The Presidential Traverse is a point-to-point route across New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, linking a series of trails including Valley Way, Airline, Gulfside, and Crawford path. For this review, I’m covering the north-to-south route I ran from Appalachia Trailhead in Randolph to Crawford Depot in Crawford Notch.
My route came out to 19.4 miles with roughly 8,500 feet of climbing, including a long stretch above treeline and some of the rockiest, most technical terrain I’ve run. It’s a huge day, but the difficulty isn’t evenly distributed. Some sections are surprisingly runnable while others slow you down far more than the mileage suggest.
Either way, this is an epic run that I’d recommend to most trail runners visiting or living in the area.
Presidential Traverse at a Glance
- Route type
- Point-to-point
- Start → finish
- Appalachia Trailhead → Crawford Depot
- Highest point
- Mount Washington · 6,288 ft
- Terrain
- Extremely rocky and technical
- Exposure
- Extended above treeline
- Water
- Madison Spring Hut · Mount Washington · Lakes of the Clouds Hut
- Direction
- North → south
- Summits
- 7 major Presidential Peaks + Mount Clay
For a complete list of trails, be sure to check out my Trail Running Route Database where I add, review, and recommend every trail I’ve run around the world.
What counts as the Presidential Traverse?
There isn’t one “universal” route for the Presidential Traverse, which is why you’ll see different mileage, elevation gain, and summit totals depending on the source.
The core traverse connects seven peaks in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range named for the U.S. Presidents: Mount Madison, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Mount Monroe, Mount Eisenhower, and Mount Pierce. Some routes add nearby summits, such as Mount Clay, while longer versions will add even more.
The route I ran included Mount Clay, giving me eight summits total. Start at the Appalachia Trailhead, I followed Valley Way north-to-south across Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Clay, Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, and Pierce before descending to Crawford Depot. My GPS recorded 19.4 miles and roughly 8,500 feet of elevation gain.
That’s also why you may see the Presidential Traverse listed anywhere from roughly 18 to 20+ miles depending on the exact route and summits included. Believe me when I say this is a hotly debated topic online.
Should you run it?
Honestly, this one takes real commitment. It’s not a quick outing, and the point to point logistics mean you can’t just decide on a whim to run it, especially when you factor in the quick weather changes. But if you want a legitimate mountain run with some of the best ridge views in the Northeast, the Presidential Traverse definitely delivers. The catch is the combination of mileage, technicality, and exposure, all stacked on top of each other. This isn’t a trail to underestimate, at least I know I didn’t.
The Traverse is runnable, but not continuously runnable. The northern half is the biggest limiter. Madison, Adams, and Jefferson have long stretches of rocky, uneven footing where pace drops quickly and hiking is more efficient than trying to force a run. Once you get closer to Mount Washington (and especially south of Washington) the terrain becomes noticeably more runnable.
For me, the route felt less like a 19-mile run and more like alternating between technical trail running, careful scrambling, and short stretches where I could actually open up my stride.
You can check out my full post on doing the Presidential Traverse in one day if you want to know more about my experience.
Run the Presidential Traverse if you:
- Want a full-day mountain objective that links multiple 4,000-footers into one push
- Want sustained above-treeline running and views for miles at a stretch
- Can be flexible with your dates depending on the weather
Skip the Presidential Traverse if you:
- Are looking for something short or low commitment.
- Don’t have experience on technical, rocky, exposed terrain or have an issue with rolled ankles
Which direction should you run the Presidential Traverse?
I ran the Presidential traverse north to south, starting at Appalachia and finishing in Crawford Notch, and that’s the direction I’d choose again.
Going north to south puts the steeper, rockier northern Presidentials (especially Madison and Adams) earlier in the day while your legs are still fresh. As you move south of Washington, the terrain starts to become more runnable, which was a welcome change later in the run after my legs were taking a beating on the rockier, more technical areas. Also, depending how long it takes you, running it south to north could have you descending those steeper sections as the sun goes down.
Trailhead directions & transportation
Start at the Appalachia Trailhead in Randolph, New Hampshire, just off Route 2. From the trailhead, I took the Valley Way Trail toward Madison Spring Hut before heading up to Mount Madison. This is the standard northern starting point for the north-to-south Presidential Traverse.
My route finished at Crawford Depot in Crawford Notch, where the Crawford Path reaches Route 302. Since the Presidential Traverse is point-to-point rather than a loop, you’ll need to arrange transportation between the two ends of the route (more on this below).
Closest towns for food, lodging, and last-minute supplies are Gorham on the northern side and Bretton Woods or Twin Mountain near Crawford Notch.
Parking
Parking at the Appalachia Trailhead is in a large lot directly off Route 2 in Randolph. It’s a popular trailhead and can fill during busy periods, so I’d arrive early rather than count on finding a spot later in the morning.
At the southern end, there are several parking options around Crawford Notch. The Crawford Connector Trailhead lot currently costs $5 per day, while Crawford Depot has a recommended $10-per-day donation. AMC also lists some day-use parking at the Highland Center for $10 per day and some free roadside parking along Route 302. Because parking rules and fees can change, check AMC’s current parking information before you decide to do the run.
Shuttle and transportation
The simplest option for transportation is one of two options:
- Stage a second vehicle near the southern end
- Use the AMC White Mountain Hiker Shuttle
The shuttle stop at Valley Way at Appalachia and the Highland Center near Crawford Notch, making it a good option for the traverse. AMC recommends reservations, and the schedule changes throughout the season, so check the current timetable before your trip.
