Trailhead and parking area are on Rt. 16, in Pinkhams Grant, NH, 11.8 miles north of its northern junction with Rt. 302 in Conway and 10.6 miles south of its eastern junction with Rt. 2 in Gorham. There is a very large parking area on the west side of the road at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. Click here for a Google map.
Most hikers in the Pinkham Notch area are bound for one of the big peaks, usually Mt. Washington, but there's a lot around the floor of the notch with exciting scenery as well. If you're not prepared for a trek up to the Presidential peaks, you can still find some fantastic scenery on the lower slopes, where the rugged cliffs form the boundary wall of Rt. 16 through the notch. A network of little-used trails explore the harsh terrain formed by these cliffs, twisting through sharp ravines with cascades and sliding under monolithic cliffs. Two outlooks offer close-up views out into the notch from a unique perspective not seen from higher up. It's no secret that the most beautiful views come by climbing up into the alpine zone, but this lower elevation loop hike offers a suprising variety of great scenery, and it's a good option if you don't have a full day to explore or aren't prepared for a long hike.
To find the trailhead, walk into the common area directly across from the main entrance to the parking area. Bear right and walk around to the back of the visitors center, and look for the kiosk. The Old Jackson Road begins here, splitting off to the right of Tuckerman Ravine Trail. Head up this wide forest path for 0.4 miles, passing by a few ski trails on each side. Right after crossing a wooden bridge over a stream, turn right at a signpost onto Crew Cut Trail. Quickly cross a wide, pebbly brook, one of the branches of the Peabody River. The trail heads through the bright, open forest for 0.2 miles, crosses another brook, and arrives at a junction. Turn left at this point onto George's Gorge Trail. This path heads uphill, following alongside the brook in its broad, boulder-filled valley. It climbs high up on the bank above the brook and soon enters into spruce woods. Swinging back to approach the stream again, it comes up to Chudacoff Falls after 0.15 miles, the tallest and most notable of many ledgy cascades on the brook. The climbing moderates past the falls as the trail stays close to the brook. After 0.2 miles, it crosses to the other side on a log bridge, climbs up a bit more, and crosses again where the stream is even smaller. At this crossing, you have a clear view upslope of another fine, muti-tiered cascade. The trail continues moderately uphill through the valley for about 0.15 miles to a trail junction with Liebeskind's Loop. Turn right at this point and descend slightly, crossing a wet area on a few bog bridges and rising over a moss-lined path to reach an opening at the top of a ledge after 0.2 miles, signed "Brad's Bluff". From this directional window in the trees, you have a nice view over Rt. 16 cutting its way through the notch. Straight down below, you can see the parking at the Joe Dodge Lodge and the headwaters of the Ellis River across the way. In the distance through the notch, you can see Mt. Chocorua and part of the Moat Range. To your left, you can peer around the branches to see the ski slopes on Wildcat Mountain. To the right of the notch is the long, trailing Rocky Branch Ridge, and closer up, Slide Peak. All the way to the right you can glimpse Tuckerman Ravine past Boott Spur.
Leaving the bluff, the trail continues higher up, then makes a right turn down a precipitous pitch and arrives at the bottom of a series of impressive cliffs. It runs right alongside the rock face, then turns and shoots down another steep slope away from the cliffy terrain. After another 0.2 miles, it makes a long circle to the right around a small knoll, descends again, and reaches a trail junction in 0.1 miles. Turn left here onto the spur trail to Lila's Ledge, the main attraction of the hike. This 0.1-mile long path makes a long switchback up to the top of another knoll, then drops down to an airy perch atop another set of cliffs with a much more open view. You'll have to proceed down through a narrow and somewhat steep path to reach the best viewpoint. From here you have a much more extensive view of the notch. Off to the left you can now see all of Wildcat Mountain, including the base area. And off to the right, you have an unobstructed view of the two great ravines of Mt. Washington, Tuckerman and Huntington. In between the two you can see up to the summit. Also between the two, in the middle, look carefully for Raymond Cataract, a massive off-trail waterfall of which you have a clear view from this location. Look for it with binoculars if you can. Return to the main trail and continue downhill for 0.1 miles to a junction with Crew Cut Trail. Bear right at the junction and follow the trail downhill at a quick pace through rocky areas, coming into sparse woods. The trail levels off and crosses a brook on stepping stones. Continuing through the woods, it crosses another small brook and arrives back at the junction with George's Gorge Trail after 0.3 miles. Retrace your steps back to the parking area.
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