Great Gulf Trail: The Great Gulf Trail is a challenging 7.7 mile primitive trail up Mount Washington through the Great Gulf Wilderness Area. From the trailhead, the Great Gulf Trail crosses over the Peabody River and follows the river for 2.5 miles to the Bluff, a scenic lookout point above the junction with the Madison Gulf Trail. Crossing back over the Peabody River, the trail continues gently uphill along the river for 3.2 miles to Spaulding Lake beneath the dramatic headwall of the Great Gulf. From the lake, the trail climbs 0.7 miles steeply up and over the headwall into the alpine zone where the trail ends and joins the Gulfside Trail. Continue 0.2 miles up the Gulfside Trail to the Trinity Heights Connector, and follow the Connector 0.1 miles to the summit of Mount Washington.
Wamsutta Trail: The Wamsutta Trail offers an alternative route up Mount Washington through the Great Gulf Wilderness. After following the Great Gulf Trail for 4.3 miles, turn left at the junction for the Wamsutta Trail, which climbs 1.6 miles up to the alpine zone, ending at the Mount Washington Auto Road. Hikers headed for the summit can cross the Auto Road onto the Alpine Garden Trail, and in 0.3 miles turn right up the Nelson Crag Trail to climb the final 0.9 miles to the summit.
Before you hike, know the hiker responsibility code and be prepared:
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Mount Washington State Park:
Occupying 60 acres on the summit of the Northeast's highest peak, Mount Washington State Park is surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest and, one a clear day, affords views that extend as far as 130 miles to Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Quebec, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Sherman Adams building, a modern summit building, houses The Sherman Adams Visitor Center, a cafeteria, restrooms, gift shops, the Mount Washington Observatory and its museum. The historic Tip-Top House is located adjacent to the summit building. Visitor services are only available during the summer hiker season.
Learn more about the park and visitor services from NHSP's Mount Washington State Park web page.
These trails are managed jointly by the White Mountains National Forest and NH State Parks and maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. For more information, contact:
Great Gulf Wilderness Trailhead: From North Conway, New Hampshire, head north on US-16 for 5.4 miles and turn right in Glen to continue on US-16 towards Pinkham Notch. In 16.3 miles, after continuing past the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center and Mount Washington Auto Road, turn left for the Great Gulf Wilderness Trailhead.
From Interstate 93, take exit 35 for US-3 N, continuing 12.5 miles through Twin Mountain to NH-115. Take NH-115 N 9.5 miles to US-2, then turn right/east for Gorham. In 13.9 miles, in downtown Gorham turn right for US-16 S towards Pinkham Notch. The Great Gulf Wilderness Trailhead is in 6.3 miles on the right.
The trails up Mount Washington are strenuous, and weather on the exposed alpine summit can be harsh and unpredictable.
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