Wildcat Ridge Trail

Wildcat Ridge Trail is a designated long-distance hiking route managed by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) that runs on ground paths and uses the route reference “TR 31470.” It follows a mountain-hiking scale (sac_scale) and is mapped as a foot trail (no bicycle, no horse).

As a long-distance hiking route, it’s best thought of as a ridge traverse with substantial difficulty for its mileage: the route is computed at 6.48 km and marked moderate. The mapping indicates it is part of the broader hiking route system and not an isolated spur.

Route access is oriented around AMC infrastructure in the Carter/Wildcat area of the White Mountains—specifically AMC hut terrain (Carter Notch Hut) and Pinkham Notch—because Wildcat Ridge Trail is commonly used as part of longer ridge link-ups and traverses in that region.

The trail’s linked long-distance routing is reinforced by how it shows up as a member of longer hikes: the route is treated as a “short hiking specific member route,” suggesting it functions as one component within multi-peak day hikes rather than a standalone walking loop.

The named trail is blazed/recognized as Wildcat Ridge Trail and is also associated with the AT alignment in at least parts of the corridor, which is consistent with its role as a long-distance connector through the Wildcat Range terrain.

Logistically, plan on a full hiking day if you’re pairing Wildcat Ridge Trail with nearby peaks or hut goals in the Carter/Wildcat zone, since this route is used within longer ridge itineraries in addition to shorter out-and-back options.

More information: Carter Notch Hut | Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), White Mountain National Forest: Carter Range and Wildcat Range, The Hardest 20 Miles: A Dayhike Across New Hampshire's ...