Pinkham-Crawford-Franconia Notch Traverse (Westbound)
Distance: ~33.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~12,900 ft
Direction: East to West (Pinkham Notch to Franconia Notch)
This rugged and scenic traverse links three iconic notches in New Hampshire’s White Mountains: Pinkham Notch (Route 16), Crawford Notch (Route 302), and Franconia Notch (I-93). Starting at Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch, the route travels westward across the southern Presidential Range, through the Gibbs Brook Scenic Area, into Crawford Notch, and onward through the Pemigewasset Wilderness, finishing at the Lafayette Brook Scenic Area in Franconia Notch.
Route Description:
- Start: Joe Dodge Lodge, Pinkham Notch (Route 16) - Tuckerman TH
- Climb: Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Crawford Path, ascending to Lakes of the Clouds Hut
- Traverse: Continue on Crawford Path past Mount Monroe, Mount Franklin, Mount Eisenhower, and Mount Pierce
- Descent: Follow Crawford Path past Gibbs Falls into Crawford Notch, reaching the Highland Center
- Transition: Pick up Avalon Trail, passing Mount Avalon, then connect to the A-Z Trail past Mount Tom
- Climb: Join Zealand Trail to Twinway, arriving at Zealand Falls Hut
- Traverse: Continue on Twinway to Mount Guyot, entering the Pemi Loop
- Climb: Summit South Twin, descend to Galehead Hut, then ascend Mount Garfield via Garfield Ridge Trail
- Final Push: Summit Mount Lafayette, descend via Greenleaf Trail past Greenleaf Hut
- Finish: Old Bridle Path to Lafayette Place East parking lot, Franconia Notch (I-93)
Why This Route?
This traverse is a natural extension of the region’s most celebrated loops — the Franconia Ridge Loop, Presidential Traverse, and Pemigewasset Loop — offering a challenging and scenic route that threads together the heart of the Whites. With nearly 13,000 feet of vertical gain over 33.5 miles, it’s a formidable training ground for athletes preparing for the White Mountain Hut Traverse, White Mountains 100, or other ultra-distance endeavors.
Expect technical terrain, alpine ridgelines, historic huts, and remote wilderness — all packed into one continuous push across New Hampshire’s most iconic high country.
