Summary

This is an excellent long trail with mostly moderate grades, a wide variety of topography, flora, fauna, and views from the center of the Great Gulf.

It begins in a parking lot and quickly crosses an elaborate suspension bridge over the Peabody River. A turn to the left proceeds up a shallow slope paralleling the river. A few outlooks onto the river reveal it has narrowed and become choked with large rocks.

The trail passes through a grassy area and eventually, a view onto the river shows that it is worth a clamber down to the riverbed. If the water is low, then there will be a large dry area, filled with stones and boulders, with the Peabody passing to the south. Climbing up on that side reaches an island where a cascade from the river flows downstream.

Back on the trail, ascent begins in earnest, eventually crossing a short pinewood section, dark and sheltered. Then it suddenly steps out onto the ridgetop, with fantastic views of the interiour of the Great Gulf and of the Presidentials.

A descent from the ridge passes a crossing over the river that caused some confusion as it was not mentioned in the guidebook. Stay with the trail, as it will eventually meet the second suspension bridge and cross the Peabody yet again. But before that, it rises to a second ridge with camping areas that would make a superb, if exposed, overnight. Then the ridge is descended via a moderately steep dirt trail.

After the bridge, the trail rises to meet the Madison Gulf, which branches to the left; stay right and the trail proceeds through a rough wooded topography and eventually emerges at Clam Rock, a huge boulder shaped like a Giant Clam.

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Streams and Rivers

White Mountains, NH

All Day

Four To Eight Miles

Moderate

By Name

Straight Out, Straight Back

Summit Views

White Mountains, NH - July 2002