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Mount Monroe

Mount Monroe is a 5,384-foot mountain in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains.

Prominence: 254 ft Range: Presidential Range
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Elevation: 5,384 ft

Mount Monroe

Mountain Overview
General Info
Elevation
5,384 ft
Prominence
254 ft
Range
Presidential Range
Trail Type
Out & back - common. or loop with connector trails
Difficulty
Difficult
Exposure
High - very exposed to wind, rapid weather shifts.
Typical Time
5–6 hours - via Ammonoosuc round-trip, including Washington side-trip.
Best seasons
Summer and fall - often combined with Mt. Washington.
Water availability
Yes - Lakes of the Clouds Hut at base of summit has water in season.
Cell reception
Spotty - possible near summit and hut; unreliable.
First Photo & Camera
Mountain
Mount Monroe
Photo
Ridge at Sunset with Rocky Terrain and Alpine Vegetation
Description
Captured in the fading light of a summer evening, this landscape photography showcases Mount Monroe’s distinctive granite ledges and rugged summit ridge within the White Mountain National Forest. The scene highlights the alpine zone’s sparse greenery and the winding forest trail leading to the peak, embodying the tranquil beauty of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range at dusk.
Dimensions
4480 x 2987
Credit
© NATHAN SOBOL / NH48pics.com

Area Map

OpenStreetMap area view with summit marker and nearby trail context.

Peak trail map

Static map preview

Mount Monroe: summit area with linked trail context.

Summit: 44.2554, -71.3215

Trails: Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Mount Monroe Loop, Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail & Crawford Path

Trails

Current Summit Weather

NOAA / NWS point forecast for this summit location.

NOAA / NWS Server snapshot pending

Static guide content is available now; the Worker injects the latest weather snapshot when the page is served.

Astronomy

Sun and moon timing for this peak.

USNO Server snapshot pending

The Worker injects the latest astronomy timing when the page is served.

Monthly Weather Averages

Water & Crossing Context

Stream context

Multi-source water data near routes, trailheads, and drainages associated with this peak. These readings and support layers provide runoff and crossing context, not a safe/unsafe crossing decision.

Route water note: Yes - Lakes of the Clouds Hut at base of summit has water in season.

Ellis River

ELLIS RIVER NEAR JACKSON, NH

No Current Core Data
USGS Historical

Useful Ellis River context for Glen Ellis, Wildcat, Carter Notch, and lower Pinkham approaches when drainages are running high.

  • Nearby live proxy: SACO RIVER AT RIVER STREET, AT BARTLETT, NH • Peabody River at Gorham, New Hampshire
Official source

Ammonoosuc River @ Bretton WOODS,

AMMONOOSUC R @ BRETTON WOODS, NR TWIN MOUNTAIN, NH

No Current Core Data
USGS Historical

Ammonoosuc west-side context for the Presidential Range, Crawford Notch, and Bretton Woods approaches.

  • Nearby live proxy: AMMONOOSUC RIVER AT BETHLEHEM JUNCTION, NH • SACO RIVER AT RIVER STREET, AT BARTLETT, NH
Official source

Observed gages, forecasts, and modeled support context provide drainage context only. They do not determine whether a specific crossing is safe. Treat rising, stale, modeled, or missing readings conservatively.

Nearby Peaks & Connections

Parking & Access

Ammonoosuc Ravine trailhead - Base Station Road.
Trailhead parking
Parking at Marshfield Station/Cog Base parking area - fee may apply.
Trailhead
Ammonoosuc Ravine trailhead - Base Station Road.
Capacity
40 vehicles (est.)
Last verified
2026-02-14

Access roads & trailheads

No WMNF seasonal road listing

Primary trailheads are linked, but no WMNF seasonal access-road dependency is currently linked to this route. This is common for state highways, AMC lots, ski-area lots, or year-round paved road access.

Verify official sources and posted signs before driving to a trailhead.

Difficulty Metrics

Technical difficulty (1-10)
8
Physical effort (1-10)
6
Difficulty class
Difficult
Typical completion time
5–6 hours - via Ammonoosuc round-trip, including Washington side-trip.

Risk & Preparation

Risk factors
Above treeline exposure, Severe weather, Navigation, No cell service
Preparation notes
Check a summit forecast and carry windproof/warm layers; turn back if visibility or lightning risk increases. Download offline maps and do not rely on cell service; leave a plan with someone.
Bailout distance
0 mi
Weather exposure
High - very exposed to wind, rapid weather shifts.
Field planning note
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail & Crawford Path - 7.0 - 2,900 - Difficult - Out & back - or loop via Jewel Trail. Yes - Lakes of the Clouds Hut at base of summit has water in season. Parking at Marshfield Station/Cog Base parking area - fee may apply.

Wilderness Safety

Water availability
Yes - Lakes of the Clouds Hut at base of summit has water in season.
Cell reception
Spotty - possible near summit and hut; unreliable.
Best seasons
Summer and fall - often combined with Mt. Washington.

Trail & Terrain

Terrain
Rocky alpine terrain; steep ascent from hut over talus
Scramble sections
Minor - rocky steps on summit cone, hands occasionally needed.
View type
360° - open alpine summit, panoramic views.
Summit marker
Small cairn on open rock - no sign.
Flora / environment
Boreal spruce-fir transitioning quickly to alpine tundra near hut and summit
Nearby 4,000-footer connections
Mount Washington, Mount Eisenhower

Mount Monroe Route & Conditions

Route
Mount Monroe's standard hiking options include Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail & Crawford Path at 7 miles with 2,900 feet of gain and Mount Monroe Loop - from Lakes of the Clouds at 0.7 miles with 350 feet of gain. A typical completion time is 5–6 hours - via Ammonoosuc round-trip, including Washington side-trip.
Terrain and exposure
This is a difficult Presidential Range hike. Expect rocky alpine terrain; steep ascent from hut over talus. Scrambling is minor, with rocky steps on summit cone, hands occasionally needed. Upper-mountain terrain includes boreal spruce-fir transitioning quickly to alpine tundra near hut and summit and 360°, open alpine summit, panoramic views. Weather and exposure are defining planning concerns here: high, very exposed to wind, rapid weather shifts.
Weather window
The best normal hiking window is summer and fall, often combined with Mt. Washington. Check a summit forecast and carry windproof/warm layers; turn back if visibility or lightning risk increases.
Water, signal, and bailout
Water is available: lakes of the Clouds Hut at base of summit has water in season. Cell reception is spotty, possible near summit and hut; unreliable. Bailout options include Lakes of the Clouds Hut shelter just north of peak and descend via Ammonoosuc Ravine trail to base. Nearby live water context is available from Ellis River and Ammonoosuc River at Bretton Woods.
Trailhead and access
The most common trailhead is Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead (Base Road), with room for about 40 vehicles. Parking at Marshfield Station/Cog Base parking area - fee may apply. Other linked starts include Dry River Trailhead (Crawford Notch SP) and Edmands Path Trailhead.
Connected route context
Major linked trails include Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, and Mount Monroe Loop. Nearby 4,000-footer connections include Mount Washington and Mount Eisenhower.

Last Updated: 2026-02-14