Hike New England - Mount Eisenhower and Mount Pierce

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Mount Eisenhower and Mount Pierce

Mountains:		Mt. Pierce (4312'), Mt. Eisenhower (4760')
Trails:		Crawford Connector, Crawford Path, Crawford Cliff Spur, Webster Cliff Trail, Mount Eisenhower Loop, Edmands Path, Mt. Clinton Road, Appalachian Trail
Region:		NH - Central East White Mountain National Forest, Presidentials
Location:		Carroll (Twin Mountain), NH
Rating:		Moderate
Features:		Summits, views, 4000-footers, alpine zone, alpine plants, waterfall, cascades, loop hike, brook
Distance:		10.6 miles
Elevation Gain:		3150 feet (cumulative)
Hiking Time:		Actual: 5:25 Typical: 6:50
Outing Duration:		Typical: 9:30
Hike Date:		09/26/1999 (Sunday)
Last Updated:		01/20/2008
Weather:		Sunny, clear, 45-55 degrees
Author:		Webmaster

Route Summary

This is a loop hike that finishes up with a 2.3 mile walk along a pretty, gravel road in order to get from one trailhead to another.

If you wish to do a point-to-point hike instead, simply spot a car at the Edmands Path parking area, start hiking from the Crawford Path parking lot and subtract 2.3 miles from your trip.

Start on Crawford Connector, following it for 0.4 mile, and then turn left onto Crawford Path.
Follow Crawford Path for 2.7 miles until the junction with Webster Cliff Trail (go straight when reaching Mizpah Cutoff to the right at 1.9 miles from the trailhead).
Turn right onto Webster Cliff Trail and ascend 0.1 mile to the summit of Mt. Pierce.
Descend 0.1 mile on Webster Cliff Trail to return to Crawford Path.
Continue along Crawford Path for 1.2 miles then bear left to follow Mount Eisenhower Loop for 0.4 mile up to Mt. Eisenhower's summit.
Continue along Mount Eisenhower Loop, descending Mt. Eisenhower on the other side, and meeting up with Edmands path in 0.4 mile.
Turn left onto Edmands Path and follow it for 2.9 miles until it ends at the trailhead parking area on Mt. Clinton Road.
From the parking lot, turn left onto Mt. Clinton Road.
Walk along Mt. Clinton Road for 2.3 miles back to the Crawford Path parking lot where you started from.

Place	Split Miles	Total Miles	Split Time	Total Time
Crawford Path parking lot (1920')	0.0	0.0	0:00	0:00
Jct. Crawford Path/Mizpah Cutoff (3380')	1.9	1.9	1:07	1:07
Jct. Crawford Path/Webster Cliff Trail (4250')	1.2	3.1	0:46	1:53
Mt. Pierce summit (4312')	0.1	3.2	0:02	1:55
Jct. Crawford Path/Webster Cliff Trail (4250')	0.1	3.3	0:01	1:56
Jct. Crawford Path/Mt. Eisenhower Loop (4425')	1.2	4.5	0:50	2:46
Mt. Eisenhower summit (4760')	0.4	4.9	0:16	3:02
Jct. Eisenhower Loop/Edmands Path (4450')	0.4	5.4	0:16	3:18
Edmands Path Trailhead parking area (2000')	2.9	8.3	1:25	4:43
Crawford Path parking lot (1920')	2.3	10.6	0:42	5:25

Map of hike route to Mt. Pierce and Mt. Eisenhower (map by Webmaster)

Trail Guide

I started along Crawford Path (actually Crawford Path Connector) and very shortly the trail crossed Mt. Clinton Rd. The trail climbs gradually here and the sun was shining down brightly through the trees. The way the light was filtered through the branches, combined with the wet dew still on the leaves, made it seem like I was walking through an enchanted forest.

Soon I came upon Gibbs Brook and the Crawford Cliff Spur. The brook is really neat looking and flows through a small gorge. I followed the spur path as far as the signed pool and skipped the steep climb to the outlook because I figured I would have tons of views from the ridge and was afraid of taking up too much time (as it turned out, despite the distance, this was a pretty easy trail and I could have spent the time checking out the rest of the spur).

The pool was pretty but what really caught my eye was a gorgeous waterfall slightly downstream from it, which could just barely be glimpsed from the spur path. I went off trail and checked it out. It falls over what looks like an old (cement?) bridge forming a perfect, uniform falls about 4 feet wide. Then to the right of it, more water, in a narrow stream, makes a chaotic fall and churns up the water falling from the bridge. After making my way through the woods to get a good view of this falls, I realized that if I had continued further along Crawford Path, it was easily visible without the extra work.

