Valley Way
On the way up Mount Madison · New Hampshire
Valley Way is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 3,500 ft from Appalachia Trailhead to the Gulfside Trail junction.
Map length
3.4 mi
Climb from the low end
3,484 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 27 min / 1 h 43 min
High point
4,793 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,925 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,307 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Valley Way
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Appalachia Trailhead (the lower end) to Gulfside Trail junction.
- 0.0Appalachia Trailhead
- 0.2Junction with Sylvan Way
- 0.5Salroc Fall
- 0.5Junction with Brookbank, Fallsway and Fallsway
- 0.6Tama Fall
- 0.8Junction with Beechwood Way, Randolph Path and The Brookside
- 1.9Junction with Scar Trail
- 2.2Junction with Watson Path
- 2.5Junction with Lower Bruin
- 3.0Junction with Upper Bruin
- 3.4Junction with Airline Cutoff, Gulfside Trail, Osgood Trail, Pine Link Trail and Star Lake Trail
- 3.4Madison Spring Hut
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Sylvan Way junction
0.19 mi (total 0.19) · ↑80 ↓0 ft · 8 min / 6 min
To Fallsway junction
0.32 mi (total 0.51) · ↑226 ↓0 ft · 16 min / 10 min
To Beechwood Way junction
0.31 mi (total 0.82) · ↑244 ↓0 ft · 17 min / 10 min
To Scar Trail junction
1.13 mi (total 1.95) · ↑1,009 ↓1 ft · 1 h 4 min / 34 min
To Watson Path junction
0.28 mi (total 2.23) · ↑278 ↓0 ft · 17 min / 8 min
To Lower Bruin junction
0.32 mi (total 2.55) · ↑410 ↓0 ft · 22 min / 10 min
To Upper Bruin junction
0.47 mi (total 3.02) · ↑567 ↓0 ft · 31 min / 14 min
To Gulfside Trail junction
0.40 mi (total 3.42) · ↑630 ↓0 ft · 31 min / 12 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachia Trailhead | Sylvan Way junction | 0.19 | 0.19 | 80 / 0 ft | 8 min / 6 min |
| Sylvan Way junction | Fallsway junction | 0.32 | 0.51 | 226 / 0 ft | 16 min / 10 min |
| Fallsway junction | Beechwood Way junction | 0.31 | 0.82 | 244 / 0 ft | 17 min / 10 min |
| Beechwood Way junction | Scar Trail junction | 1.13 | 1.95 | 1,009 / 1 ft | 1 h 4 min / 34 min |
| Scar Trail junction | Watson Path junction | 0.28 | 2.23 | 278 / 0 ft | 17 min / 8 min |
| Watson Path junction | Lower Bruin junction | 0.32 | 2.55 | 410 / 0 ft | 22 min / 10 min |
| Lower Bruin junction | Upper Bruin junction | 0.47 | 3.02 | 567 / 0 ft | 31 min / 14 min |
| Upper Bruin junction | Gulfside Trail junction | 0.40 | 3.42 | 630 / 0 ft | 31 min / 12 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
3 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.
- Sat, Oct 3MudWetDry
Water crossings: NA
Full report on NETC - Wed, Sep 23IceMudDryFull report on NETC
- Sat, Sep 19Dry
Water crossings: None
Full report on NETC - Mon, Aug 31WetDry
Water crossings: Anything that would be called a crossing had so little flow as to be walk-across.
Full report on NETC - Fri, Aug 21Dry
Water crossings: Water levels are low. The upper crossing on the Brookside had some slippery rocks
Full 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.
70 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 70 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. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.