The Presidential Traverse crosses the whole range along its high ridge, from the Appalachia trailhead on Route 2 to Crawford Notch, over eleven summits and past all three AMC huts. Most of it is above treeline.
Elevation profile
North to south, the usual direction. Hover over or tap the chart to see the elevation at any point.
Route traced on OpenStreetMap trail data; elevations from the USGS 3D Elevation Program, sampled about every 80 meters. Summit heights in the table are the published figures.
Mile by mile
| Mile | Landmark | Elevation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Appalachia trailhead | about 1,300 ft | Start up the Valley Way |
| 3.4 | Madison Spring Hut | about 4,800 ft | AMC hut. The Osgood Trail climbs to Madison |
| 3.8 | Mount Madison | 5,367 ft | Out and back from the hut |
| 4.9 | Mount Adams | 5,774 ft | The second-highest summit |
| 6.9 | Mount Jefferson | 5,712 ft | Via the Mount Jefferson Loop |
| 8.3 | Mount Clay | 5,533 ft | Via the Mount Clay Loop, on the rim of the Great Gulf |
| 9.8 | Mount Washington | 6,288 ft | The high point. Summit buildings, Cog Railway, Auto Road |
| 11.2 | Lakes of the Clouds Hut | 5,030 ft | AMC hut, the highest in the system |
| 11.6 | Mount Monroe | 5,384 ft | Via the Mount Monroe Loop |
| 12.2 | Mount Franklin | 5,000+ ft | A broad shoulder on the Crawford Path |
| 13.6 | Mount Eisenhower | 4,780 ft | Via the Mount Eisenhower Loop |
| 15.1 | Mount Pierce | 4,310 ft | Leave the Crawford Path for the Webster Cliff Trail |
| 15.8 | Mizpah Spring Hut | about 3,800 ft | AMC hut, back in the trees |
| 17.2 | Mount Jackson | 4,052 ft | The last summit |
| 19.5 | Crawford Notch, Route 302 | about 1,890 ft | Finish via the Webster-Jackson Trail |
The route
This version follows one common line: up the Valley Way to Madison Spring Hut and an out-and-back to the summit of Madison, then south along the Gulfside Trail, with short side trails and loops over Adams, Jefferson, and Clay, to the summit of Washington. From there the Crawford Path runs past Lakes of the Clouds Hut and over Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower, and Pierce. The Webster Cliff Trail passes Mizpah Spring Hut on the way to Mount Jackson, and the Webster-Jackson Trail descends to Route 302 in Crawford Notch.
Strong hikers do it in a single long summer day, usually starting before dawn. Many others split it over two or three days with nights at the huts; bunks book up early, so see the Huts for booking links. In winter it is a serious mountaineering trip of two to four days.
There are many variations, including different starting trails and whether to climb every summit. See the Presidential Traverse on AllTrails for one popular version, and the Map for where everything is.
A serious undertaking. Almost the whole route is exposed to the weather, with few quick ways down from the middle of the ridge. Check the Higher Summits Forecast, carry winter layers in any season, and know your bail-out options before you start. See Hiking for more safety advice.