After checking out the spur trail, I crossed the bridge that goes over Gibbs Brook. It was about here that I had a surprise encounter with a "billboard". I've come to expect (unfortunately) billboards on the drives to the trailheads but this is the first time I experienced the unpleasant taste of advertising on the trail. I will admit it was a more attractive billboard than most (actually it was much smaller than a highway billboard but much larger than any of the trail signs); but it was still an advertisement. The AMC sign proclaimed the hospitality and good meals awaiting the weary hiker at Mizpah Hut. It read, "average hiking time - 2 hours" and reminded me of the McDonald's billboard I drove by earlier that said "McDonald's - 15 minutes ahead".

AMC is a great organization and I use their books all the time but I think placing such a prominent sign like this is going against their goal to preserve the wilderness and instead becomes a self-serving advertisement. Would they support large signs on the hike up to Mount Washington advertising the cafeteria awaiting hikers on the summit; or offering a ride down via the railway or road? I think not.

Soon after that bit of commercialism, the trail hooked up with the true Crawford Path were a left hand turn was required to head up the mountain (turning right leads to Crawford Depot and the AMC Highland Center on Rt. 302).

And soon after that a very short spur path leads left to a tall waterfall (Gibbs Falls) plummeting down into the gorge. So many sights to see and one mile has not yet even been covered!

Crawford Path continues to ascend at a gradual to moderate grade but climbs steadily with few flat spots. At the sign for Mizpah Cutoff, bear left to stay on Crawford Path (bearing right will lead to the Mizpah Hut). Gradually the views begin to open up to the left of the trail.

By the time I reached the junction with the Webster Cliff Trail, the view was totally open. I followed the Webster Cliff Trail for less than 0.1 mile to the summit of Mount Pierce. The summit proper (distinguished by a large cairn as well as a USGS marker) is surrounded by some scrub so the views have to be obtained from a standing position. But just a short distance back towards Crawford Path are great views that can be had from a relaxed, sitting position on the many flat rocks. This area was also more sheltered from the winds than the totally exposed Mount Eisenhower summit - so on a colder day, Pierce would be the better pick for a lunch break.

I retraced my steps from Mount Pierce to get back on Crawford Path. The route along the ridge was easy walking and provided many, many, wonderful views. I followed the path to its junction with the southern most end of Mount Eisenhower Loop. That's where the steep climbing began but it was very short lived.

I soon found myself on the summit of Mount Eisenhower with views everywhere! At the very top of the mountain is a huge cairn and people were mostly gathered around the perimeter of the cairn. A short distance outside of the perimeter of the cairn, the mountain rolls down gradually and is covered with small rocks and lots of alpine growth so pretty much the only spot to hang out (unless you want to commit the sin of trampling over delicate alpine plants) is right around the cairn.

I hung out here and ate another lunch (I already had one on Mount Pierce but I was hungry again). Then I descended down the other arm of the loop. From that segment, I could see Red Pond below me and slightly to the right. It was small and appeared to be filled with brown, murky water - not really a pleasant sight. At the bottom of the loop trail, a spur path leads right to the mucky shore of the pond. Taking a left puts you onto Edmands Path.

Edmands Path begins out in the open and seems to be skirting the outer edge of Mount Eisenhower. After a bit, it enters the tree line but is still hugging the edge of the mountain so views can be glimpsed to the right, in between the branches. At one spot, for a brief stint, the trail shares its route with a brook. Use extra caution here because the rocks are steep and slippery. After that point, there are a couple steep parts to get through, but mostly the trail descends easily though pleasant woods.

Edmands Path ends at a parking area off of Mt. Clinton Rd. (no toilets here). I went through the lot and took a left onto the road. It was a pretty walk and the road had low traffic. I followed the road until I saw the trail signs for Crawford Path (picture of a hiker - no trail name), then I took a right back into the woods and very shortly arrived at the Crawford Path parking area.

It was a great sunny, clear day with the smell of Autumn in the air. In spite of the temperature being only 45-50 degrees, it felt much warmer than that (the bright sun combined with the exercise). Overall, an easy loop with fantastic rewards. Because of this, there were quite a few people on the trails.

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Driving Directions

Crawford Path Parking Lot

From Crawford Notch Depot and the AMC Highland Center, head West on Rt. 302 for about 0.1 mile.
Turn right onto Mt. Clinton Road.
Almost immediately, turn left into a parking lot.
The trailhead is at the far end of the parking area, just to the right of the toilets.

Edmands Path Parking Lot

From the Crawford Path parking lot, continue down Mt. Clinton Road for 2.3 miles.
The parking lot for Edmands Path is on the right.

Facilities

Toilets at the parking area for Crawford Path.

Other Notes

A parking permit is required to park at White Mountain National Forest trailheads and parking areas. You can purchase a WMNF permit from the forest service and other vendors and can also pay-by-the-day using self-service kiosks located in many parking areas.

Rates:

$3 per day
$5 for a week-long pass
$20 for a year-long pass
$25 for two year-long passes (one household/two cars)

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