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The Wildcat Ridge Trail leads from NH Route 16 S of Pinkham Notch to Carter Notch near the AMC Hut, connecting with the Carter-Moriah Trail to continue along the range. The Wildcat Ridge Trail has plenty of rough walking and ledge scrambling mixed with bog bridges, and is often overgrown and poorly blazed, so hikers should allow extra time. All of the trail but the end with the brook crossing is part of the Appalachian Trail.
Distance: From NH Route 16 to Carter Notch, about 4.9 miles one-way
Elevation gain: From NH Route 16 to Carter Notch, about 3100 feet, about 1900 feet on return
Maps:
USGS Stairs Mountain, Jackson, Carter Dome
AMC Carter Range-Evans Notch
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map G-8
DeLorme NHA&G 44-B7 to 45-B8 - Pinkhams Grant/Beans Purchase
The trail is located S of Gorham and E of Pinkham Notch
Trailhead: Glen Ellis Falls parking lot W side of NH Route 16 about .7 miles S of AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, elevation about 1960 feet
44.2458°N, 71.2535°W (WGS84)
WMNF fee site
From I-93 exit 35 N of Franconia Notch, take US Route 3 N about 13 miles to NH Route 115. Turn R on NH Route 115 and follow it about 10 miles to its end at US Route 2. Turn R on US Route 2 and follow it 14.5 miles to Gorham town common with railroad station. Turn R on NH Route 16 and go S about 11.6 miles to trailhead.
Far End: Carter Notch, elevation about 3388 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: Appalachian Mountain Club
Special regulations: No camping within 1/4 mi. of trailhead
From the parking lot, the Wildcat Ridge Trail passes under the highway in a culvert in conjunction with the tourist path to Glen Ellis Falls, then branches L and scrambles along the Ellis River on riprap. If this bit of trail seems unnecessarily rough to you, it is good practice for what lies ahead! The trail now crosses the Ellis River which has a more fearsome reputation than it deserves, it is fairly easy in low water but if you see any risk of washing downstream over the falls you can return to your car with minimal loss of time and approach the trail via the Lost Pond Trail from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. (This avoids crossing the Ellis River by starting on the far side but adds about a mile to the distance.)
A long .1 miles beyond the crossing, the Lost Pond Trail carrying the Appalachian Trail joins the Wildcat Ridge Trail, which is afterwards blazed in white and begins to climb steeply. Many artificial steps were placed on this section during the Appalachian Trail upgrades of the 1970's. The trail swings L on a path chiselled out of rock above an overhanging cliff, then climbs two rock gullies to a viewpoint over the notch. This area can be bypassed by a short but thick bushwhack R if the rock looks too slippery, but there are other sections beyond which are as difficult although less exposed. The trail continues its steep ascent to another notch viewpoint at .8 miles, then becomes less steep and passes over some minor bumps on the ridge. Just beyond a path leading a short distance L to water, the trail climbs a ledge on wooden steps bolted to the rock and climbs more steeply to another open view ledge at 1.5 miles. The trail passes over a series of bumps, the highest of which is the "E" peak at 1.9 miles, long thought to be the highest at this end of the ridge before new surveys showed the "D" peak to be higher. Someone has chiselled an E in a rock to the R of the trail. The trail then descends slightly to the top station of the Wildcat Ski Area, passing to the R of the building at 2.1 miles with a viewpoint SE with several interpretive panels.
The Wildcat Valley Trail (part of the Jackson fee ski-touring network) leaves R just before the building, it is not maintained for summer hiking and contains deep mud. The Wildcat Ridge Trail now makes a short steep ascent into the woods, soon reaching a low lookout tower on the summit of "D" peak where an alternate path from the ski area enters L. There are views in all directions but those of Mount Washington and the Presidentials are most notable. A survey marker is under the tower.
From "D" peak, the Wildcat Ridge Trail descends steeply down a cliff and a gully, then turns R and descends more moderately to the col. Although this is the Appalachian Trail, it is lightly cleared and blazed but generally the most obvious path. The trail ascends more steeply about 500 vertical feet to "C" peak at 3.3 miles, then continues over "B" peak at 3.8 miles with more moderate ups and downs. The trail is a well-worn groove here from years of use. Near the summit of the highest ("A") peak of Wildcat Ridge at 4.2 miles, a side path leads R a short distance to a viewpoint over Carter Notch; the actual highpoint may be a bump in the scrub to the R of this path.
The trail descends gradually over a minor bump, then begins the steep descent into Carter Notch with a flight of stone steps. After several switchbacks, the trail edges R across a new landslide before the final steep descent to the Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail at the narrow gateway of Carter Notch at 4.9 miles. You will be sure that it was over a mile down from "A" peak but the sign says differently. Turn L for NH Route 16 and R for the Carter-Moriah Trail, AMC Carter Notch Hut, and the Wildcat River Trail.
Parking lot at Glen Ellis Falls not plowed, but there are plowed pulloffs nearby on NH Route 16.
Some of the tricky spots on the trail are even more difficult with snow or ice.
Hut open off-season on a self-service basis by reservation only, bring your own sleeping bags and food.
Map Notes: NA
Carter Notch lakes from Wildcat summit
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