Lowe's Path

To Mount Adams · New Hampshire

USFS trail #31419

Lowe's Path is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 4,400 ft from Lowes Path to Mount Adams. Part of it is above treeline.

Map length

4.1 mi

Climb from the low end

4,393 ft

Book time up / down (from map miles)

4 h 16 min / 2 h 5 min

High point

5,766 ft

Above treeline

1.3 mi

Steepest ¼ mile

2,296 ft/mi

Stream crossings

Low point

1,388 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

Presi TraverseMount Washington, Mount Adams, Mount Jefferson, Mount Monroe, Mount Madison, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Pierce (Clinton)

Lowe's Path Above treeline

Elevation profile Above treeline Steep (25%+)

Mile by mile (map miles)

From Lowes Path (the lower end) to Mount Adams.

0.0Lowes Path
0.1Junction with Presidential Rail Trail
1.5Junction with The Link
1.6Junction with King Ravine Trail
2.2The Log Cabin
2.2Junction with Cabin-Cascades Trail and Log Cabin Cutoff
2.3Junction with Randolph Path
2.8Junction with Gray Knob Trail
2.8Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
3.5Mount Abigail Adams
3.8Junction with Great Gully Trail, Gulfside Trail and Spur Trail
4.0Junction with Israel Ridge Path
4.1Mount Adams

Distances and book times (map miles)

To Presidential Rail Trail junction
0.14 mi (total 0.14) · ↑63 ↓1 ft · 6 min / 4 min
To The Link junction
1.37 mi (total 1.51) · ↑1,006 ↓0 ft · 1 h 11 min / 41 min
To King Ravine Trail junction
0.12 mi (total 1.63) · ↑107 ↓0 ft · 7 min / 4 min
To The Log Cabin
0.54 mi (total 2.17) · ↑662 ↓0 ft · 36 min / 16 min
To Randolph Path junction
0.17 mi (total 2.34) · ↑300 ↓0 ft · 14 min / 5 min
To Gray Knob Trail junction
0.47 mi (total 2.81) · ↑828 ↓0 ft · 39 min / 14 min
To Mount Abigail Adams
0.74 mi (total 3.55) · ↑929 ↓0 ft · 50 min / 22 min
To Spur Trail junction
0.27 mi (total 3.82) · ↑124 ↓18 ft · 12 min / 8 min
To Israel Ridge Path junction
0.15 mi (total 3.97) · ↑138 ↓0 ft · 8 min / 5 min
To Mount Adams
0.17 mi (total 4.14) · ↑183 ↓0 ft · 11 min / 5 min

From	To	Map miles	Total	Climb ↑ / ↓	Time ↑ / ↓
Lowes Path	Presidential Rail Trail junction	0.14	0.14	63 / 1 ft	6 min / 4 min
Presidential Rail Trail junction	The Link junction	1.37	1.51	1,006 / 0 ft	1 h 11 min / 41 min
The Link junction	King Ravine Trail junction	0.12	1.63	107 / 0 ft	7 min / 4 min
King Ravine Trail junction	The Log Cabin	0.54	2.17	662 / 0 ft	36 min / 16 min
The Log Cabin	Randolph Path junction	0.17	2.34	300 / 0 ft	14 min / 5 min
Randolph Path junction	Gray Knob Trail junction	0.47	2.81	828 / 0 ft	39 min / 14 min
Gray Knob Trail junction	Mount Abigail Adams	0.74	3.55	929 / 0 ft	50 min / 22 min
Mount Abigail Adams	Spur Trail junction	0.27	3.82	124 / 18 ft	12 min / 8 min
Spur Trail junction	Israel Ridge Path junction	0.15	3.97	138 / 0 ft	8 min / 5 min
Israel Ridge Path junction	Mount Adams	0.17	4.14	183 / 0 ft	11 min / 5 min

↑ walking from Lowes Path; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.

Trailheads and parking

Lowes Path
Off Durand Road
Weekends (all seasons): Had space in both reports, as late as 7 am.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in the one report.
Latest report, Sat, Jun 13: Plenty of room.
All parking reports for Lowes Path

Summit conditions

Mount AdamsdangerousOct 9, 8:20 PM

Today's conditions report

1 incident recorded on this trail: incident database

Recent trip reports

2 reports on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 1, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 2. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.

Thu, Sep 24MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues
Full report on NETC
Wed, Sep 23IceMudDry
Full report on NETC
Mon, Sep 7MudWetDry
Water crossings: All easy hops.
Full report on NETC
Sat, Sep 5Wet
Water crossings: Rock Hop-able
Full report on NETC
Wed, Aug 12MudWetDry
Water crossings: All easy rock hops
Full report on NETC

Connecting trails

Presidential Rail Trail The Link King Ravine Trail Cabin-Cascades Trail Log Cabin Cutoff Randolph Path Gray Knob Trail Great Gully Trail Gulfside Trail Spur Trail Israel Ridge Path

What to bring

From the summit forecast, Sat to Mon

Paid 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.
Kahtoola Microspikes at Backcountry.com ($89.95)
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
Headlamps at Backcountry.com

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.