Southern Presidential Traverse: Route, Peaks, Mileage, Difficulty & Hiking Guide

Hazy Sunset over Mount Washington – View from Jackson, New Hampshire, of Presidential Range in White Mountains National Forest | Christopher Slesarchik

The Southern Presidential Traverse is one of the finest high-elevation hikes in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, linking a succession of exposed summits along the southern half of the Presidential Range.

Unlike the much longer full Presidential Traverse, which typically begins around Mount Madison and crosses the entire Presidential ridge, the Southern Presidential Traverse focuses primarily on the mountains south of Mount Washington.

A particularly logical point-to-point version climbs the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, reaches Lakes of the Clouds, crosses Mount Monroe, Mount Franklin, Mount Eisenhower, and Mount Pierce, and then descends the historic Crawford Path toward Crawford Notch.

That route is approximately 10.6 miles long with about 3,650 feet of elevation gain, although the exact mileage varies depending on which summit loops, trailheads, and extensions are included.

For experienced hikers, it offers an outstanding combination of alpine scenery, historic trails, multiple summits, glacial landscapes, rare vegetation, and miles of open ridge walking without the extreme length and elevation gain of the full Presidential Traverse.

⚡ Fast Facts

Feature	Details
Route	Southern Presidential Traverse
Location	White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
Mountain Range	Presidential Range
Core Peaks	Mount Monroe, Mount Franklin, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Pierce
Typical Point-to-Point Distance	About 10.6 miles
Typical Elevation Gain	About 3,650 feet
Difficulty	Strenuous
Highest Core Summit	Mount Monroe
Primary Ascent	Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail
Primary Ridge Trail	Crawford Path
Primary Descent	Crawford Path
Major Landmark	Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Optional Peaks	Mount Washington, Mount Jackson
Typical Hiking Time	Roughly 8–12 hours depending on route, conditions, and pace
Best General Season	Summer through early fall
Primary Hazards	Wind, fog, cold, thunderstorms, slippery rock, exposure
Route Type	Point-to-point

🗺️ What Is the Southern Presidential Traverse?

There is no single universally defined Southern Presidential Traverse route.

Hikers use the term for several different combinations of the Presidential peaks south of Mount Washington.

The core mountains most frequently associated with the traverse are:

Mount Monroe
Mount Franklin
Mount Eisenhower
Mount Pierce

Mount Washington is sometimes added to the northern end.

Mount Jackson is sometimes added to the southern end.

A longer version might therefore include:

Mount Washington → Mount Monroe → Mount Franklin → Mount Eisenhower → Mount Pierce → Mount Jackson

That becomes a substantially bigger day.

For this guide, the core Southern Presidential Traverse means the practical point-to-point route beginning at the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead and finishing near the AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch.

This version captures the heart of the Southern Presidentials without turning the hike into a nearly full Presidential Traverse.

📏 Southern Presidential Traverse Mileage

A commonly used point-to-point route linking Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower, and Pierce is approximately:

10.6 miles

with roughly:

3,650 feet of elevation gain

Mileage varies because several summits sit on short loops or spur trails off the Crawford Path.

Hikers can also alter the beginning or end of the route.

Approximate Route Breakdown

Section	Approximate Distance
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead to Lakes of the Clouds Hut	3.0 miles
Lakes of the Clouds to Mount Monroe summit and return toward Crawford Path	About 0.8 mile depending on route
Monroe area to Eisenhower/Pierce section	Several miles along Crawford Path
Lakes of the Clouds to Mizpah Spring Hut via southern ridge	About 4.8 miles
Mizpah area to Crawford Notch/Highland Center	About 2.4 miles
Typical full point-to-point route	About 10–11 miles

Because individual summit loops add distance, GPS devices and mapping apps may produce slightly different totals.

Trail conditions also matter more than the raw mileage suggests.

Ten miles on the Southern Presidentials is far more demanding than ten miles on a smooth lowland trail.

🥾 Recommended Route

A very effective direction is to hike the traverse north to south, beginning at the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead.

