AT - Crawford Path

This trail is considered the oldest continuously maintained footpath in the United States. The first section, leading up to Mt. Pierce (Mt. Clinton), was cut in 1819 by Abel Crawford and his son Ethan Allen Crawford. In 1840 , Thomas J. Crawford, a younger son of Abel, converted the footpath into a bridal path, but more than a century has passed since it was used regularly for ascents on horseback. The trail still mostly follows the original path, except for the section between Mt. Monroe and Westside Trail, which was relocated to take Crawford Path off the windswept ridge and down past the shelter at Lakes of the Clouds. From the jct. just north of the Mt. Pierce to the summit of Mt Washington, Crawford Path is part of the Appalachian Trail and is blazed in white. (On Trailforks this section is called AT - Crawford Path, and the section from the Mt. Pierce summit down to Crawford Notch is referred to just as Crawford Path.)

Access Info

The main parking area at the south end of this trail is located on the west side of Clinton Road, 0.1 mi. north of its junction with US 302. The former parking lot on US 302 has been closed, and Crawford Path hikers are requested to use the Mt. Clinton Rd. lot because parking spaces at other lots in the area are needed for the trails that originate from those lots. For historical reasons, the name Crawford Path continues to be attached to the old route of the trail that leads directly from US 302, and the short path that connects Crawford Path to the Mt. Clinton Rd. Parking lot is called Crawford Path Connector.

Disclaimer

Caution: Parts of this trail are dangerous in bad weather. Several Lives have been lost on Crawford Path because of failure to observe proper precautions. For a detailed description of this trail see AMC's White Mountain Guide, P38.