Presidential Traverse

Presidential Traverse is the classic ridge traverse in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, linking the named 4,000-foot summits along the presidential spine.

The route is explicitly a “traverse” in the sense that it crosses the Presidential Range summits; the minimum version ties together Mount Madison, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Mount Monroe, Mount Eisenhower, and Mount Pierce, and it finishes at Crawford Notch (in either northbound or southbound order).

Overall distance is about 23 miles with about 9,000 feet of elevation gain for the basic traverse, with shorter or longer variants depending on how many side/nearby summits you include along the ridge.

A common planning pattern is to start at the northern terminus on U.S. Route 2 or at the Dolly Copp Campground, then hike south across the ridge to Crawford Notch; reversing the direction also happens and changes the sequencing of climbs and descents.

This is a strenuous, sometimes dangerous trek because the Presidential Range is known for fast-changing conditions and high wind exposure on the higher summits; the traverse is frequently approached in summer, while winter generally turns it into a longer multi-day venture.

The White Mountains are managed largely within the White Mountain National Forest, and the Presidential Range terrain includes sections where hikers can become lost or disabled in inclement weather above treeline, driving rescue activity in the region.

For breaking the hike into days, huts and campsites exist along the route; camping above treeline is prohibited, which is one of the main constraints shaping itinerary planning on the traverse.

If you want a hut-based itinerary, the Madison Springs Hut and Lakes of the Clouds Hut are along the ridge line options often used for overnights during a multi-day Presidential Traverse; additional hut/campsite options exist at points along the ridge corridor.

More information: Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Backpacking a Presidential Traverse - SectionHiker.com