The basic sequence is:

Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead → Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail → Lakes of the Clouds → Mount Monroe → Mount Franklin → Mount Eisenhower → Mount Pierce → Crawford Path → Crawford Notch

This direction has several advantages.

The steepest sustained climbing comes relatively early.

Once hikers reach Lakes of the Clouds and Mount Monroe, much of the remaining journey follows the open Presidential ridge.

The final miles descend toward Crawford Notch rather than requiring a major climb late in the day.

💦 Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail

The traverse begins with one of the most scenic trails on the western side of the Presidential Range.

The Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail climbs approximately 3 miles from the trailhead to Lakes of the Clouds Hut while gaining roughly 2,600 feet.

The lower trail follows the headwaters of the Ammonoosuc River.

Waterfalls, cascades, pools, dense forest, and moss-covered rocks make this section markedly different from the exposed terrain awaiting hikers above.

One of the best-known landmarks is Gem Pool.

Above Gem Pool, the character of the route changes dramatically.

The trail becomes much steeper and rougher as it climbs beside cascades toward the Presidential ridge.

Wet rock can make this section slippery.

Eventually the forest becomes shorter, views open, and hikers emerge into the alpine landscape beneath Mount Monroe.

🏠 Lakes of the Clouds Hut

At approximately 5,000 feet, Lakes of the Clouds Hut sits in a dramatic col between Mount Monroe and Mount Washington.

The hut is one of the great landmarks of the Presidential Range.

Nearby are the small alpine tarns known as the Lakes of the Clouds.

During the hut’s operating season, hikers may be able to obtain water and use available visitor facilities.

However, hikers should never plan a traverse assuming that a hut will solve an emergency or compensate for inadequate equipment.

Operating seasons change, and backcountry facilities may be closed.

Lakes of the Clouds is also an important decision point.

From here, hikers can:

continue with the Southern Presidential Traverse,
climb Mount Washington,
summit Mount Monroe,
or descend if conditions deteriorate.

🏔️ Mount Monroe

The first major summit on the core traverse is Mount Monroe.

Mount Monroe reaches approximately 5,372 feet, making it one of New Hampshire’s highest mountains.

From Lakes of the Clouds, hikers take the Monroe Loop Trail toward the summit.

The climb is relatively short but completely exposed.

From Monroe, views can be outstanding.

Mount Washington dominates the skyline immediately to the north, while the southern Presidential ridge stretches away toward Franklin, Eisenhower, and Pierce.

The Dry River Wilderness spreads below the eastern side of the ridge.

Mount Monroe is one of New Hampshire’s official 4,000-footers.

🪨 Mount Franklin

Continuing south from Monroe brings hikers toward Mount Franklin.

Franklin rises above 5,000 feet but is not one of New Hampshire’s independently ranked 4,000-footers.

The reason is topographic prominence.

Its summit rises only slightly above the connecting ridge toward Mount Monroe, so it is considered a subsidiary summit rather than an independent mountain.

A short loop or spur from the Crawford Path reaches the summit area.

Although Franklin lacks the peak-list status of neighboring mountains, skipping it simply because it is “unranked” misses the point of the Southern Presidential Traverse.

Its position along the ridge provides excellent views and another perspective on the enormous alpine landscape.

Mount Franklin is also unusual within the Presidential Range because Benjamin Franklin was never president.

🏔️ Mount Eisenhower

South of Franklin rises the distinctive rounded dome of Mount Eisenhower.

At roughly 4,780 feet, Eisenhower is another official New Hampshire 4,000-footer.

The Crawford Path bypasses the actual summit, so hikers who want to reach the top use the Mount Eisenhower Loop.

The detour is roughly 0.8 mile total.

Eisenhower’s summit is broad, rocky, and fully exposed.

A large cairn marks the top.

On a clear day, the view back toward Mount Monroe and Mount Washington is one of the finest scenes in the Presidential Range.

Looking south, Mount Pierce appears comparatively gentle beyond the open ridge.

Mount Eisenhower was historically known as Mount Pleasant before being renamed for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

🌄 Crawford Path

Most of the traverse follows the Crawford Path, one of America’s most historically important hiking trails.

