White Mountains New Hampshire Appalachian Trail Section Hike
New Hampshire’s hiking trails are built differently. They are built for pain, for chest thumping workouts, and of course extremely epic payoffs. The White Mountains are the alpha dogs of New Hampshire hikes. In this article I share my journey through them on my White Mountains New Hampshire Appalachian Trail Section Hike!
Galehead Hut, part of the AMC White Mountain Huts on the AT in New Hampshire.
In 2023 we section hiked 1,225 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the longest footpath in the world, and spent 13 weeks day hiking, working, and van camping on the Appalachian Trail as we moved up the trail slowly from Georgia to Maine. In this series we cover each section we hiked and in this article we cover a section we hiked in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
IF HEADING NOBO (NORTHBOUND) ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL Franconia Notch IS LOCATED AT MILE MARKER 1825.1 ON THE 2023 AT AND pinkham notch IS AT MILE MARKER 1878.8. THIS 53.7 MILE STRETCH IS WHAT WE COVERED IN 5 DAYS AND YOU WILL GAIN 18,700 FEET OF ASCENT AND HAVE 18,100 FEET IN DESCENT.
White Mountain Appalachian Trail Section Hike Need to Know’s:
1. This stretch was the physically hardest section of the AT I did. I had never hiked ascents and descents (outside of other day hikes in New Hampshire) that were quite this steep. Be forewarned if you aren’t used to hiking in the White Mountains!
2. Much of the Appalachian Trail in this section has different names (Crawford Path for instance) but the white blazes will still be your guide on the trail.
3. The White Mountain AMC Huts are available for purchase to backpack through this stretch but also sleep on a bed. Or if you are a thru-hiker they typically allow two work for stays at night to help out with chores but you will be sleeping on the floor. I stayed at the Galehead Hut and loved the experience, it’s the Phantom Ranch of the East!
4. We stayed in Conway New Hampshire, in Intervale New Hampshire, and in the huts to complete this section of the trail. This stretch is remote but water sources are typically easy to find.
5. The Mount Washington Summit gets a bad rap I think at times by the hiking community. The wilderness is not just for hikers who can make it to the top in my opinion and to share it with people who drive or take the tramway was fun. There are TONS of other summits in the whites you have all to yourself!
6. Make sure you get a reservation in advance at a White Mountain Hut in the summer/weekends if you are wanting to guarantee a stay at one.
7. Bring your trekking poles. I would have cried without them. Especially on Garfield Ridge.
8. Your mileage will be slower in the White Mountains than your normal pace unless you live in Nepal, I can almost guarantee it. Plan accordingly :)!
9. Our Trail Towns Podcast Episode on New Hampshire offers more lodging and dining and things to do options in the area HERE.
10. Mt Washington has the worst weather in the world and is the deadliest small mountain on Earth.
Check the weather reports and BE PREPARED!
The Mt Washington Summit White Blaze of the AT.
What else happened that was memorable during this section hike?
We met two hikers attempting to do nine 4,000 foot summits in two days and one doing a trail run of all them in one day!
I actually skipped Mt Washington’s section on my original hike. We were supposed to meet Jill’s parents in Acadia in Maine after the hike and due to a hurricane we wound up coming back to this area and the weather was good so I added this section on! Mt Washington was technically my final day on the trail.
The Galehead Hut is the only all female CROO in the White Mountains, I was honored to stay with them!
The Garfield Ridge and Crawford Path stretches to the Garfield and Washington Summits were the hardest sections of the entire trail outside of the boulder push up Katahdin.
This was the most picturesque section of the trail that we hiked. It reminded me of the big mountains of Colorado and Washington in terms of the views, slopes, granite, and more.
WHAT GEAR DID I USE AND LIKE THE MOST ON MY 2023 AT SECTION HIKE?
Hoka One Kaha’s were my trusted shoes for this day (and for the whole summer on the trail.)
I used my REI 40 Liter Backpack. This worked great since I was coming on and off the trail every day but most thru-hikers or multi-day section hikers were looking at bigger packs than mine.
Darn Tough Vermont and Merino Wool Socks from REI and SmartWool were my go to’s.
Osprey Water Bladder and Lifestraw Collapsible Filter for hydration.
I wore New Balance running shorts mainly and much preferred that to more typical hiking shorts.
Gaiters were a must as was coating our clothes in Permethrin to avoid ticks. (We did not get any ticks remarkably while hiking the AT in 2023.)
The AT Guide by AWOL and AT Conservancy are AMAZING resources for a hike on the AT!
If there was one section of the entire Appalachian Trail that I would love for every hiker, backpacker, or outdoor lover to enjoy for themselves it would be this one.
It also happens to be the most difficult and taxing on the physical body, but the way it nourishes your soul and mind will offset it! From the huts to the massive ascents to the sweeping views to the history of a place with the highest winds ever recorded on Earth it’s a special and wild place.
From Washington to Lincoln to Twin to Galehead to Garfield to Jackson to Webster there were more summits and sore knees than I can imagine.
The AT is known for painful ascents and descents and not as good of payoff views as the PCT or the CT. The payoff views in the Whites are as good as the others, you still get the painful steep climbs though.
The White Mountains are dangerous and beautiful. It's an experience I’ll never forget and this was probably my favorite five day stretch on the entire 13 week hike we did. It was stunning and life changing. I hope I get to visit them again in my life.
Waterfall in Tuckerman Ravine.
This was the steepest stretch (both up and down) that we experienced on the Appalachian Trail.
This section of trail in New Hampshire took us five days, if you continue on you’ll be in Gorham and into Maine before you know it. It’s probably the section you need to train for the most and one that seasoned hikers are familiar with the most, especially from out west in the US or those outside of the country.
Thanks for reading and happy trails to you! Whether you are planning a thru, section, or day hike…or are a trail town local, trail angel, or just someone wanting to learn more about the longest footpath in the world…I hope the Appalachian Trail gives you what you need! Don’t forget to Leave No Trace and pack your 10 Essentials!
Comment below with questions or your experience on hiking the AT in the White Mountains.
Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R
Exhausted and joyful and grateful after a punishing and safe summit atop Garfield.