Mount Pierce Hike

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Mileage: 6.5 miles
Type: lollipop
Location of Trailhead: Bretton Woods, NH – trailhead parking on west side of Mt. Clinton Rd. just north of junction with US 302
Approximate Duration: ½ day
Highlights: Mt. Pierce, 4000 footer, Mizpah Spring Hut, Gibbs Falls, Appalachian Trail, alpine zone
Suggested Maps: AMC White Mountains Trail Map 1 – Presidential Range

Mount Pierce is located in the southern portion of the famous Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. At 4312 feet of elevation Pierce is also one of New Hampshire”s 48 peaks over 4000 feet. Originally called Mount Clinton, the peak was renamed in 1913 for the only U.S. president born in the state of New Hampshire.

Many hikers summiting Mt. Pierce choose to do so as part of a loop that includes Mt. Eisenhower or Mt. Jackson. It can also be hiked as a straight out-and-back on Crawford Path. We chose a counter-clockwise lollipop-style loop to include a visit to the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Mizpah Spring Hut and to make the most out of a drizzly June afternoon.

This hike begins on Crawford Path, the oldest continuously maintained footpath in the United States. Officially, the Crawford Path Trailhead is located at U.S. Route 302 but we began on Crawford Connector to make use of the parking area on Mt. Clinton Road.

Parking is located on the west side of Mt. Clinton Road just north of where it meets US 302. The parking lot is large and bathrooms are provided. The area is self-serve and a small parking fee is collected via drop box.

Leaving the parking lot, follow Crawford Connector for .4 miles, then turn left (east) onto Crawford Path. About .2 miles later you will see a sign for Gibbs Falls pointing to the left. The spur trail to Gibbs Falls is only about 40 yards and the falls are well worth the short walk. On a warmer day I probably would have saved the detour to the falls for the return trip and stopped for a while to put my feet in the water.

After retracing your steps back to Crawford Path, continue until taking a right onto Mizpah Cutoff. Follow Mizpah Cutoff to its end and take a left onto Webster Cliff Trail. This portion of Webster Cliff Trail is also part of the Appalachian Trail and is blazed in white. In about 200 feet you will reach Mizpah Spring Hut.

Mizpah Spring Hut is part of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s system of high huts. The huts offer meals and bunk-style accommodations to hikers who have made reservations ahead of time. During the day, they are open to all hikers to purchase snacks and beverages, use the restrooms, refill water, or just sit and rest for a while. We stopped at the hut to eat our lunches and couldn’t resist purchasing a cup of coffee and generous slice of blueberry cake.

When leaving Mizpah Spring Hut, continue on Webster Cliff Trail towards the summit of Mt. Pierce. As you get closer to the summit, be sure to take notice of the rare alpine vegetation and heed warnings to stay on the trail to avoid damaging the fragile environment.

About .8 miles after leaving the hut, you will reach the summit of Mt. Pierce. The summit is marked by a rock cairn and offers sweeping views of the Presidential Range, including Mount Washington. Even on a rainy day, we were treated to an impressive vista.

Leaving the summit, continue on Webster Cliff Trail. You will shortly meet Crawford Path. Turn left (west) to descend on Crawford Path, returning to Crawford Connector and the parking area.

Mount Pierce is a great choice for beginning peak baggers with their sights set on the 4000 footer list. All hiking, however, does pose inherent risks. The directions in this article are guidelines only. Consult a current map for precise distances and locations. Hiking in the whites can be dangerous. Please educate yourself in mountain safety and hike at your own risk.

Have you hiked Mt. Pierce? Is there something you would like to add? Something that you would do differently? Have a question about this hike?
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