The path was established in 1819 by Abel Crawford and Ethan Allen Crawford.

The Appalachian Mountain Club describes it as the oldest continuously used and maintained hiking trail in the United States.

From the Southern Presidentials, Crawford Path eventually continues all the way toward Mount Washington.

Its route across the high ridge gives hikers access to:

Mount Pierce
Mount Eisenhower
Mount Franklin
Mount Monroe
Lakes of the Clouds
Mount Washington

Large sections lie above treeline.

Cairns help define the route where ordinary trail tread becomes difficult to distinguish among rocks and alpine vegetation.

🏔️ Mount Pierce

Mount Pierce is the final official 4,000-footer on the core Southern Presidential Traverse.

The summit reaches approximately 4,310 feet.

Although considerably lower than Monroe, Mount Pierce occupies a beautiful position overlooking the southern Presidential ridge.

The summit area provides views back toward Eisenhower, Monroe, and Mount Washington.

Pierce also marks a gradual transition.

North of the summit, hikers spend extended periods in exposed alpine terrain.

South and west of Pierce, trees become increasingly prominent as the route descends toward Crawford Notch.

Mount Pierce was once called Mount Clinton, after New York governor DeWitt Clinton. It was later renamed for Franklin Pierce, the only U.S. president born in New Hampshire.

🏠 Mizpah Spring Hut

One useful detour from the main route leads to Mizpah Spring Hut.

The hut lies below Mount Pierce in the boreal forest at approximately 3,800 feet.

AMC lists the hut at approximately 2.7 miles from the Crawford Path trailhead by the most direct route.

For overnight hikers, Mizpah can turn the Southern Presidentials into a comfortable two-day hut-to-hut journey.

During the operating season, the hut can also provide a useful landmark for day hikers.

Nearby Nauman Tentsite provides established backcountry camping opportunities, subject to current rules and availability.

As with Lakes of the Clouds, hikers should verify operating conditions before relying on any facility.

🅿️ Finishing at Crawford Notch

The southern end of the core traverse is near Crawford Notch and the AMC Highland Center on U.S. Route 302.

The Crawford Connector parking area lies on Mount Clinton Road across from the Highland Center.

This makes the area an excellent terminus for a point-to-point traverse.

The main logistical challenge is getting back to the vehicle left at the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead.

Options include:

spotting two vehicles,
arranging a pickup,
using an available hiker shuttle,
or coordinating transportation with other hikers.

The AMC Hiker Shuttle has historically served both the Highland Center and Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead during parts of the hiking season.

Schedules and operating dates change annually, so transportation should always be confirmed before the hike rather than assumed.

🚐 Shuttle Logistics

For 2026, the AMC Hiker Shuttle includes service between major White Mountains trailheads, including the Highland Center and Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead during its seasonal operating period.

Reservations are strongly recommended.

A convenient strategy can be to park near the planned finish, take an early shuttle toward the starting trailhead, and hike back toward the vehicle.

This avoids finishing a strenuous mountain day only to discover that transportation plans have fallen apart.

Because shuttle schedules change from year to year, future hikers should always check the current AMC schedule before planning the route.

⛰️ Should You Add Mount Washington?

You can—but doing so changes the nature of the hike.

From Lakes of the Clouds Hut, Mount Washington lies approximately 1.5 miles away by the Crawford Path, with about 700 feet of climbing.

Adding Washington means hiking north before returning south toward Monroe.

The detour adds roughly 3 miles plus additional elevation gain.

For strong hikers in excellent weather, this can create an exceptional route linking Washington with the Southern Presidentials.

For everyone else, it is worth remembering that Mount Washington is not necessary for a Southern Presidential Traverse.

Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower, and Pierce already create a substantial and rewarding hike.

🌲 Should You Add Mount Jackson?

Mount Jackson can extend the traverse southward beyond Pierce.

Despite its name, Mount Jackson was not named for President Andrew Jackson. It honors New Hampshire geologist Charles Thomas Jackson.

