The Cornice
Near Mount Jefferson · New Hampshire
The Cornice is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 650 ft from the Randolph Path junction to the Gulfside Trail junction. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
1.5 mi
Climb from the low end
640 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
1 h 5 min / 53 min
High point
5,334 ft
Above treeline
1.5 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
1,042 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2
Low point
4,904 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
The Cornice Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Randolph Path junction (the lower end) to Gulfside Trail junction.
- 0.0Randolph Path junction
- 0.0Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 0.0Spaulding Spring
- 0.1Crosses a stream
- 0.5Junction with Castle Trail
- 0.7Crosses a stream
- 1.1Junction with Caps Ridge Trail
- 1.5Junction with Gulfside Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Castle Trail junction
0.49 mi (total 0.49) · ↑252 ↓53 ft · 22 min / 16 min
To Caps Ridge Trail junction
0.64 mi (total 1.13) · ↑86 ↓157 ft · 22 min / 24 min
To Gulfside Trail junction
0.41 mi (total 1.54) · ↑297 ↓0 ft · 21 min / 13 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph Path junction | Castle Trail junction | 0.49 | 0.49 | 252 / 53 ft | 22 min / 16 min |
| Castle Trail junction | Caps Ridge Trail junction | 0.64 | 1.13 | 86 / 157 ft | 22 min / 24 min |
| Caps Ridge Trail junction | Gulfside Trail junction | 0.41 | 1.54 | 297 / 0 ft | 21 min / 13 min |
↑ walking from Randolph Path junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Connecting trails
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.