Airline Trail
To Mount Adams · New Hampshire
Airline Trail is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 4,450 ft from Appalachia Trailhead to Mount Adams. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
3.7 mi
Climb from the low end
4,440 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
4 h 5 min / 1 h 52 min
High point
5,766 ft
Above treeline
1.0 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
2,122 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,323 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer. The mapped trail stops just short of the summit of Mount Adams; these figures end there.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Airline Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Appalachia Trailhead (the lower end) to Mount Adams.
- 0.0Appalachia Trailhead
- 0.1Junction with Sylvan Way
- 0.6Junction with Beechwood Way
- 0.7Junction with Short Line Trail
- 0.8Junction with Randolph Path
- 2.1Junction with Scar Trail
- 2.7Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 2.7Junction with Chemin des Dames and Upper Bruin
- 3.0Junction with Airline Cutoff
- 3.2Junction with Gulfside Trail and King Ravine Trail
- 3.4Mount Quincy Adams
- 3.7Mount Adams
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Sylvan Way junction
0.13 mi (total 0.13) · ↑66 ↓0 ft · 6 min / 4 min
To Beechwood Way junction
0.44 mi (total 0.57) · ↑310 ↓0 ft · 23 min / 13 min
To Short Line Trail junction
0.12 mi (total 0.69) · ↑112 ↓0 ft · 7 min / 4 min
To Randolph Path junction
0.16 mi (total 0.85) · ↑172 ↓0 ft · 10 min / 5 min
To Scar Trail junction
1.23 mi (total 2.08) · ↑1,693 ↓0 ft · 1 h 28 min / 37 min
To Upper Bruin junction
0.64 mi (total 2.72) · ↑691 ↓0 ft · 40 min / 19 min
To Airline Cutoff junction
0.32 mi (total 3.04) · ↑385 ↓0 ft · 21 min / 10 min
To King Ravine Trail junction
0.19 mi (total 3.23) · ↑294 ↓0 ft · 14 min / 6 min
To Mount Quincy Adams
0.14 mi (total 3.37) · ↑162 ↓0 ft · 9 min / 4 min
To Mount Adams
0.35 mi (total 3.72) · ↑492 ↓0 ft · 25 min / 11 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachia Trailhead | Sylvan Way junction | 0.13 | 0.13 | 66 / 0 ft | 6 min / 4 min |
| Sylvan Way junction | Beechwood Way junction | 0.44 | 0.57 | 310 / 0 ft | 23 min / 13 min |
| Beechwood Way junction | Short Line Trail junction | 0.12 | 0.69 | 112 / 0 ft | 7 min / 4 min |
| Short Line Trail junction | Randolph Path junction | 0.16 | 0.85 | 172 / 0 ft | 10 min / 5 min |
| Randolph Path junction | Scar Trail junction | 1.23 | 2.08 | 1,693 / 0 ft | 1 h 28 min / 37 min |
| Scar Trail junction | Upper Bruin junction | 0.64 | 2.72 | 691 / 0 ft | 40 min / 19 min |
| Upper Bruin junction | Airline Cutoff junction | 0.32 | 3.04 | 385 / 0 ft | 21 min / 10 min |
| Airline Cutoff junction | King Ravine Trail junction | 0.19 | 3.23 | 294 / 0 ft | 14 min / 6 min |
| King Ravine Trail junction | Mount Quincy Adams | 0.14 | 3.37 | 162 / 0 ft | 9 min / 4 min |
| Mount Quincy Adams | Mount Adams | 0.35 | 3.72 | 492 / 0 ft | 25 min / 11 min |
↑ walking from Appalachia Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Appalachia Trailhead
Off US 2 · About 75 spaces
Fall weekends: Full in 5 of 6 reports, as early as 7 am.
Fall weekdays: Had space in both reports.
Latest report, Sun, Oct 4: Overflowing.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions reportRecent trip reports
5 reports on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 2, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 3. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Oct 3MudWetDry
Water crossings: NA
Full report on NETC - Sat, Sep 26Dry
Water crossings: None
Full report on NETC - Thu, Sep 24MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues
Full report on NETC - Wed, Sep 23IceMudDryFull report on NETC
- Sat, Sep 19IceDryFull report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
74 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 74 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
27°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 27°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Above-treeline areas from canopy height by Meta and WRI (CC BY 4.0). Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.