Howker Ridge Trail Map & Guide

Plan a steep ridge climb with interactive mapping, curated downloads, and real-time conditions for Mount Madison’s Howker Ridge Trail.

Interactive Trail Map

Howker Ridge Trail snapshot

Static planning snapshot of the Howker Ridge corridor; activate the map for live Leaflet layers.

Center 44.336, -71.266 - About 4.5 mi one-way to Osgood Ridge / Mount Madison approach - About 4,750 ft

Trail line and waypoint markers are loaded from the NH48 GeoJSON dataset. Tap markers for details and use the layer controls to explore ridge features.

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Quick links to each panel on this page.

Trail maps & downloads Points of interest Trail overview & conditions Flora along the trail Current conditions & safety

Trail Maps & Downloads

Points of Interest

Photo
POI	Gordon Fall Waterfall	N/A	44.35057	-71.28793
POI	Stairs Fall Waterfall	N/A	44.35800	-71.27200
POI	Devil's Kitchen (approx.) Gorge	N/A	44.35600	-71.27400
POI	Dome Rock Ledge	N/A	44.35670	-71.27950
POI	Crag Camp (RMC) Hut	N/A	44.33870	-71.30180
POI	Gray Knob (RMC) Hut	N/A	44.33770	-71.30410
POI	The Perch Shelter Shelter	N/A	44.32410	-71.31160
POI	Valley Way Tentsite Campsite	N/A	44.33460	-71.28720
POI	Madison Spring Hut (AMC) Hut	N/A	44.32870	-71.28450
POI	Star Lake Lake	N/A	44.32750	-71.29170
POI	Mount Adams Summit Summit	N/A	44.32070	-71.29100

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm with official maps before travel.

Trail Overview & Conditions

Trail Metadata

Length	≈ 4.5 mi = 4.2 mi + .3 mi (Osgood Ridge) one-way
Elevation Gain	≈ 4,750 ft = 4,450 ft (ascent) + 300 ft (descent)
Typical Time	6–10 hours round-trip
Difficulty	Strenuous / hard
Terrain	Steep ridgeline, rocky scrambles, alpine exposure above treeline
Water	Bumpus Brook early on; spring near Pine Link junction (seasonal)
Trailhead	Randolph East (Dolly Copp / Pinkham B), winter access via US-2
Land Manager	White Mountain National Forest / Randolph Mountain Club
Bailout Routes	Watson Path (Diretessima) Airline (Easiest Grade) Valley Way (Exposure Safety) Pine Link (Dolly Copp Rd. Alternative)

Mount Madison Snapshot

Elevation	5,367 ft (1,636 m)
Prominence	466 ft (142 m)
Location	Thompson & Meserve’s Purchase, Coös County, NH
Range	Presidential Range (White Mountains)
Coordinates	44°19′44″ N, 71°16′36″ W
Named after	James Madison (4th U.S. President)
Nearby peaks	Mt. Adams 1.4 mi SW; Mt. Jefferson 3.3 mi S
Features	Alpine zone & rock-covered summit cone with cairns 360° views of the White Mountains Rock scrambles and boulder fields Mossy Falls & Ice Caves on the Short Line Trail Star Lake and Madison Spring Hut (0.4 mi below summit) Appalachian Trail crosses near summit (Osgood Trail) Northernmost peak of the Presidentials; high winds & hypothermia risk even in summer

Forecast snapshot: No cached forecast snapshot is available yet. Use the official NWS links and the live enhancement for current conditions.

No cached alert snapshot is available yet. Use the official NWS links and the live enhancement for current alerts.

View map Forecast NWS Alerts

Flora along the trail

Howker Ridge hosts a variety of alpine and subalpine species. Explore a rotating selection of non-tree flora below.

For a comprehensive list of species and ecological notes, visit the Howker Ridge plant catalog.

Current conditions & safety guidance

Important trail warning

Expect to break trail for long stretches from October through May. Howker Ridge is rarely traveled in winter and conditions can change quickly.

Review exposure signage and trailhead notices before entering alpine zones, and treat weather as a primary decision factor.

Current conditions

Brushing coverage updates are being refreshed for the new nh48.info page. Check the Randolph Mountain Club and trail adopter updates for the latest maintenance status.

Info

Plan for rapid weather changes and alpine exposure above treeline.
Carry layers, food, water, and the 10 essentials.
Check recent trail conditions and be prepared to turn around.
Practice Leave No Trace and respect trail closures or reroutes.