The Presidential Traverse

The route begins at the Appalachia Trailhead on Route 2 in Randolph and finishes at the AMC Highland Center on Route 302. For additional mileage, the route can be extended to end at the Webster-Jackson Trailhead on Route 302. A car shuttle or vehicle drop between endpoints is required. From Appalachia, take Valley Way trail south for 3.4 miles to the AMC Madison Springs Hut. From the hut, an additional there-and-back of roughly 0.7 miles may be added to the route. This reaches the summit of Mount Madison over very rocky, scrambly terrain. Return to the hut and continue south on the Gulfside Trail. At the Air Line junction, 3.7 miles in, turn left to summit Mount Adams, then rejoin the Gulfside and continue south. Around 4.9 miles, at the intersection with the Israel Ridge Path, bear left to continue on the Gulfside trail. At 5.6 miles, continue straight through the intersection of the Randolph Path. At 5.7 miles, upon reaching the Mt. Jefferson Loop junction, turn right to summit Mount Jefferson. From the summit, head south to rejoin the Gulfside trail, bearing right, around 6.4 miles. At 7.1 miles, bear left at the junction of Mount Clay Loop and continue south. At 8.4 miles, upon reaching the intersection with the Great Gulf Trail, turn left towards Mount Washington State Park. At 8.8 miles, an additional 0.3 mile there-and-back can be added to reach the Mount Washington summit. From the summit, follow the Crawford Path south to the AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut at 10.1 miles. Continue south on the Crawford Path, turning right on the Mt. Monroe Loop at 10.2 miles to summit Mount Monroe and Little Monroe. At 10.8 miles turn right to rejoin the Crawford Path again. At 12.1 miles, bear right and then shortly after, make a quick left on the Mt. Eisenhower Loop to summit Mount Eisenhower. After the Mount Eisenhower summit, turn right to rejoin Crawford Path. At 13.9 miles, turn left to reach Mount Pierce. Continue south on the Webster Cliff Trail until reaching the Mizpah Spring Hut at 14.7 miles. Continue on the Webster Cliff Trail and bear right onto the Mizpah Cutoff Trail. Follow this and turn left at 15.4 miles to rejoin the Crawford Trail. Follow the Crawford Trail until reaching the AMC Highland Center across Route 302. Full traverse: From the Mizpah Spring Hut, continue south on the Webster Cliff Trail to Mount Jackson, then turn right on the Webster-Jackson Trail, following the Saco Lake Trail for the final 0.3 miles to Route 302.

Mount Jackson is technically not named for President Jackson, but for NH state geologist Charles Thomas Jackson. Because of this, many people do not include it in the definition of a Presidential Traverse.Mt Clay, named after 19th century senator Henry Clay, was renamed Mt Reagan by the NH state legislature in 2003. However, the US Board on Geographic Names voted not to change the name in 2010, so it remains Mt Clay on most maps. Because of the name change, some suggest it should be included in a Presidential Traverse, but most do not require summiting Mt Clay/Reagan as part of the hike.