If you use the shuttle, I’d strongly recommend leaving your car at the finish and taking the shuttle to Appalachia. That way, once you come off the Crawford Path 19+ miles deep, your car is already there waiting for you.
The Presidential Traverse route
- Valley Way trailhead to Mount Madison and the Madison Hut (~3.8 mi)
- Mount Madison to Mount Adams (~1.5 miles)
- Mount Adams to Mount Jefferson (~3.5 miles)
- Mount Jefferson to Mount Clay and Mount Washington (~2 miles)
- Mount Washington to Mount Monroe, Eisenhower, and Pierce (~6 miles total)
- Mount Pierce to Crawford Depot via the Crawford Path (~2.5 mi)
Valley Way to Mount Madison: The climb is steady and forested for most of its length, with rocks, roots, and a handful of stream crossings before you break above treeline near Madison Hut.
- Liked: The transition from forest to open ridge right at Madison Hut, a clear payoff after a long, mostly shaded climb.
- Watch for: This climb sets the pace for your entire day. Take your time and don’t underestimate it.
Mount Madison to Mount Adams: Adams climbs steeper than Madison despite being second on the route. Water is available at Madison Hut, the last reliable fill-up before Mount Washington’s summit building, so be sure to hit this if you need it.
- Liked: Expanding views back toward Washington as you approach Thunderstorm Junction.
- Watch for: Steep, loose footing on the Adams climb and descent. This section is more physically demanding than the mileage suggests.
Mount Adams to Mount Jefferson: This stretch includes some exposed and technical footing on the traverse, roughly a mile of loose rock past Adams before a short, but steep push to Jefferson’s summit, about half a mile with 800 feet of gain, including a false summit near the top.
- Liked: Jefferson’s summit view of Washington is one of the best on the route, and it tends to be quieter than the other peaks. Enjoy some time here (I know I did)
- Watch for: Ankle stability. The loose rock past Adams is where most of my ankle rolls happened.
Mount Jefferson to Mount Clay and Mount Washington: Terrain improves noticeably here, with more packed trail and genuinely runnable sections mixed in with the climbing. Mount Clay sits about a mile and a half past Jefferson and is easy to miss at a trail split, so pay attention to junctions. Washington’s summit has a visitor center with food and water, the only such stop on the entire route. I enjoyed a nice pizza and Coke with a trail friend while I was here. Though the crowds will be a shock.
- Liked: The most runnable stretch on the traverse in my opinion and a real chance to make up time.
- Watch for: Clay’s summit is small and gets crowded in peak season, sometimes requiring a brief step off trail to pass groups.
Mount Washington to Mount Monroe, Eisenhower, and Pierce: Terrain and grades ease up noticeably south of Washington. Lakes of the Clouds Hut, near Monroe, is your last water source before the finish. Rocks can get slick if weather moves in, which happens often on this stretch, especially in the afternoon.
- Liked: The most runnable section of the southern half, especially between Mount Franklin and Eisenhower.
- Watch for: Wet rock. This is typically where afternoon weather starts to catch up with you.
Mount Pierce to Crawford Depot (Crawford Path): The descent from Pierce runs about 2.5 miles to Crawford Depot, on clean, well-defined trail after a day of technical footing.
- Liked: Predictable footing after a long day above treeline, though it’s still a bit technical.
- Watch for: Fatigue-driven mistakes. By the southern Presidentials, fatigue was becoming as much of a concern for me as the terrain itself.
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Where to get water on the Presidential Traverse
For a north-to-south traverse, there are three convenient places to refill water when the facilities are open and operating (at least this is where I refilled):
| Refill point | Where it falls in the route | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Spring Hut | Early, after Mount Madison | Good place to top off before the long exposed northern section |
| Mount Washington | Roughly mid-route | Water, food, and bathrooms when summit facilities are open |
| Lakes of the Clouds Hut | Just south of Washington | Last convenient facility-based refill before the southern Presidentials |
I wouldn’t treat those as guaranteed, year-round water sources. Hut and summit-building operations are seasonal, so check the current information before you build a plan that depends on them. The stretch between Madison Spring Hut and Washington is the section I had to plan for, especially on a warm or exposed day. I carried about 1.5-2L with me and was running thin, but made sure to refill at Madison and Mount Washington.
Best time to run the Presidential Traverse & weather expecations
For a single-day run, summer through early fall gives you the best chance at good conditions, with July through September being the most practical window. With that said, though, weather above treeline changes quickly and conditions on Mount Washington can be completely different from what you see in the surrounding valleys.
I ran the Traverse in June, and I would say I completely lucked out with the weather. It was extremely clear the majority of the day, with a light rain settling in as I reached the later peaks. But, it wasn’t anything dangerous or scary and was quite welcome after a particularly hot day (where I’d catch some sunburn, too).
Before heading out, check the higher-summit forecast rather than relying on the forecast for Randolph, Gorham, or Crawford Notch. I’d also check the current trail and hut conditions if you’re planning to rely on the huts for water or supplies.
Photos from the trail
Nearby trails
If the Presidential Traverse has you hooked on the White Mountains, here’s where to check out next:
- Mount Willard (3 miles)
- Mount Moosilauke (7.5 miles)
- Franconia Ridge Loop (8 miles)
- Artists Bluff Trail (1.3 miles)
- Franconia Falls Trail (7.7 miles)
- Mount Pemigewasset (3.1 miles)
- Kearsarge North (6 miles)
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