White Mountains Region

The Pemigewasset Wilderness is a 45,000-acre (182 km2) federally designated Wilderness Area in the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountains. It is a part of the White Mountain National Forest. It is New Hampshire's largest wilderness area. The Wilderness Area consists of the upper watershed of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, and includes the Franconia, Twin, Zealand, and Hancock mountain ranges, but excludes the summits of the ranges and the trail along them. As a result of the region's rugged character, the Pemigewasset Wilderness is a popular recreation area; its large trail network receives heavy use, in the form of hiking, cross-country skiing, and others, throughout the year. The area is also noted for its ecological recovery from the logging era of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. After years of unchecked clear-cutting, during which the zone had the largest logging railroad system in the White Mountains, the area's inclusion in the White Mountain National Forest and later designation as a Wilderness Area has led to a substantial rebound in the forest ecosystem.

Owl's Head is a 4,025-foot (1,227 m) mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire. It lies between the Franconia Branch of the Pemigewasset River (to its east) and Lincoln Brook (to its west and south), in the Pemigewasset Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest. It is best known as one of the 48 White Mountains "four-thousand footers", and stands out among them mostly for what it lacks: In height, it is 43rd of the 48. It is the only one of the 48 without an officially maintained path to the summit, although an unofficial, unmaintained herd path comes within 0.2 miles (300 m). The trees at its summit block (except when deep snow has fallen) any view beyond themselves. (There are, however, nice views from the Owls Head Slide while climbing up the unmaintained path to the summit.) It is remote from approaches by road, due to the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, between it and the Kancamagus Highway to the south, Franconia Ridge (and its steep and tall east face), between it and Interstate 93 to the west, Garfield Ridge, between it and U.S. Route 3 to the north, and the Twin Range and Willey Range, between it and U.S. Route 302 to the east. Probably for these reasons, it receives (as does Mount Isolation) a disproportionately frequent role as the last 4000-footer waiting to be climbed by those about to complete the list of 48. In the fall of 2005, it was discovered that the traditional summit of Owl's Head (reached by the unmaintained beaten path) is actually a lower peak, and the true summit is approximately 0.2 mi north along the ridgeline. For now, the 4,000-footer committee is accepting climbs to the false summit.

Mount Garfield is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain is part of the White Mountains. Mt. Garfield is flanked to the east by South Twin Mountain, and to the southwest along Garfield Ridge by Mount Lafayette. The south faces of Garfield drain into the Franconia Branch of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, through the Pemigewasset Wilderness, thence into the Pemigewasset and Merrimack rivers, and into the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport, Massachusetts. The north faces of Garfield drain into the north and south branches of the Gale River, thence into the Ammonoosuc and Connecticut rivers, and into Long Island Sound at Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170-mile (3,500-km) National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, runs along the ridge, across the summit of Garfield.

Mount Flume is a 4,328-foot (1,319 m) mountain at the southern end of the Franconia Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, United States. Mount Flume is the lowest in elevation of the peaks in the Franconia Range that are accessible by official hiking trails. The summit marks the western border of the Pemigewasset Wilderness within the White Mountain National Forest. From the summit, there are outstanding views of Franconia Notch and the Kinsman Range to the west and the Franconia Range to the north, with limited views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the Twin Range to the east.

Nubble Peak, also known as The Peak Above The Nubble, is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain is part of the Twin Range of the White Mountains. A rock outcrop on its northwestern ridge is known as The Nubble, but topographic maps identify the formation as Haystack Mountain. Nubble Peak is flanked to the south by North Twin Mountain. The mountain is officially trailless and is one of New England's hundred highest summits. Nubble Peak stands within the watershed of the Ammonoosuc River, which drains into the upper Connecticut River, and into Long Island Sound in Connecticut. The east and southeast faces of Nubble Peak drain into the Little River, thence into the Ammonoosuc River. The northwest side of Nubble Peak drains into Haystack Brook, thence into the Ammonoosuc. The southwest end of Nubble Peak drains to the North Branch of the Gale River, another tributary of the Ammonoosuc River.

Mount Liberty is a 4,459-foot-high (1,359 m) mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Overlooking Franconia Notch, it is part of Franconia Ridge, the second highest mountain group in the Whites after the Presidential Range. It lies south of Mount Lafayette, the highest summit along the ridge, and is listed among the Appalachian Mountain Club's "four-thousand footers".

Little Haystack Mountain is a peak on the Franconia Range of the White Mountains located in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. It is flanked to the north by Mount Lincoln and to the southwest by Mount Liberty. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, traverses Franconia Ridge, including Little Haystack. Although well over 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in height, the Appalachian Mountain Club doesn't consider Little Haystack a "four-thousand footer" because it stands less than 200 ft (61 m) above the col on the ridge from Lincoln. The Falling Waters Trail is the most popular route up Little Haystack Mountain, leading 2.8 miles (4.5 km) from U.S. Route 3 to the summit on the crest of Franconia Ridge. One of the most popular hikes in the Northeastern United States is to traverse the summits of Little Haystack, Lincoln, and Lafayette in a 9-mile (14 km) loop.

Mount Lincoln is a 5,089-foot-high (1,551 m) mountain within the Franconia Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Lincoln is located between Little Haystack and Mount Lafayette. All three overlook Franconia Notch. The west side of Lincoln drains into the main stem of the Pemigewasset River. The east side drains into Lincoln Brook, thence into the Franconia Branch of the Pemigewasset. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, traverses Franconia Ridge, including Lincoln.

Mount Lafayette is a 5,249-foot (1,600 m) mountain at the northern end of the Franconia Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, United States. It lies in the town of Franconia in Grafton County, and appears on the New England Fifty Finest list of the most topographically prominent peaks in New England. The mountain's upper reaches are located in the alpine zone, an area where only dwarf vegetation exists due to the harsh climate.

The Franconia Range is a mountain range located in the White Mountains of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is the second-highest range of peaks (after the Presidential Range) in the White Mountains. Franconia Ridge is a prominent ridge which forms the backbone of the range, stringing together all of its major summits.

Scar Ridge, also known as Scar Ridge (West Peak), is a mountain located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. It is part of the White Mountains. It is officially trailless and several different routes are possible. Scar Ridge is flanked to the west by Loon Mountain, to the northwest by Black Mountain, and to the east by Mount Osceola. Scar Ridge stands within the watershed of the Pemigewasset River, which drains into the Merrimack River, and into the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport, Massachusetts. The northeast side of Scar Ridge drains into the Hancock Branch, a tributary of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River. The southwest side of Scar Ridge drains into Telford Brook, Mack Brook, and Little East Pond Brook, all of which drain into Eastman Brook, and thence into the Pemigewasset.

Loon Mountain is a mountain in Lincoln and Livermore, New Hampshire, in Grafton County. It is in the White Mountain National Forest. The 3,065-foot (934 m) mountain is known for Loon Mountain Ski Resort, which, like most New England mountain resorts, has expanded into an all-season recreation area.