Covid measures in the Presidential Traverse, New Hampshire

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Presidential Traverse, New Hampshire, please refer to New Hampshire’s COVID-19 guidelines for out-of-state visitors . Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure: An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area One or two days of hiking, depending on your chosen itinerary Accommodation in the Grey Knob Cabin for the two-day tour Transportation to the trailhead What’s not included: Transportation to Glen, NH Accommodations (available at the guide’s Bunkhouse in Glen, NH, for a fee of $20 per person) Food and snacks

How fit do I need to be?

Hiking the Presidential Traverse is a strenuous undertaking and should not be taken lightly. This adventure, especially the one-day tour, requires top physical conditioning. The majority of the climb is above the treeline, and you will be exposed to sun, rain, sometimes snow, and of course the White Mountains’ notorious winds. Participants must be avid hikers with previous camping experience and be in terrific physical condition. On the one-day tour, you will be hiking over 20 miles for up to 18 hours with intense changes in altitude. The two-day tour is less strenuous but still requires great physical shape and experience with hiking. Your guides hold complete discretion to change the itinerary if they see that the participants’ fitness level is lacking. In this case, there will not be a discount or refund.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack with waist wrap (around a 55-65L bag) Trekking poles Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Hiking boots or sturdy trail-runners Lightweight wool socks Trekking pants Wicking T-shirt Wicking long-sleeve shirt Light down or synthetic jacket Waterproof hardshell jacket Waterproof hardshell pants Lightweight gloves Synthetic base layers Warm hat Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Headlamp Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and prices: For the two-day tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1. For the one-day tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 2:1. The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family! Hiking in Mount Washington can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to the Presidential Traverse, most people fly into Portland International Jetport. From there, you can rent a car and take a 2-hour drive to Glen, NH, or take a bus to Naples American Legion and take a taxi, which will take you around 2h15min total. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide’s Bunkhouse in Glen, NH, or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

Presidential Traverse | New Hampshire

Hiking the Presidential Traverse

5.00

A panoramic shot of the Presidential Range

Hikers celebrating their climb to Mt. Washington on the Presidential Traverse

Guided hiking tour of the Presidential Traverse

Some hikers in the higher regions of the Presidential Range

Hikers on a stream on the Presidential Traverse

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Reviews
Things to know

Duration

1-2 days

Season

May through October

Group size

Up to 4 people

The Presidential Traverse on the White Mountains is one of the most classic and well-known routes in New Hampshire. The name of the route originates from the fact that you get to take on all of the mountains in the Presidential Range in one crazy continuous hike. There’s nearly 23 miles to hike here, with a stunning 9,000 feet of elevation gain. Given that the route also encompasses almost all of the state’s highest peaks with almost maximum exposure, the scenery here is truly breathtaking. While most hikers reserve at least 2-3 days for visiting the Presidential Traverse’s picturesque vistas, many extreme hiking enthusiasts choose to test their limits and do the hike in one day. If you decide to take on the Presidential Traverse, you better come prepared! Keep in mind — this trip is not for the faint of heart. Discover more amazing hikes in the USA from Maggie Slepian, backpacker, trail runner, hiker, and mountain biker.

Adventure highlights

Conquer one of the toughest hiking trails in the American Northeast
Marvel at the vistas from some of New Hampshire’s tallest peaks
Explore a wide variety of interesting terrains over 23 miles

Highlighted reviews from other travellers

Eamon M.

Great experience. The guides are all first-class and super down-to-earth. Staying at the bunkhouse was cheap and easy. Gear is all first-rate. On day one we got the basics down (my brother and I had no winter mountaineering experience). On day two we summitted Mt Washington. Our guide had been up 63 out of his 67 attempts. He knew every inch of that mountain and we both felt totally at ease. An awesome experience! Excited to come back for some ice climbing.

Cynmrs1

Amazing adventure! Our guides Brett and Judy were true experts in their field. They gave us all a sense of security and adventure. I highly recommend N.E.M. We will be back!!

