White Mountain National Forest: Mount Washington via Tuckerman-Boott Spur Loop

Starting from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, this 7.9-mile loop offers two approaches to the southern headwall of Mount Washington: Tuckerman Ravine or the Boott Spur Trail. The trail winding up the ravine passes the Crystal Cascades Falls before wandering creekside up to Hermit Lake. There, brace for the first of two headwall challenges of the day.
After cresting the first headwall, the hike to the top is mostly a boulder field scramble from cairn to cairn. Pass the Visitor Center near the top (knowing you did it the hard way) and enjoy expansive views of the neighboring Presidential Peaks. Backtrack down the boulders and take Davis Path to the Boott Spur Trail, a route that descends a broad ridge above the ravine, offering a handful of overlooks with views back up the mountain.
CAUTION: Known as the most dangerous small mountain in the world, 6,288-foot Mt. Washington boasts some scary stats: The highest wind velocity ever recorded at any surface weather station (231 mph) was logged here on April 12, 1934. And 137 fatalities have occurred since 1849. No surprise: Most are due to hypothermia–and not only in winter. “They call them the White Mountains for a reason,” says Lieutenant Todd Bogardus, SAR team leader for New Hampshire’s Fish & Game Department. “We see snow right on through the year.” Several weather patterns collide on Washington and produce its notoriously foul weather, which can move in quickly. In 60-mph winds, hiking becomes nearly impossible: Traveling north along the Crawford Ridge from Washington’s summit, hikers routinely–and unknowingly–get blown off course by powerful westerly winds, which shove them down off the ridge into the Great Gulf or the Dry River Valley. “It’s human nature to go with the wind rather than into it,” says Bogardus. Unfortunately, hikers often find the winds have steered them many miles from trails and roads, thwarting their safe return.
SURVIVAL PLAN: Lots of New England’s nor’easters are predicted well in advance, so check the Mt. Washington Observatory forecast (mountwashington.org/weather). And most accidents occur in shoulder seasons to hikers not expecting winter to last so long or summer to end so quickly. Plan for high winds and icy temps, and pack warm, weatherproof layers and an emergency blanket or bivy sack. Check hikesafe.com for more tips on surviving Washington.
See more hazardous hikes at America’s 10 Most Dangerous Hikes.
-Mapped by Trung Q. Le
WHITE MOUNTAINS PRO TRIP PLANNING GUIDE

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CONDITIONS Check weather at Jacksonn, NH (08583).
INFO For more information about travel planning in the region, check out the Visit White Mountains website.
CONTACT
White Mountain National Forest Headquarters 71 White Mountain Drive, Campton, NH 03223 (603) 536-6100
White Mountain Visitor Center 200 Kancamagus Hwy, N Woodstock, NH (603) 745-3816

GEAR
International Mountain Climbing School 2733 Main St, North Conway, NH 03860 (603) 356-7064 ‎ime-usa.com
L.L.Bean Outlet North Conway, NH 1390 White Mtn Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860 (603) 356-2100 ‎llbean.com
Eastern Mountain Sports 1498 White Mountain Highway, Unit C30, North Conway, NH 03860(603) 356-5433 ems.com

RESTAURANTS

North Conway Area Restaurants

Moat Mountain Smokehouse 3378 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860 (603) 356-6381 ‎moatmountain.com
Horsefeathers 2679 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860 (603) 356-2687 ‎horsefeathers.com
Delaney’s Hole In the Wall 2966 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860 (603) 356-7776 ‎delaneys.com
Peaches Restaurant 2506 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860 (603) 356-5860 ‎peachesnorthconway.com

Lincoln Area Restaurants

Common Man Restaurant 44 Pollard Road, Lincoln, NH 03251 (603) 745-3463 ‎thecman.com
Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery 135 Main Street, North Woodstock, NH 03262 (603) 745-3951 ‎woodstockinnbrewery.com
Gypsy Cafe 117 Main Street, Lincoln, NH 03251 (603) 745-4395

Trail Facts

• Distance: 12.7

Waypoints

MWB001

Location: 44.257576, -71.253515

Start behind the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and head north on the well-traveled but rocky Tuckerman Ravine Trail. Allow 4-5 hours for your ascent of Mount Washington. Note: The Visitor Center rents trekking poles for day use.

MWB002

Location: 44.258025, -71.253623

Continue straight, passing the Blanchard Ski Trail.

MWB003

Location: 44.26063, -71.25608

The trail crosses Cutler River over a wooden footbridge; up ahead, a short spur leads to Crystal Cascade, a photo-worthy waterfall.

MWB004

Location: 44.259546, -71.257893

Go right @ Y-junction to continue on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The route back to the trailhead returns via the Boott Spur Trail to the left.

MWB005

Location: 44.261767, -71.269212

Keep left @ Y-junction, staying on Tuckerman Ravine Trail.

