Basecamp:
Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and Joe Dodge Lodge
- Winter hike and snowshoe picks at Pinkham Notch for families to experts
- Free cross-country ski/snowshoe tours with "AMC Outdoor Explorations"
- Learn new outdoor skills: animal tracking, winter gear, and Leave No Trace free skills clinics
- Trails less traveled: naturalist-led or self-guided backcountry adventure to AMC winter huts
- Skip the lift lines: classic backcountry ski runs
- Cross-country ski or tube for free at Great Glen Trails
- Roughing it for a night: Wild River Valley winter camping excursion
- Grab your ice axe and crampons: Mt. Washington ice climbing
For almost a century, AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge located adjacent to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center has been the center for hiking and skiing in the White Mountains and a gateway to Mt. Washington and the White Mountain National Forest.
A range of snowshoeing and backcountry skiing trails leave from the lodge, with groomed trails a few minutes away at Wildcat Mt. and Great Glen Trails. The lodge's proximity to world famous Tuckerman Ravine also makes this AMC Destination extremely popular with the intermediate to expert crowd looking to tackle more challenging terrain and the giant of the White Mountains, Mt. Washington.
AMC Outdoor Explorations programs provide Joe Dodge Lodge guests with more opportunities to try new outdoor activities and enjoy guided adventures - and many programs are free to guests. Thursday through Sunday, AMC is offering guests free, one-hour winter skills clinics. Every weekend, Joe Dodge Lodge guests will have the opportunity to participate in free, half-day cross-country ski or snowshoe group tours guided by an AMC naturalist.
For more ideas and details about AMC Outdoor Explorations, check out the AMC's Winter Planning Guide.
Seasonal Joe Dodge Lodge packages and specials offered this winter include the annual Thanksgiving Social, December Adventure Week, Ski Free at Great Glen Trails, Ski and Stay at Wildcat, and International Dinners.
1. Winter hike and snowshoe picks at Pinkham Notch for families to experts
Crystal Cascade
A shorter snowshoe jaunt ideal for all ability levels, including beginners and families, is Crystal Cascade. It's no more than an hour roundtrip from Joe Dodge Lodge.
One to two-hour roundtrip excursions from the lodge include Low’s Bald Spot, Lila’s Ledge, or the Lost Pond Trail to Glen Oaks Falls Trail.
Boott Spur Trail
For advanced snowshoeing terrain, expert hikers need look no further than the Boott Spur Trail. It diverges from the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, which starts from the side of Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.
Summit Mt. Washington - Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Lion Head Winter Trail
Summit Mt. Washington for a combination of snowshoeing and winter mountaineering. Take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, which starts behind Joe Dodge Lodge, to the Lion Head Winter Trail for 4,000 feet of elevation gain and an eight-mile roundtrip.
2. Free cross-country ski/snowshoe tours with "AMC Outdoor Explorations"
Every weekend this winter, as part of AMC's extensive Outdoor Explorations program, Joe Dodge Lodge guests can participate in free cross-country ski or snowshoe group tours guided by an AMC naturalist. For those who want to explore on their own, the lodge is located in close proximity to a wide range of winter trails, including the Great Glen Trails groomed cross-country ski network. Plus, AMC and Great Glen are teaming up again this winter and offering a free ski pass to all overnight guests.
3. Learn new outdoor skills: animal tracking, winter gear, and Leave No Trace free skills clinics
AMC Outdoor Explorations programs offered Thursday through Sunday at Joe Dodge Lodge will provide guests with free, one-hour skills clinics such as map and compass navigation, winter gear, Leave No Trace, and animal tracking with a naturalist. These introductory, walk-on programs make this an ideal destination for families and adults of all ages who are new to the outdoors in winter or brushing up on core skills.
4. Trails less traveled: naturalist-led or self-guided backcountry adventure to AMC winter huts
Experience the picturesque Carter-Moriah Range of the White Mountains and spend a wintry night at Carter Notch Hut, the oldest standing building in the AMC’s hut system, on a naturalist-led, Lodge-to-Hut snowshoe tour - or take advantage of self-service winter rates starting at just $27 per person, plus taxes. New this winter, AMC experts will offer guests Saturday evening talks and programs to share backcountry safety, trail info, and local natural and cultural history.
