Pemigewasset Loop

Pemigewasset Loop (Pemi Loop) is the classic, high-effort day-hike-to-backpacking loop in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, built around circling the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

The route is commonly done as a ~28.7–31 mile loop with about ~9,000 feet of elevation gain; it targets a concentration of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks rather than a single summit push.

Summits associated with the standard loop include Mt. Flume, Mt. Liberty, Little Haystack, Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Lafayette, Mt. Garfield, South Twin, Mt. Bond, and Bondcliff (with common side additions like West Bond).

From the start/end, the loop is set up for sustained ridgetop work: long stretches go above treeline, with repeated climbs and descents plus rocky terrain where hands may be useful on some sections.

Lincoln Woods (off the Kancamagus Highway in Lincoln, NH) is the standard start/end point for the loop, and the route is often run clockwise or counterclockwise depending on how you want to sequence the harder ridge sections.

For multi-day trips, overnight stays typically use designated backcountry options (for example, Liberty Springs, Garfield Ridge, or Guyot Shelter) as part of the established camping network along the route.

Season-wise, the Pemi Loop is usually planned for mid-summer through early fall (roughly July–September), when higher-elevation conditions are most workable for long ridgeline hiking.

The terrain stays strenuous throughout: expect significant rocky footing, exposed travel in the open, and steep sections tied to the ridge-and-notched terrain that makes the loop such a benchmark route in the Whites.

More information: Wikipedia, Backpacking a Pemigewasset Loop - Section Hiker, Pemigewasset Loop (Pemi Loop) Hiking and Backpacking ...