Show all reviews

Available itineraries

Download itineraries

Full-Day Hike of the Presidential Traverse

This one-day tour of the Presidential Traverse is meant for hardcore hikers looking to push their endurance and abilities to the next level. Opt for a very early start and conquer the 14-18 hour climb up one of New Hampshire’s most classic routes, with some amazing views from an altitude of over 4,000 feet. This hike is a massive undertaking, so you should be very confident in your abilities before undertaking it!

2-Day Hike of the Presidential Traverse

Hike the excellent and popular Presidential Traverse with an experienced local guide to show you the way. Experience some of White Mountain’s stunning vistas and gaze upon the Presidential Range’s 9 magnificent peaks on this challenging trek. Spend a night at the cozy Grey Knob Cabin, where you’ll get the chance to recuperate and get ready for the hikes to come!

Hiking the Presidential Traverse

Adventure Brochure

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If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guide

5.00

Northeast Mountaineering

AMGA Certified Guides

Northeast Mountaineering is a small group of highly trained and experienced guides with years of experience on rock, ice, and snow, from New England to Alaska to Yosemite, and Ecuador to Nepal. Despite their own personal ascents, they thrive on teaching their skills to others. Their programs are built on education, mentoring, and investing time and energy in the development of each skier and climber. At NEM you will get a relaxed and fun environment where you can reach your full potential.

5.00(2 reviews)

Eamon M.

Cynmrs1

Amazing adventure! Our guides Brett and Judy were true experts in their field. They gave us all a sense of security and adventure. I highly recommend N.E.M. We will be back!!

Show all reviews

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Presidential Traverse, New Hampshire, please refer to New Hampshire’s COVID-19 guidelines for out-of-state visitors.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - One or two days of hiking, depending on your chosen itinerary
  - Accommodation in the Grey Knob Cabin for the two-day tour
  - Transportation to the trailhead
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to Glen, NH
  - Accommodations (available at the guide’s Bunkhouse in Glen, NH, for a fee of $20 per person)
  - Food and snacks
Hiking the Presidential Traverse is a strenuous undertaking and should not be taken lightly. This adventure, especially the one-day tour, requires top physical conditioning. The majority of the climb is above the treeline, and you will be exposed to sun, rain, sometimes snow, and of course the White Mountains’ notorious winds. Participants must be avid hikers with previous camping experience and be in terrific physical condition. On the one-day tour, you will be hiking over 20 miles for up to 18 hours with intense changes in altitude. The two-day tour is less strenuous but still requires great physical shape and experience with hiking.

Your guides hold complete discretion to change the itinerary if they see that the participants’ fitness level is lacking. In this case, there will not be a discount or refund.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Day pack with waist wrap (around a 55-65L bag)
  - Trekking poles
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  - Hiking boots or sturdy trail-runners
  - Lightweight wool socks
  - Trekking pants
  - Wicking T-shirt
  - Wicking long-sleeve shirt
  - Light down or synthetic jacket
  - Waterproof hardshell jacket
  - Waterproof hardshell pants
  - Lightweight gloves
  - Synthetic base layers
  - Warm hat
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  - Headlamp
  - Sunglasses
  - Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
- - For the two-day tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
  - For the one-day tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 2:1.
  - The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hike with friends and family!
Hiking in Mount Washington can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the Presidential Traverse, most people fly into Portland International Jetport. From there, you can rent a car and take a 2-hour drive to Glen, NH, or take a bus to Naples American Legion and take a taxi, which will take you around 2h15min total.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide’s Bunkhouse in Glen, NH, or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
Cancel within 48 hours of booking your trip for free, no questions asked. If you need to change your plans up to 31 days ahead of your scheduled adventure, we offer a full refund on most trips. Within 31 days we offer free date changes or the option to convert your booking to credit to use on any 57hours adventure at a later date.