State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length, One-Way: 2.9 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 2020 feet
Maximum Elevation: 4460 feet
Elevation Change: 2560 feet
Best Season: May to September
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy
Parking: White Mountains National Forest Fee Site.
New Hampshire Mountains in the Backdrop
Trail Information
J. Rayner Edmands was perhaps the most eminent trail-builder at the turn of the 20th century. Edmands Col between Mounts Adams and Jefferson is named for him. While he is best known for rebuilding trails in the Northern Presidentials, when logging disrupted the approaches to the Northern peaks he devoted his attention to the trail now known as the Edmands Path to widen it and eliminate steep grades. Most of the trail still follows his route but after use by hordes of hikers for nearly a century, parts are rough and eroded in spite of recent trail work. The trail is wooded except for the very top which is in low scrub or in the open.
The Edmands Path begins at 2000 feet elevation on the eastern side of Mount Clinton Road, approximately 2 miles from the junction of Route 302 and Mount Clinton Road. The trail ends at the junction with Crawford Path in the Eisenhower-Franklin saddle at 4450 feet elevation. From the parking lot, the Edmands Path climbs gradually, crossing three small brooks on bridges and a few smaller ones. After the third bridge, it briefly follows an old road along Abenaki Brook in the first mile. The Path leaves Abenaki Brook and steepens as it climbs the north face of Mount Eisenhower. After a couple of switchbacks, the trail passes between two cairns and turns left, crossing a brook at 2.3 miles. The trail levels off and circles a ridge before beginning a long traverse along the north flank of Mount Eisenhower.
The Edmands Path passes through scrub of diminishing size and ends at the Mount Eisenhower Loop at 2.9 miles. Go right to ascend Mount Eisenhower about 0.3 miles with 350 feet elevation gain or head left for the Crawford Path and Mount Washington.
You will witness a dramatic change in vegetation during your mountainous ascent. Forests of maple, beech and birch are present in the valley floors, extending up to about 3500 feet elevation. Spruce and fir enter and gradually taking over. Trees become shorter approaching timberline.
Above timberline is the spectacular and easily damaged alpine zone. Plants here have adapted for survival in these harsh conditions but have little resistance to human trampling. Help preserve rare and fragile alpine vegetation by staying on the trail. Protecting the alpine zone is very important because once destroyed, the soil becomes highly vulnerable to erosion and revegetation is very slow.
Directions
From Interstate 93:
Take exit 35 off of Interstate 93 near Franconia Notch. Follow US Route 3 about 11 miles north to the junction with US 302. Drive east on US 302 for 8.3 miles. Turn left onto Mt. Clinton Road and drive 2.4 miles to the trailhead which is at a parking lot on the right.
