Madison Gulf Trail

Near Washburn Point · New Hampshire

Part of the Appalachian TrailUSFS trail #31427

Madison Gulf Trail is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 2,850 ft from Madison Gulf/Old Jackson Road Trailhead to the Parapet Trail junction. Part of it is above treeline.

Map length

4.0 mi

Climb from the low end

2,830 ft

Book time up / down (from map miles)

3 h 25 min / 2 h 20 min

High point

4,834 ft

Above treeline

0.2 mi

Steepest ¼ mile

3,205 ft/mi

Stream crossings

11 (1 ford)

Low point

2,231 ft

Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.

Madison Gulf Trail Above treeline

Elevation profile Above treeline Steep (25%+)
2,000'3,500'5,000'0 mi4.0 mi

Mile by mile (map miles)

From Madison Gulf/Old Jackson Road Trailhead (the lower end) to Parapet Trail junction.

  1. 0.0Madison Gulf/Old Jackson Road Trailhead
  2. 0.5Crosses a stream
  3. 0.6Crosses a stream
  4. 0.7Crosses a stream
  5. 1.4Crosses a stream
  6. 1.4Crosses a stream
  7. 1.9Junction with Great Gulf Trail and Great Gulf Trail
  8. 1.9Fords West Branch of Peabody River: can be dangerous in high water
  9. 2.5Crosses Parapet Brook
  10. 3.0Crosses a stream
  11. 3.4Crosses Parapet Brook
  12. 3.6Crosses Parapet Brook
  13. 3.6Crosses Parapet Brook
  14. 3.8Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
  15. 4.0Junction with Parapet Trail

Distances and book times (map miles)

  1. To Great Gulf Trail junction

    1.88 mi (total 1.88) · ↑235 ↓660 ft · 1 h 4 min / 1 h 16 min

  2. To Parapet Trail junction

    2.12 mi (total 4.00) · ↑2,594 ↓24 ft · 2 h 22 min / 1 h 4 min

↑ walking from Madison Gulf/Old Jackson Road Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.

Trailheads and parking

Recent trip reports

No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.

  • Sat, Aug 15MudWetDry

    Water crossings: All generally rock-hoppable. Note: Did not need to cross West Branch at closed suspension bridge.

    Full report on NETC

Connecting trails

Old Jackson RoadGreat Gulf TrailGreat Gulf TrailParapet Trail

Packing for fall? The fall gear guide has the full list.

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.