The mountain reaches slightly more than 4,000 feet and appears on New Hampshire’s traditional 4,000-footer list.

Adding Jackson increases both distance and descent.

Longer itineraries can finish via the Webster-Jackson Trail rather than returning directly toward the Highland Center.

This variation is useful for hikers seeking a bigger Southern Presidential day, but it requires additional transportation planning.

🧗 How Difficult Is the Southern Presidential Traverse?

The Southern Presidential Traverse is strenuous.

It is easier than a full Presidential Traverse, but “easier” is relative.

The route still involves:

roughly 10–11 miles of hiking,
around 3,650 feet of climbing,
steep terrain,
slippery ledges,
extensive exposure,
several summit ascents,
uneven rocks,
strong wind,
and potentially dangerous weather.

The Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail is especially steep above Gem Pool.

Once hikers reach the ridge, the physical challenge changes.

The grades may become gentler, but exposure to weather increases dramatically.

A strong lowland hiker can still struggle because walking across rocks and into sustained wind consumes far more energy than ordinary trail mileage suggests.

Mount Washington from afar – Pondicherry Refuge White Mountains New Hampshire | James Dillon

⏱️ How Long Does the Traverse Take?

A reasonable planning range for many experienced hikers is roughly:

8–12 hours

for the core route.

Fast hikers may finish sooner.

Other groups may require considerably longer.

Factors affecting hiking time include:

fitness,
group size,
trail conditions,
wind,
visibility,
summit stops,
photography,
hut stops,
route-finding,
and whether optional peaks are included.

Hikers should plan around daylight rather than relying on an optimistic pace.

Starting early provides more room for changing conditions or unexpected delays.

🌦️ Presidential Range Weather

Weather is the most important safety consideration on the Southern Presidential Traverse.

The range is famous for rapid and extreme changes.

Possible conditions include:

high winds,
dense fog,
cold rain,
thunderstorms,
hail,
snow,
sleet,
ice,
and dramatic temperature changes.

These conditions are possible even when valleys are calm and warm.

The Mount Washington Observatory produces a Higher Summits Forecast specifically for the elevated terrain of the White Mountains.

Hikers should check it close to departure.

The Observatory emphasizes that mountain weather can change quickly and that forecasts are planning tools rather than guarantees.

If conditions become dangerous, turning around or taking a safe bailout route is better than trying to force completion of the traverse.

⚡ Thunderstorms Above Treeline

Thunderstorms are particularly serious on the Southern Presidentials.

Much of the ridge provides almost no protection.

A hiker standing on Eisenhower, Franklin, or Monroe may be one of the highest objects in the immediate landscape.

Summer hikers should pay close attention to the timing of forecast storms and avoid committing to long exposed sections when thunderstorms are expected.

An early start can help, but it does not eliminate the hazard.

🧭 Navigation and Fog

Clear days make the Crawford Path seem obvious.

Fog can transform it.

Clouds sometimes reduce visibility to a short distance, obscuring mountains, cairns, junctions, and the direction of the ridge.

Hikers should carry a physical map and compass and know how to use them.

A downloaded offline map or GPS device can provide additional support, but electronics should not be the only navigation system.

Cold temperatures can drain batteries quickly.

🚪 Bailout Routes

One advantage of the Southern Presidentials is the number of intersecting trails.

That does not mean every bailout is easy.

Some trails descend into remote wilderness areas or may be more difficult than continuing along the ridge.

Potential escape routes include trails descending toward:

Mount Clinton Road,
Crawford Notch,
the Ammonoosuc drainage,
and the Dry River Wilderness.

Edmands Path, near Mount Eisenhower, is one particularly useful western descent option.

It drops toward Mount Clinton Road and can be valuable if conditions deteriorate before hikers continue toward Pierce.

However, every party should study a detailed current trail map before departure and identify bailout routes in advance.

A bailout route discovered for the first time during a storm is not much of a plan.

💧 Water on the Traverse

Water requires careful planning.

Streams are available during the lower approach, but once hikers reach the exposed Presidential ridge, natural water sources become limited.

