Extreme Hiking & Backpacking

The White Mountain National Forest and surrounding areas offer unsurpassed extreme hiking trails. For trip reports, trail information, shelter guidelines and more go to the Hike the Whites website.

Mount Washington, known for having the world’s most extreme weather, is a prime destination.

In the summer, Tuckerman Ravine is the most popular route to the summit for hikers. The Tuckerman Ravine trail leaves Pinkham Notch and climbs through the ravine, up the headwall, and then up the summit cone.  The Boott Spur Link leaves the base of the ravine and climbs the south side to hook up with the Boott Spur trail.  The Lion Head trail climbs the northern edge of the ravine, meeting up with the Tuckerman Ravine trail above the headwall.  Camping in the ravine is prohibited except at the Hermit Lake shelters, and you must pick up a ticket to stay there at Pinkham Notch.  No advanced reservations are allowed.  There is a ranger station, known as Hojos at the base of the ravine.