MWB006

Location: 44.263351, -71.275497

Cross a tributary of the Cutler River on a footbridge.

MWB007

Location: 44.263691, -71.277817

Continue straight (bearing slightly left @ Y-junction on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. To the right, an unmarked winter ski trail heads towards the Lion Head Trail.

MWB008

Location: 44.26178, -71.279823

Continue straight. To the left, a small side trail leads down to the running river.

MWB009

Location: 44.262279, -71.283073

Bear left 3-way junction on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. To the right is the Huntington Ravine Trail. From here, the trail starts a steady, rocky climb.

MWB010

Location: 44.261009, -71.284531

Continue straight @ 3-way junction on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. To the right is the Lion Head Trail.

MWB011

Location: 44.26001, -71.286346

Hermit Lake and Hermit Lake Cabin: Campsites and lean-tos are nearby. Check the weather report at the caretaker’s cabin before a quad-busting assault up the first, smaller headwall, which can be a circus of skiers, hikers, even tubers. You’ll climb over occasional large rocks and boulders on this well-tred section as the trail makes its way to treeline and beyond.

MWB012

Location: 44.26295, -71.300561

Continue up rocky ledges to the main headwall. Watch out for loose rocks and ice (depending on the season).

MWB013

Location: 44.263273, -71.30245

Go right @ 4-way junction, bearing north up steep rocks. Numerous trails intersect at this confusing junction. This section of trail is marked by large cairns, space about 20-feet apart-this is most likely for backcountry ski fanatics, as the path is relatively obvious in the summer.

MWB014

Location: 44.265885, -71.302793

Continue on Tuckerman Ravine Trail. You can begin to hear cars up ahead as they arrive at the summit parking area. Also, listen for the whistle of the cog train. From here, the climb is a scramble up a large boulder garden. Follow the larges cairns up to the summit, but take a few breaks and look down for great views of Tuckerman Ravine.

MWB015

Location: 44.269681, -71.302208

Mount Washington summit area. The actual summit is up and across the parking area near the Visitor Center.

In the background, you might see a black plume of smoke coming from the cog train.

If you happen to bring money, there is a cafetera where you can refill with normal cafeteria fare after a hard earns climb.

MWB016

Location: 44.270284, -71.303319

Mount Washington (6,288 ft.): On clear days, views stretch 90 miles. Not a bad spot for lunch if the wind is low. When you’re ready, head down the way you came. Continue straight at Waypoint 13 on the Lawn Cut-off Trail (toward Davis Path).

MWB017

Location: 44.258125, -71.302965

Turn left @ 3-way junction, heading southeast to continue on the Davis Path Trail. To the right, veering northwest, the Davis Path Trail offers another approach to the summit.

The trail now traverses a ridge/plateau, offering stunning views of Tuckerman Ravine below to the left. The trail continues to travel over a rocky path, but with less boulder gardens.

MWB018

Location: 44.253299, -71.294854

Go left @ 3-way junction onto the Boott Spur Trail. From here, the trail ducks back into the cover of trees and begins a steep, knee-jarring descent down the ravine. The trail travels over small rocks and exposed roots, which can be very slippery when wet.

MWB019

Location: 44.254559, -71.283867

Keep right @ 3-way junction to continue on the Boott Spur Trail. To the left, a link trail heads back towards Hermit Lake. From here, the trail exits tree cover and travels down a steep section of rock gardens.

MWB020

Location: 44.25439, -71.280155

The trail arrives at Split Rock.

MWB021

Location: 44.257511, -71.279373

Tuckerman Ravine Overlook. Look to the northwest for views of Lion Head.

MWB022

Location: 44.259646, -71.269877

Overlook: The trail travels under the cover of very small trees, which are tall and dense enough to keep views of the ravine few and far between. When there is an opening, take a peek to get a bearing of your surroundings.

MWB023

Location: 44.2594, -71.263182

Continue straight on Boott Spur Trail. To the right is a small overlook. Ahead, the trail descends to Waypoint 4; continue straight (northeast) to return to the Visitor Center.

Crystal Cascade

Location: 44.26093, -71.257067

Tuckerman Ravine Headwall

Location: 44.260536, -71.288178

Rock Garden

Location: 44.265409, -71.303029

Looking down at the Rock Garden climb to the summit.

Boulders

Location: 44.267161, -71.302342

Large boulders on the way to the summit.

Mount Washington Summit

Location: 44.269684, -71.302117

A theoretical view set against an actual view.

Cairns on the Lawn Cut-off Trail

Location: 44.26272, -71.303008

The cairns are about 20-30 feet apart and last as far as the eye can see.

Cairns on the Davis Path Trail

Location: 44.259508, -71.302428

View of Mount Washington up in the clouds.

Split Rock

Location: 44.254406, -71.279898

View up the ravine

Location: 44.257572, -71.279125

View from the overlook

Location: 44.259646, -71.269737