Lakes of the Clouds Hut and Mizpah Spring Hut may provide potable water during their operating seasons.

Never assume that water will be available without checking current hut status.

A filter or other water-treatment method can be useful where appropriate, but alpine ponds should not be treated casually as drinking-water sources.

Carry enough water to remain safe if planned refill points are unavailable.

🌿 Flora and Fauna

The Southern Presidential Traverse crosses a remarkable sequence of ecological zones.

Hikers can move from northern hardwood forests through boreal spruce-fir woods and krummholz before entering one of the most extensive alpine environments in the eastern United States.

🌲 Lower-Elevation Forest

The lower Ammonoosuc and Crawford Path areas contain trees such as:

Yellow birch
American beech
Sugar maple
Red spruce
Balsam fir

Mosses, ferns, hobblebush, wood sorrel, and other forest plants thrive beneath the canopy.

Wildlife may include moose, black bears, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, porcupines, and numerous forest birds.

🌲 High-Elevation Spruce-Fir Forest

As elevation increases, spruce and fir become increasingly dominant.

These forests can be dense, cool, damp, and surprisingly dark.

They also provide important habitat for Bicknell’s thrush, a bird strongly associated with high-elevation conifer forest in northeastern North America.

NH Audubon notes that Bicknell’s thrushes breed in high-elevation areas of the White Mountains.

They are usually easier to hear than to see in dense spruce-fir habitat.

🌬️ Krummholz

Near treeline, trees become stunted and twisted.

This vegetation is known as krummholz.

Strong winds, ice, snow, and short growing seasons prevent spruce and fir from developing into normal full-sized trees.

Some tiny wind-shaped trees may be decades old.

Krummholz provides one of the clearest visual signals that hikers are entering the severe climate of the alpine zone.

🌸 Alpine Tundra

Above treeline, vegetation becomes much smaller and more specialized.

The Presidential Range contains the largest total area of alpine tundra environment in the eastern United States.

Plants found in the high Presidential alpine zone include:

Diapensia
Alpine azalea
Bog bilberry
Labrador tea
Black crowberry
Mountain cranberry
Sedges
Rushes
Mosses
Lichens

Some of these plants survive in places where trees cannot.

They grow low to the ground and endure strong wind, deep snow, freezing temperatures, thin soils, and an extremely short growing season.

Despite their toughness, alpine plants are highly vulnerable to trampling.

Lake of the Clouds Hut in the White Mountains | drewthehobbit

🌱 Stay on the Trail

Protecting alpine vegetation is one of the most important responsibilities of hikers on the Southern Presidential Traverse.

A shortcut across a patch of tundra can damage plants that may take years or decades to recover.

Stay on established trails.

Where the route crosses open rock, use durable surfaces.

Avoid widening trails by walking around mud when doing so requires stepping on vegetation.

The harsh mountain climate makes recovery unusually slow.

🎒 What to Bring

Equipment should be chosen for an exposed mountain traverse rather than an ordinary summer day hike.

Useful essentials include:

Waterproof shell
Windproof layer
Insulating layer
Hat
Gloves
Headlamp
Extra batteries
Adequate food
Plenty of water
Map
Compass
Offline navigation
First-aid supplies
Emergency insulation
Sun protection
Trekking poles if preferred

Even in midsummer, gloves and warm layers can be useful above treeline.

In shoulder seasons, traction devices or winter equipment may be necessary.

🍂 Best Time to Hike

For most hikers, the most practical season is July through September.

Summer

July and August generally provide longer daylight and the lowest risk of lingering snow.

Summer also brings thunderstorms, heat in the valleys, and busy trails.

Early Fall

September can be exceptional.

Cooler temperatures, clear air, and fall foliage in the valleys can produce some of the finest conditions of the year.

Daylight becomes shorter, however, and freezing temperatures can return to the ridge.

Late Spring

Late spring can bring snowfields, ice, mud, runoff, and unpredictable transitions between winter and summer conditions.

A trail that appears dry at 2,000 feet may still contain ice much higher.

