Elevation Graph Northern Presidential Loop

Date Route Completed – 5/22/2011

If you are interested in a long hike similar to the Presidential Traverse but are having problems figuring out the logistics of a ride from one end of the traverse to the other this is an option for you.     This Northern Presidential Loop is a long hike just under 20 miles and can be done in a long day ~12-14 hours.       It allows you to climb the mountains including Washington North in the presidential range and return back to your car at the Pinkahm Notch Lodge.
I did this as an early season alternative to the Presidential Traverse when the AMC shuttle was not running yet,  and I did not want to deal with the logistics of driving two cars or paying over $100 for a taxi ride.   It is a long hike and the last 5 miles through the Great gulf Wilderness seem to go on forever but if you are looking to climb a few of the presidentials in one day this is a good option and you have a few decent options back to the Pinkham Notch Loidge if you need to cut the hike short due to time or weather.
You will summit Washington, Clay, Jefferson, Adams, and Madison if you hike this route.

Northern Presidential Loop from Pinkham Notch
Start Point Trail Elevation Start (ft) Elevation End (ft) Elevation Start (m) Elevation End (m) Distance Segment (miles) Cumulative Distance (miles) End Point
Pinkham Notch Lodge Tuckerman Ravine Trail 2034 3018 620 920 1.3 1.3 Intersection Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Huntington Ravine Trail
Intersection Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Huntington Ravine Trail Tuckerman Ravine Trail 3018 3740 920 1140 0.8 2.1 Intersection Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Raymond Path Trail
Intersection Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Raymond Path Trail Tuckerman Ravine Trail 3740 3789 1140 1155 0.1 2.2 Intersection Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Lio Head Trail
Intersection Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Lio Head Trail Lion head Trail 3789 5151 1155 1570 1.1 3.3 Intersection Lion Head Trail and Alpine Garden Trail
Intersection Lion Head Trail and Alpine Garden Trail Lion head Trail 5151 5709 1570 1740 0.3 3.6 Intersection Lion Head Trail and Summit Trail
Intersection Lion Head Trail and Summit Trail Summit Trail Washington 5709 6289 1740 1917 0.4 4 Washington Summit
Washington Summit Gulfside Trail 6289 5840 1917 1780 0.5 4.5 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Great Gulf Trail
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Great Gulf Trail Gulfside Trail 5840 5709 1780 1740 0.1 4.6 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Clay Loop Trail
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Clay Loop Trail Clay Loop Trail 5709 5531 1740 1686 0.7 5.3 Mount Clay Summit
Mount Clay Summit Clay Loop Trail 5531 4659 1686 1420 0.5 5.8 Intersection Mout Clay Loop and Gulfside Trail
Intersection Mout Clay Loop and Gulfside Trail Gulfside Trail 4659 4593 1420 1400 0.1 5.9 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Sphinx Trail
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Sphinx Trail Gulfside Trail 4593 5381 1400 1640 1 6.9 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Six Husbands Trail
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Six Husbands Trail Six Husbands Trail 5381 5712 1640 1741 0.4 7.3 Summit of Jefferson
Summit of Jefferson Six Husbands Trail 5712 5381 1741 1640 0.4 7.7 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Six Husbands Trail
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Six Husbands Trail Gulfside Trail 5381 4921 1640 1500 0.5 8.2 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Edmunds Col Cutoff
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Edmunds Col Cutoff Gulfside Trail 4921 5184 1500 1580 0.7 8.9 Intersection Gulfside Trail and Isreal Ridge Path
Intersection Gulfside Trail and Isreal Ridge Path Gulfside Trail 5184 5512 1580 1680 0.6 9.5 Thunderstorm Junction
Thunderstorm Junction Mt Adams Summit Loop Trail 5512 5774 1680 1760 0.3 9.8 Mount Adams Summit
Mount Adams Summit Mt Adams Summit Loop Trail Descend 5774 5052 1760 1540 0.6 10.4 Intersection Gulfside Trail
Intersection Gulfside Trail Gulfside Trail 5052 4790 1540 1460 0.4 10.8 Madison Hut
Madison Hut Osgood Trail 4790 5367 1460 1636 0.4 11.2 Madison Summit
Madison Summit Osgood Trail 5367 5118 1636 1560 0.3 11.5 Intersection Osgood Trail and Howker Ridge Trail
Intersection Osgood Trail and Howker Ridge Trail Osgood Trail 5118 4856 1560 1480 0.3 11.8 Intersection Osgood Trail and Daniel Webster Scout Trail
Intersection Osgood Trail and Daniel Webster Scout Trail Osgood Trail 4856 2822 1480 860 2 13.8 Intersection Osgood Trail and Osgood Cutoff
Intersection Osgood Trail and Osgood Cutoff Osgood Cutoff 2822 2657 860 810 0.6 14.4 Intersection Great Gulf Trail and Osgood Cutoff
Intersection Great Gulf Trail and Osgood Cutoff Great Gulf Trail 2657 2526 810 770 0.1 14.5 Intersection Great Gulf Trail and Madison Gulf Trail
Intersection Great Gulf Trail and Madison Gulf Trail Madison Gulf Trail 2526 2690 770 820 2.1 16.6 Intersection Madison Gulf Trail and Old Jackson Road
Intersection Madison Gulf Trail and Old Jackson Road Old Jackson Road 2690 2034 820 620 1.9 18.5 Pinkham Notch Lodge