Great Gulf Trail
~2 days · 6.6 mi · easy · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Great Gulf Trail is known for
The Great Gulf Trail climbs from NH 16 up the floor of the Great Gulf Wilderness — the deepest glacial cirque in the White Mountains — to the headwall below Mount Washington, about 7.4 miles one way (this line maps the one-way route). Designated primitive campsites like The Bluff sit in the lower valley, and camping is prohibited above the Sphinx Trail junction. The final pitch above Spaulding Lake is extremely steep.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 4,403 ft to 19,449 ft over 6.6 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 6.3 mi · 96%
- Downhill 0.1 mi · 2%
- Flat 0.1 mi · 2%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Great Gulf Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Great Gulf Trail scores 43/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Great Gulf Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Great Gulf Trail in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 6.6 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How high does the Great Gulf Trail go?
The Great Gulf Trail tops out near 5,928 ft over its 6.6 miles.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.