Pemigewasset Loop Hike Guide

July 17, 2023 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

The Pemigewasset or “Pemi” loop is a classic loop located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This trail starts and ends at Lincoln Woods trailhead and summits at least 10 4,000+ft mountains in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This includes: Mt Flume, Mt Liberty, Little Haystack Mountain, Mt Lincoln, Mt Lafayette, Mt Garfield, South Twin Peak, Mt Bond and Bondcliff. There are many variations to add on other peaks and although this long loop is usually done in multiple days, it can be tackled in one very long day. This guide will cover both options but my firsthand experience comes with a single day effort.

Pemigewasset Loop Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Pemigewasset Loop One Day Trail Run Guide

Pemigewasset Loop Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

Distance: 32.25 Miles – Includes Baldface (.6 Miles RT), Mt Guyot (.2 Miles RT) and West Bond (1.3 miles RT)

Elevation Start: 1,153ft

High Point: 5,249ft (Mt Lafayette)

Total Elevation Gain: 11,000ft – Subtract about 500ft or so if not adding the bonus peaks I mentioned above.

Estimated Time to Complete: 13 Hours – 3 Days. If trail running/hiking in one day, it will typically take you between 12-17 hours depending on weather, trail conditions, hiking vs running and your experience in the mountains.

Difficulty: Strenuous What does this mean?

Class: Class 3 – What does this mean? Mostly class 1 with some (very) small sections of high class 2/low Class 3.

Season: Year Round – Though most people will want to tackle this between June and October. The cooler the weather, the better. Avoid hot and humid days and snow will complicate this route significantly.

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to the Pemigewasset Loop

Trailhead: Lincoln Woods

Getting Here: Likely you will be coming from the town of Lincoln, New Hampshire in which case the trailhead is located about 4.5 miles west of town off Interstate 93. If not, your best bet is to just enter the trailhead into your favorite navigational device.

Parking: There is a MASSIVE parking lot at the Lincoln Woods TH that can easily fit over 100 cars. However, especially in the summer and fall, this is an extremely popular destination. I am not sure if this lot fills up, but best to play it safe when you can. The parking area has restroom near the center of the lot.

Fee: $5 fee (per day) as of 2023 – this can be paid in cash or using the solar powered credit card machines at the TH. Alternatively, you can purchase a White Mountain National Forest Annual Recreation Pass.

Summary

Dogs: This entire loop is dog friendly but since it’s in a wilderness area, dogs should be leashed. I would not recommend bringing a dog on this for a single day attempt, only if backpacking.

Camping: If you were to stretch the Pemi loop into multiple days, you have quite a few options for camping. The most foolproof would be to stay at the huts/shelters along the trail. This includes the Greenleaf Hut (small detour off the trail), Galehead Hut and Guyot Shelter. If backcountry camping, be sure to follow all regulations (for which there are a lot). The standard, camping at least 100 ft away from water sources follows in addition to some White Mountain specific rules: no camping within 200 ft of a trail, no camping above treeline and No camping, wood or charcoal fires within 1/4 mile of the Franconia Brook Campsite, 13 Falls Tentsite, Guyot Tentsite, or Thoreau Falls. In all honesty, this leaves a handful of sites below treeline that COULD work, but you might have a much better time relying on the huts/shelters.

Water Sources: Water on this loop can be tricky but is not impossible to find. Depending on which direction you choose to hike this loop, you will have the Pemigewasset River for the first 2 or 6 miles to use. Assuming a counterclockwise direction, the next source is a small stream just off the trail that goes most of the way up Mt Flume. Once on the Franconia Ridge, your next source of reliable water is the Greenleaf Hut (3 mile RT detour). After you descend Mt Lafayette, there is a small watershed (should be filtered) before Mt Garfield and then the Garfield Pond (small detour off trail, also should be filtered). Galehead Hut has running water and then there is another watershed just below the Guyot Shelter (about a .7 mile RT detour – should be filtered). After leaving Bondcliff, there is a stream that follows the trail almost all the way down to the river again. Plan for long stretches of no water and don’t bank on the watersheds still flowing if attempting this later in the season.

Make it a Loop: As the name states, the Pemigewasset Loop is exactly that but there are a few variations to consider. First, the extra summits which include Baldface, West Bond and Mt Guyot. Traditionally, all three are added for a standard loop. However, you could make this a “super” Pemi loop by adding about 10+ miles of additional hiking. This starts by adding either North Twin or Mt Zealand and linking another 2-4 more peaks. You can read more about that option here.

Trail X Factors: Weather and Trail Conditions

Any time you are traveling this large of a distance with so much elevation gain, the smallest of variables can change your day dramatically. Extremely hot or muggy weather will force you to slow down, carry extra water and things like heat stroke become a concern. Additionally, poor weather or bad visibility can take away from a lot of the reason most of us attempt this one: the views! The White Mountains are infamous for low clouds and fog so having a completely clear day is rare, but I would recommend hiking this one with some visibility so that you can appreciate this beautiful chunk of remote New Hampshire.

Finally, mud or wet rock can drastically slow you down (if running), increase your chances of injury and generally take away from your experience on the Pemi loop. I feel that an ideal time to do this one would be during the fall when hikers/runners have cooler temps, less bugs and maybe even some foliage to add to the beauty of the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

Hike Tips:

Carry more water than you think (sources are scarce and unreliable)
Decide if you want boring miles to start or end your day (pros and cons to both). Boring miles to start = counter clockwise loop, boring miles to end = clockwise start.
Mud and wet rock will SIGNIFICANTLY slow your running pace.
Ensure you have great weather (or at least no chances of electrical or rain storms).

Best Views: Unlike its neighboring and equally as famous sister the Presidential Traverse, a lot of the mileage on the Pemi loop comes below treeline. The best views, on a clear day, are on the classic Franconia Ridge Trail, on the summit of West Bond (should you choose to add it) and on Bondcliff mountain near the end of the loop. Don’t get me wrong, these views are still amazing when you have them.