Winter

A winter Southern Presidential Traverse is a serious mountaineering objective.

Snow, ice, extreme wind chill, whiteouts, drifting, limited daylight, and closed seasonal facilities greatly increase the difficulty.

Winter travel requires appropriate skills and equipment.

🏕️ Can You Backpack the Southern Presidentials?

Yes, but camping is restricted in sensitive high-elevation areas.

The alpine zone is not an appropriate place to simply pitch a tent wherever convenient.

Established options such as Nauman Tentsite near Mizpah Spring Hut can be incorporated into longer itineraries.

The AMC hut system also makes multi-day travel possible during operating seasons.

A popular hut-based journey can link:

Lakes of the Clouds Hut → Mount Monroe → Mount Eisenhower → Mount Pierce → Mizpah Spring Hut

AMC lists the journey between Lakes of the Clouds and Mizpah Spring at roughly 4.8 miles, depending on summit options.

This is an excellent alternative for hikers who want more time to explore the alpine environment rather than attempting the entire route in a single day.

🆚 Southern vs. Full Presidential Traverse

The two hikes should not be confused.

Feature	Southern Presidential Traverse	Full Presidential Traverse
Typical Distance	About 10–11 miles for the core version	Roughly 19–23 miles depending on route
Elevation Gain	About 3,650 ft	Around 8,000–9,000+ ft
Typical Major Peaks	Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower, Pierce	Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower, Pierce
Terrain	Long exposed ridge, generally less boulder-heavy	Extremely rugged northern terrain plus southern ridge
Difficulty	Strenuous	Extremely strenuous
Typical Day	Long day hike	Very long endurance hike or multi-day trip

The Southern Traverse is therefore not merely a shortened full traverse.

It has its own character.

The rounded southern ridge, open tundra, Crawford Path, Lakes of the Clouds, and views toward Mount Washington make it an exceptional hike in its own right.

💡 Interesting Facts

The Southern Presidential Traverse has no single universally defined route.
A common point-to-point version is about 10.6 miles with roughly 3,650 feet of elevation gain.
Mount Monroe is the highest core summit.
Mount Franklin is above 5,000 feet but lacks enough prominence to rank as an independent 4,000-footer.
Mount Eisenhower was formerly known as Mount Pleasant.
Mount Pierce was formerly known as Mount Clinton.
Mount Pierce honors Franklin Pierce, the only U.S. president born in New Hampshire.
Mount Franklin is named for Benjamin Franklin, who was never president.
Crawford Path was established in 1819.
AMC considers Crawford Path the oldest continuously used and maintained hiking trail in the United States.
Lakes of the Clouds Hut sits at approximately 5,000 feet.
Much of the route travels above treeline.
The Presidential Range contains the largest total alpine tundra environment in the eastern United States.
Bicknell’s thrush breeds in high-elevation spruce-fir forests of the White Mountains.
Mount Washington can be added as a northern extension.
Mount Jackson can be added as a southern extension.

🏞️ Is the Southern Presidential Traverse Worth It?

Absolutely.

Few hikes in New England provide so much sustained high-mountain scenery within roughly ten miles.

The steep climb beside the Ammonoosuc River gives way to Lakes of the Clouds and the massive presence of Mount Washington. From there, the route crosses a succession of exposed peaks as Monroe, Franklin, Eisenhower, and Pierce rise one after another along the historic Crawford Path.

The hike is challenging without requiring the enormous endurance commitment of a complete Presidential Traverse.

It also creates one of the best introductions to the geography of the Presidential Range.

On a clear day, hikers can look north toward Mount Washington and the rugged northern Presidentials, west toward the Franconia region, east across the Dry River Wilderness, and south toward the lower mountains surrounding Crawford Notch.

The greatest attraction, however, may simply be the experience of spending hours above treeline.

Rock, wind, tundra, distant ridges, and enormous sky define much of the journey.

For hikers with the fitness, equipment, experience, and weather window to undertake it safely, the Southern Presidential Traverse is one of the classic mountain adventures of the Northeast.

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