19-Mile Brook Trail
Pick up the 19-Mile Brook Trail and take a moderate 3.8-mile, 2.5-hour snowshoe hike from Route 16 into breathtaking Carter Notch. Experts can ski the route in the late season with climbing skins. After preparing and enjoying dinner, relax by the wood stove and share stories with other visitors. The next morning, pack up your gear and descend into the pristine and beautiful Wild River Valley.
Wildcat Ridge Trail
Starting from Joe Dodge Lodge, this all-day snowshoe hike is five miles and takes about six hours. Snowshoes are the only option on this route, because the trail is rarely traveled and conditions are difficult.
Wildcat River Trail
From the end of Carter Notch Rd., this trip is 4.5 miles and takes approximately three hours to travel to the hut. For a ski and snowshoe combo, ski from the road for 3.75 miles before the trail steepens, and then switch over to snowshoes. This trail is lightly used during the winter.
AMC Outdoor Explorations
The AMC's naturalist-led Winter Ecology and Snowshoe Lodge-to-Hut trip this winter begins with a meeting and overnight at AMC's Joe Dodge Lodge. Learn the basics of winter travel and safety, as well as snowshoe techniques and strategies. The journey to AMC's Carter Notch Hut offers a chance to explore the changes in the forest, study animal tracks, and discuss winter plant survival.
5. Skip the lift lines: classic backcountry ski runs
If you’re tired of waiting in lift lines, then experience the solitude of skiing in the backcountry.
Old Jackson Run
One of the best options for beginners is Old Jackson Run, only a one-hour hike and a more manageable run for less experienced backcountry skiers. Other beginner to intermediate backcountry ski trails just minutes from Joe Dodge Lodge include Square Ledge Loop Ski Trail on the side of Wildcat Mt., Blanchard Ski Loop or Connie’s Way Ski Trail.
Gulf of Slides
Spend the day in the Gulf of Slides for some of the best intermediate to advanced backcountry alpine and telemark skiing in the east. The Gulf of Slides Ski Trail ascends 2.5 miles from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to the bowl of the Gulf.
Wildcat Valley Trail
Another popular down-mountain, backcountry ski tour is the Wildcat Valley Trail, an 11-mile expert route that descends Wildcat Mt. to Jackson, NH. From there, you can easily hook up with the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation’s 95+ mile network of groomed cross-country trails. The Foundation’s network also connects with other White Mountain backcountry trails, such as the 5.5-mile Avalanche Brook Ski Trail, which runs parallel to Route 16.
6. Cross-country ski or tube for free at Great Glen Trails
This winter, Joe Dodge Lodge guests can cross-country ski or go tubing for free at Great Glen Trails, located at the base of Mt. Washington and considered one of the best Nordic areas in New England. Soak in spectacular views of the northern Presidentials and White Mountain National Forest across this extensive network of groomed, rolling terrain.
For breathtaking views of Mt. Washington from 4,000 feet, take advantage of the AMC’s downhill Ski & Stay package with Wildcat Mt., which is within walking distance of Joe Dodge Lodge. Come experience groomed skiing and snowboarding runs unblemished by trailside development – including the longest alpine ski trail in New Hampshire, Polecat Trail. This 2.75-mile trail gives beginner and expert skiers and snowboarders alike a view from the top. There's also no shortage of intermediate and expert trails with steep vertical drop, glades, bumps, and even backcountry tree skiing.
7. Roughing it for a night: Wild River Valley winter camping excursion
Head up and over the Carter Range to Wild River Valley for a multi-day winter camping excursion that’s not soon forgotten. Hike the Wild River Trail for seven miles to the Perkins Notch Shelter, enjoying views of the Wild River Valley along the way. Spend the night and make the trek up to breathtaking Carter Dome in the morning.
8. Grab your ice axe and crampons: Mt. Washington ice climbing
Mt. Washington’s most famous ravines, Tuckerman Ravine and Huntington Ravine, feature some of the most historic and legendary ice-climbing routes in the northeast only a two to three-hour hike from Joe Dodge Lodge. In Tuckerman Ravine, winter brings many opportunities for climbing low-angle ice and taking on more moderate snow slopes and gully climbs. Huntington Ravine offers similar climbs ranging from snow to a mix of ice and rock, but Huntington kicks up the intensity with longer, more difficult routes. Here, you'll find some of the more popular, classic climbs in the White Mountains, including Central Gully, Pinnacle Gully, Damnation Gully, and Yale Gully.
