Crawford Path
Length, One-way: 8.2 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2,388 Feet
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation: 6,288 Feet
Directions
From US 3 north of I-93, NH, Travel approximately 8.5 miles east on Route 302 from its intersection with Route 3 in Twin Mountain. A 50 car parking lot is located just off the Mt. Clinton Road. (The trail can also be accessed from Route 302.)
Location Information
In commemoration of its 175th anniversary, the Crawford Path was designated a National Recreation Trail In 1994. It is the oldest, continuously maintained, hiking path in America.
The trail is 8.2 miles (13.2 kin) long, begins at 1,900' elevation and ends at the Mt. Washington Summit, 6,288' elevation. From the parking lot, follow the Crawford-Connector at .3 mile, across Gibbs Brook to join the Crawford Path at .2 miles from Route 302. At .4 miles from this intersection, a short side trail to the left offers views of Gibbs Falls. The Path traverses the largest spruce and birch old growth stand on the White Mountains as it goes through the Gibbs Brook Research Natural Area. At 1.5 miles, the Mizpah Cutoff diverges right from the main trail leading to Mizpah Springs Hut. The Crawford Path ascends another 1.2 miles to timberline where it meets the Webster Cliff Trail. The stretch of trait between Mt. Clinton and Mt. Washington, marked by stone cairns, lies fully exposed above tree line.
The trail passes by Mt. Eisenhower, (a side trail leads to its summit and then links back to the main trail), ascends Mt. Franklin, passes south of Mt. Monroe and continues to the Lakes of the Clouds Hut. The Path proceeds from the hut, passing between two lakes, to ascend the summit of Mt. Washington.
|
