next morning or take a well-earned zero.

302 “Boomerang”

Overview

The 302 Boomerang is a strategic option that allows you to rest, resupply, and lighten your pack before tackling the Presidential Range. This rugged 27.6-mile section is rarely completed as a true slackpack — most hikers spend one or two nights on trail.

Route

Start at Crawford Notch (Rt. 302) and hike southbound to Flume Gorge Visitor Center (0.9-mile side trail to parking area).

Mileage & elevation

27.6 miles, 8,800 ft. elevation gain

Shuttle Information

We drop you off at Rt. 302 / Crawford Notch (NOBO mile 1851.8).
You hike SOBO to Flume Gorge Visitor Center (mile 1824.2), where we offer pick-up four times daily.

Stay at The Notch to rest and resupply. We then shuttle you back to Rt. 302 so you can continue northbound, refreshed and carrying less weight.

Cost

Hike Difficulty & Details

While it’s possible to complete this section in one long day, very few hikers choose to do so. The Boomerang breaks up a long, demanding stretch and provides rare resupply and lodging options before the Presidentials. Overnight options italicized below.

Highlights include:

Initial climb from Ethan Pond Trailhead, followed by five miles of relatively mellow cruising
Ethan Pond Shelter (mile 2.5)
Zealand Falls Hut (mile 7) — snacks available and occasional leftover breakfast
Climb past wooded Zealand Mountain
Twinway traverse to South Twin (mile 13), featuring some of the best views in the Whites, followed by a steep descent to Galehead Hut (mile 13.5)
Rolling Garfield Ridge and spur trail to Garfield Ridge Shelter (~mile 16), then to Garfield summit (more great views)
Final climb to Mt. Lafayette and the iconic Franconia Ridge

Franconia Ridge is famous for a reason. You’ll spend two miles above treeline (approximately mile 18.7–20.7) with sweeping alpine views as you traverse across Lincoln to Little Haystack.

Descend into tree cover and turn right at the Liberty Spring Trail junction. You’ll hike past a spur trail to Liberty Spring Tentsite (~mile 23). At the small bridge and junction, take the bike path to your left (right continues AT SOBO) and follow it to Flume Visitor Center for pickup.

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