Trails / New Hampshire / Pemigewasset Wilderness

Pemi Loop (Pemigewasset Loop)

Pemigewasset Wilderness and Franconia Ridge, White Mountain National Forest (Lincoln)

Check before you go. Check before you go: the Forest Service closed the Lincoln Woods Trail, the usual start and finish of the loop, from June 15 through November 2026 for riverbank restoration. News and AMC reports say the closed stretch runs about 1.4 miles from the Kancamagus Highway to the Osseo Trail junction; parking and the East Side Trail at Lincoln Woods stay open. Northeast Explorer reports that the Forest Service recommends starting the loop from the Greenleaf Trail parking area at Cannon or the Skookumchuck Trail parking area off Route 3 while the work goes on. Separately, since May 1, 2026, overnight campers in the Pemigewasset Wilderness must use a hard-sided, IGBC-certified bear canister (Order R9-22-26-03). AMC's Galehead and Greenleaf Hut pages (checked Oct. 17, 2026) say both huts close for fall, winter, and much of spring; their 2026 full-service seasons ended Oct. 17, so don't count on hut water. AMC lists June 3 to Oct. 16, 2027, for next season's full service; check AMC before you go.

The Pemi Loop circles the Pemigewasset Wilderness on a ring of high ridges: Franconia Ridge on the west, Garfield Ridge and the Twins on the north, and the Bonds on the east. Treeline Review counts about 30 miles and 9,300 feet of gain and rates it strenuous; SectionHiker calls it “a tough hike, but one that you’re unlikely to forget for the rest of your life.”

It is usually done in two or three days from Lincoln Woods. In 2026, the Lincoln Woods Trail closure means starting somewhere else on the ring.

The hike

Treeline Review describes the traditional clockwise route. From Lincoln Woods, the old railroad bed follows the Pemigewasset River before the Osseo Trail climbs about 1,500 feet in just over a mile toward Mount Flume. Liberty is about a mile beyond, and the ridge then runs above treeline from Little Haystack over Lincoln to Lafayette. SectionHiker reminds hikers to stay between the scree walls to protect alpine plants.

Past North Lafayette, Treeline Review calls the 2.5 miles to Garfield slow and “often the least favorite section.” The descent from Garfield toward Galehead drops about 1,000 feet in the first 0.75 mile on steep, wet rock. Galehead Hut, around mile 15.5, has a seasonal spigot. From there the climb to South Twin gains about 1,130 feet in 0.8 mile, and the Twinway leads on to Mount Guyot.

The Bondcliff Trail crosses Mount Bond and then Bondcliff, where SectionHiker warns about the cliff edge in wind, fog, or darkness. Treeline Review notes an 8-foot ledge on the descent that has to be down-climbed. A spur of about a mile reaches West Bond, which SectionHiker recommends for sunrise and sunset views of Bondcliff. The last miles are a long, nearly flat walk back to the East Branch.

SectionHiker prefers going counterclockwise for campsite options; Treeline Review says clockwise gets Franconia Ridge done before afternoon thunderstorms. Either way, the loop makes a long trip when combined with neighboring routes. The Thirteen Falls Loop drops into the middle of the wilderness, the Zealand to Guyot and the Bonds trip reaches the east side from Zealand, and Franconia Ridge works as a shorter overnight on the western ridge.

2026 starting points. With Lincoln Woods closed, AMC lists the Greenleaf Trail (about 36 miles total), Skookumchuck (37), Garfield (38), Gale River (36.8), and North Twin (39.6) trailheads as ways to make the full loop. Northeast Explorer says the Forest Service recommends Greenleaf or Skookumchuck.

Tips

Plan water carefully. Treeline Review carries 3 liters for the first 13 miles clockwise and says carrying only 2 was a mistake.
Watch the higher-summits forecast, not the valley forecast. Treeline Review suggests checking several, including the Mount Washington Observatory’s.
Pack a bear canister for any night in the wilderness, and use the bear boxes at sites that have them.
Expect crowds. SectionHiker commenters say sites fill fast on weekends and holidays.
Go in season. SectionHiker lists mid-June through October; Treeline Review prefers July through September.

Camping

No permit is needed. The Forest Service limits hiking and camping groups in wilderness to 10 people. In the Pemigewasset Wilderness, camping and wood or charcoal fires are banned within 200 feet of any trail except at designated sites, and camping is banned in the alpine zone (trees under 8 feet) unless there are two feet of snow. Forest Protection Areas also ban camping within a quarter mile of huts, shelters, developed tentsites, and trailheads except at designated sites.

The AMC runs three caretaker sites on or near the loop, all first come, first served and not reservable: Liberty Springs Tentsite (7 small and 3 group platforms), Garfield Ridge (2 small and 5 group platforms plus a shelter), and Guyot (4 small and 2 group platforms plus a shelter). Each has a water source and metal food boxes, and fees are charged. Galehead and Greenleaf Huts take reservations only; AMC lists Galehead’s 2026 full-service season as June 4 to Oct. 17, with no self-service season. Both huts are now closed for the season; AMC lists 2027 full service as June 3 to Oct. 16 at both, plus a May 7 to 30, 2027, self-service period at Greenleaf.

Inside Intel: The Outbound’s route author calls Garfield Ridge “an excellent place to stay for 2-day hikers” because it sits mid-loop with a good water refill. SectionHiker instead recommends Guyot for its water, bear boxes, and platforms, plus the short walk to West Bond for sunset.

Trail facts

Distance: About 30 to 33 miles from Lincoln Woods, depending on the source; about 36 to 39.6 miles from 2026 alternate trailheads
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Campsites: Liberty Springs Tentsite, Garfield Ridge Shelter and tentsite, Guyot Shelter and tentsite; Galehead and Greenleaf Huts by reservation
Water: Springs at Liberty Springs, Garfield Ridge, and Guyot; Galehead Hut spigot in season; long dry ridge stretches
Permits: None
Food storage: Bear canister required in the Pemigewasset Wilderness; bear boxes at AMC sites
Dogs: Allowed; not in Galehead Hut or the Garfield and Guyot shelters (Treeline Review)
Trailhead: Lincoln Woods (closed to the loop through November 2026); Greenleaf or Skookumchuck recommended meanwhile
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Thirty miles of ridge on one food bag:

Every night on the Pemi Loop goes into a bear canister, so meals that pack small and cook fast earn their space. See the trail meals testers keep reordering.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.