Osgood Campsite

The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) contains forty-eight peaks above 4,000 feet and encompasses five National Wilderness Areas — Pemigewasset, Dry River, Great Gulf, Sandwich Range, and Speckled-Carribou — along with major ridgelines such as the Presidential, Franconia, Carter/Wildcat, and Bonds ranges. The forest also includes several well-known notches, including Franconia, Crawford, and Pinkham, as well as popular destinations like Franconia Notch State Park, Crawford Notch State Park, and Mt. Washington State Park. Trail maintenance throughout the Whites is a coordinated effort involving the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Dartmouth Outdoor Club (DOC), and numerous federal, state, and volunteer organizations. The AMC Hut system, a chain of eight mountain huts offering food and lodging high in the alpine zones, provides hikers with convenient overnight options, while numerous shelters and campsites offer a more traditional wilderness experience.

This hike begins at the summit of Mt. Washington and descends more than 5,000 feet in just over seven miles through a remarkable range of alpine environments, including tundra, fir, and hardwood forests, before ending at NH 16. The route follows the rugged Great Gulf and Gulfside Trails, passing the Osgood Campsite and two waterfalls that cascade beside the trail, providing welcome rest stops for exhausted legs. Rangers warned that the Great Gulf Trail becomes especially difficult in wet and foggy conditions — particularly between 4,500 and 6,200 feet — and the steep, rocky terrain quickly proved them right. When the clouds occasionally lifted above 4,900 feet, however, the views were spectacular and made the demanding descent worthwhile. By the time we reached the trailhead, we felt like we had completed a marathon and gladly hitched a ride back to the summit rather than continue hiking.