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Tuckerman Ravine

Difficult Difficult
 4.8 (32)
  1. Areas
  2. NH
  3. …White Mountain Region
  4. White Mountain National Forest
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“A steep trail linking the Pinkham Visitor center to the summit of Mt. Washington. ”

Brian Smith
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Map Key

3.8

Miles

6.2

KM

Point to Point

6,171' 1,881 m

High

2,092' 638 m

Low

4,079' 1,243 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

20%

Avg Grade (11°)

65%

Max Grade (33°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Description

This trail leaves Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and climbs steadily to Hermit Lake Shelters (2.4 miles, 1800 feet elevation gain) and is used to access Lion Head Trail, Boott Spur, and Huntington Ravine.

From Hermit Lake you begin to climb more steeply to the floor of the ravine, then very steeply through the top of the ravine. From the junction with the Alpine Garden Trail, the trail climbs the rocky summit cone another 1000 vertical feet to the top.

Each winter, the Tuckerman Ravine Trail is covered by snow and ice and has highly exposed steep cliffs and slopes below it. From late fall through late spring or even early summer, think of it more as a mountaineering ascent than a regular trail. The consequences of a fall or being involved in an avalanche during these months can be dire.

Without appropriate equipment (e.g. ice axe, crampons, and avalanche equipment), climbing this trail in winter should not be attempted. Due to the widespread presence of objective hazards such as icy waterfalls, falling ice, and steep snow, each spring the section of the trail from Lunch Rocks to the Alpine Garden Trail is closed.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - White Mountain National Forest Office

Shared By:

Brian Smith with improvements by David Abrams
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 32 votes

#1

in White Mountain National Forest

#74

Overall
  4.8 from 32 votes
5 Star
78%
4 Star
22%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in White Mountain Nationa…

#1

in New Hampshire

#74

Overall
59 Views Last Month
21,328 Since Aug 13, 2015
Difficult Difficult
0%
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3%
6%
84%
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Photos

Tuckerman Ravine from Hermit Lake Shelters.
Oct 9, 2016 near Pinkham…, NH
Looking back from the summit.
Jul 1, 2015 near Pinkham…, NH
Climbing down from the summit towards Tuckerman Ravine
Jun 6, 2018 near Pinkham…, NH
The Cog Railway from the summit.
May 26, 2016 near Pinkham…, NH
Waterfall.
Sep 14, 2021 near Pinkham…, NH
Boulders on the Ellis River.
Jul 1, 2015 near Pinkham…, NH

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 90 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 22, 2024
Christoph Jaeger
Jul 20, 2024
Anonymous
went up washington for 7 hours via tuckerman ravine and lions head trail. 3.6mi — 7h 30m
Aug 13, 2022
Juan Z
Aug 15, 2021
Christopher Stutzman
Jan 4, 2021
David H
Oct 29, 2020
Chase Bowman
8mi
Sep 7, 2020
Linda O
0.5mi
Aug 30, 2020
AJ Thammana

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