Pemi Loop

The Pemi Loop is 31.7 miles around the loop, starting at Lincoln Woods Trailhead. At AMC book time (half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing), that works out to roughly 16-25 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Pemi Loop climbs about 9,215 ft over 31.7 miles, an average of roughly 291 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole loop, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Pemi Loop Most demanding on a six-tier scale from Easy to Most demanding. The rating comes from the route itself: its 31.7 miles, 9,215 ft of gain, and the steepest quarter mile of trail, with routes known for scrambles or ledges rated a step harder. It is the same scale our NH 4,000-footer difficulty ranking uses. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can still make a well-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Pemi Loop summits 10 named peaks: Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, South Twin Mountain, Mount Bond, West Bond, Mount Garfield, Mount Liberty, Mount Flume, Bondcliff, Galehead Mountain.

The Pemi Loop starts at Lincoln Woods Trailhead. Hikers' trip reports on parking at Lincoln Woods Trailhead: weekends (all seasons), full in 1 of 17 reports; others found space as late as 7:30 am; weekdays (all seasons), had space in all 24 reports, as late as 6:45 pm. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive: trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.