White Mt. NF--Davis Path

White Mt. NF--Davis Path

Sargent’s Purchase, New Hampshire 03846

Official Website
White Mountain National Forest Official Website

About this Location

Davis Path is a historic and challenging trail in the White Mountain National Forest. It was built in 1845 by Nathaniel Davis, who was the son-in-law of Abel and Hannah Crawford, pioneers of the White Mountains. The trail is one of the oldest and longest routes to Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. The trail spans over 14 miles and crosses several other peaks, including Mount Crawford, Mount Isolation, and Mount Davis. The trail offers spectacular views of Crawford Notch and the Presidential Range, especially during the fall foliage season. However, the trail is also very difficult and water is scarce along the way. It is mainly used by experienced backpackers who want to explore the remote and rugged wilderness of the White Mountains.

About White Mountain National Forest

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In the decades prior to 1911, the unregulated logging practices of private timber companies in the White Mountains had resulted in a damaged landscape susceptible to both fire and flood. Fires had burned thousands of acres, and flash floods affected the water power necessary to the mills of major industrial centers downstream, such as Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lowell, Massachusetts. Concerns over losses to industry, business, and tourism, and the growing conservation movement led to citizen action. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) spearheaded an effort to ensure the permanent protection of the White Mountains from further depredation. After years of lobbying and intense public pressure, Senator John Weeks of Massachusetts, a native of Lancaster, New Hampshire, introduced legislation that became known as the Weeks Act. The Weeks Act was passed by Congress in 1911, appropriating 9 million dollars to purchase 6 million acres of land in the Eastern U.S. In turn, this led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in 1918, and twenty-one other national forests throughout the north and southeast. Many of the groups who were instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act, including the SPNHF and the AMC, are still active today, and the WMNF has grown from 7,000 acres to almost 800,000. Today, the reforested mountains and hillsides supply forest products and provide magnificent recreational opportunities while maintaining healthy watersheds and ecosystems.

Notable Trails

The trailhead has ample parking. The Davis Path is one of the oldest and longest routes approaching Mt. Washington and totals over 14 miles in length. Daytrippers access Mount Crawford at 2.2 miles from the parking lot.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Official Website and White Mountain National Forest Official Website

Last updated November 22, 2023