Presi Traverse

The Presi Traverse is 19.4 miles point to point, starting at Appalachia Trailhead. At AMC book time — half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing — that works out to roughly 11-17 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Presi Traverse climbs about 8,301 ft over 19.4 miles — an average of roughly 428 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole point-to-point, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Presi Traverse Very Difficult, scored with the Shenandoah difficulty formula — √(elevation gain × 2 × distance) — applied to its 19.4 miles and 8,301 ft of gain. The score measures physical effort only. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can make a moderate-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Presi Traverse summits 7 named peaks: Mount Washington, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Monroe, Mount Madison, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Pierce (Clinton).

The Presi Traverse starts at Appalachia Trailhead and finishes at Crawford Notch, so it needs a car spot or shuttle. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive — trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.