Basecamp:
Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and Joe Dodge Lodge
- Winter hike and snowshoe picks at Pinkham Notch for families to experts
- Cross-country ski or tube for free -- plus naturalist-led full moon snowshoe tours
- Free, guided snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski tours
- Winter 50+ Adventures
- Trails less traveled: backcountry adventure to AMC winter huts
- Skip the lift lines: classic backcountry ski runs
- Roughing it for a night: Wild River Valley winter camping excursion
- Grab your ice ax and crampons: Mt. Washington ice climbing
For almost a century,
AMC's Joe Dodge Lodge next to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center has been the center for hiking and skiing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It's an ideal starting point for challenging Mt. Washington summit hikes or easy snowshoe walks to local ponds and waterfalls. For additional ideas, check out AMC's
Winter Guide.
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 the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, to the Lion Head Winter Trail for 4,000 feet of elevation gain on an eight-mile roundtrip.
2. Cross-country ski or tube for free at Great Glen Trails - plus naturalist-led full moon snowshoe tours
Everyday this winter, Joe Dodge Lodge guests can once again cross-country ski or tube 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. Also at Great Glen Trails, AMC is offering naturalist-led, family-friendly full moon snowshoe tours each month. Start by fueling up with a hearty dinner at Joe Dodge Lodge, and then head out to snowshoe with an AMC naturalist for a couple of hours and explore by the light of a full moon.
For breathtaking views of Mt. Washington from 4,000 feet, take advantage of the AMC’s downhill Ski & Stay package with Wildcat Mt. Just three minutes from Joe Dodge Lodge, Wildcat offers the most natural snowfall and longest ski and snowboard season in the area. Ski 50 trails on 225 acres—including the Polecat Trail, a 2.75-mile trail that 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.
3. Free, guided snowshoe hikes, and cross-country ski tours
Joe Dodge Lodge offers free, guided snowshoe walks and hikes on trails around Joe Dodge Lodge, plus backcountry skills clinics from January through March as part of AMC’s Outdoor Explorations activities, which also include free use of snowshoes. Guests with some experience cross-country skiing can also take advantage of free AMC naturalist-led ski tours at Great Glen Trails every Sunday.
Another option, AMC Custom Adventures, complements these free programs by providing more flexibility in choosing an activity, time, and skill level for a White Mountain adventure with a trusted AMC guide. Experiences range from introductory ski and snowshoe clinics to more challenging full-day excursions and overnight trips to AMC Huts.
4. Winter 50+ Adventures
In addition to 5-night 50+ Adventure Camps at Highland Lodge, Joe Dodge Lodge offers the option of shorter 50+ White Mountain Winter Adventures -- bringing together outdoor enthusiasts ages 50 and older for snowshoe hikes, Nordic ski clinics and tours, winter natural history programs, winter outdoor skills programs, evening programs, and socializing.
5. Trails less traveled: 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 self-guided lodge-to-hut snowshoe tour. Plus take advantage of lower self-service winter hut rates.
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.
6. 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 extensive 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.
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 ax 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, located 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.
