Hike New Hampshire's Appalachian Trail and Presidential Peaks

Meet your guide at the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center, located in the impressive Crawford Notch, at 5pm for a Welcome Meeting. If you would like to arrive a day or two earlier, we suggest to pre book additional pre-trip accommodation directly with the hotel. Get to know your group over a family-style dinner where your leader will chat about trip logistics and hand out some lightweight gear to make your hiking experience even more comfortable.

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting this morning as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or Intrepid know.

After a hearty buffet-style breakfast, catch a shuttle to the trailhead where our hike begins with stunning views of the Ammonoosuc River before some exciting rock scrambling (sometimes using both hands) among beautiful waterfalls and mountain views. It’ll be hard work, but we’ll take a long lunch break at Lake of the Clouds hut, perched above the trees near spectacular alpine lakes and with phenomenal views. From here, we will hike to the summit of Mount Washington, weather and fitness permitting. The trails are rugged, rocky, and steep but the breathtaking views from the top are well worth it. Tonight, enjoy a relaxing evening at your accommodation.

After breakfast, we have the option to traverse some of the most famous Presidential Peaks, including Mount Monroe and Mount Eisenhower, and walk a section of the Appalachian Trail, the oldest maintained footpath in the United States. Depending on the fitness of the group, we can tackle the steep and rugged yet rewarding trails if we choose to summit the Presidential Mountains or opt for smoother and more level trails by traversing the ridgeline around the summits. Regardless, we’ll have a steep, scrambling, and exciting final kilometre as we descend into the trees to end our day at tonight’s hut – Mizpah Springs – where we will settle in for the evening and enjoy a meal prepared by the friendly staff.

After a final delicious breakfast together at our hut, we’ll hike along the trail toward the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center, a gradual descent that takes us through lush old-growth forest. After our final hike, your guide will prepare a delicious lunch back at the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center. After lunch, your trip will come to an end.