Wild River Trail

Near North Baldface · New Hampshire

USFS trail #31890

Wild River Trail is a trail in the Carter, Wildcat and Baldface ranges, climbing about 1,600 ft from Wild River/Basin Trailhead to the Wildcat River Trail junction.

Map length

9.4 mi

Climb from the low end

1,611 ft

Book time up / down (from map miles)

5 h 32 min / 4 h 57 min

High point

2,638 ft

Above treeline

None

Steepest ¼ mile

648 ft/mi

Stream crossings

8 (7 fords)

Low point

1,135 ft

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

Wild River Trail

Elevation profile
1,000'2,000'3,000'0 mi9.4 mi

Mile by mile (map miles)

From Wild River/Basin Trailhead (the lower end) to Wildcat River Trail junction.

  1. 0.0Wild River/Basin Trailhead
  2. 0.0Water source
  3. 0.0Bridge over a stream
  4. 0.5Junction with Campground Ford
  5. 2.8Junction with Black Angel Trail and Highwater Trail
  6. 2.8Fords Wild River: can be dangerous in high water
  7. 3.6Spruce Brook Tentsite
  8. 3.6Fords Spruce Brook
  9. 4.5Fords Red Brook
  10. 4.5Fords Red Brook
  11. 4.9Junction with Eagle Link Trail
  12. 5.8Fords Wild River: can be dangerous in high water
  13. 6.3Junction with East Branch Trail
  14. 6.4Fords Wild River: can be dangerous in high water
  15. 6.7Fords Wild River: can be dangerous in high water
  16. 6.8No Ketchum Pond
  17. 7.0Perkins Notch Tentsite
  18. 7.7Junction with Rainbow Trail
  19. 8.3Junction with Bog Brook Trail
  20. 9.4Junction with Wildcat River Trail

Distances and book times (map miles)

  1. To Campground Ford junction

    0.45 mi (total 0.45) · ↑43 ↓6 ft · 15 min / 14 min

  2. To Black Angel Trail junction

    2.34 mi (total 2.79) · ↑337 ↓22 ft · 1 h 20 min / 1 h 11 min

  3. To Spruce Brook Tentsite

    0.80 mi (total 3.59) · ↑131 ↓4 ft · 28 min / 24 min

  4. To Eagle Link Trail junction

    1.27 mi (total 4.86) · ↑436 ↓0 ft · 51 min / 38 min

  5. To East Branch Trail junction

    1.49 mi (total 6.35) · ↑381 ↓38 ft · 56 min / 46 min

  6. To Perkins Notch Tentsite

    0.60 mi (total 6.95) · ↑177 ↓11 ft · 23 min / 19 min

  7. To Rainbow Trail junction

    0.71 mi (total 7.66) · ↑81 ↓75 ft · 24 min / 23 min

  8. To Bog Brook Trail junction

    0.68 mi (total 8.34) · ↑10 ↓168 ft · 21 min / 25 min

  9. To Wildcat River Trail junction

    1.10 mi (total 9.44) · ↑8 ↓129 ft · 33 min / 37 min

↑ walking from Wild River/Basin Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.

Trailheads and parking

Connecting trails

Campground FordBlack Angel TrailHighwater TrailEagle Link TrailEast Branch TrailRainbow TrailBog Brook TrailWildcat River Trail

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

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.