Season Dates:

Open year-round

Hike the Presidential Traverse including Mount Washington—New England’s tallest peak. Ski the East’s legendary Tuckerman Ravine and numerous backcountry trails, climb the crags and access the region’s best mountain biking trails, making Joe Dodge Lodge your White Mountain basecamp.

The Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., provides a hub for trail information, weather forecasts, and outdoor resources, including trail guides, maps, and USFS parking passes for purchase.

Lodge guests can easily access nearby trailheads during the summer and fall with our White Mountain Hiker Shuttle while day visitors can enjoy a wide variety of free, walk-on programs, from guided day hikes to evening talks on astronomy and other naturalist programming. The Children’s Discovery Room, complete with natural history resources, books, and games offers a respite for families looking for a break from the outdoors or a place to retreat during inclement weather.

A full-service deli offers robust trail lunches and a variety of hot and cold plates for a casual lunch. Trail lunches can be ordered the night before for those planning an early start. Start your day with a hearty breakfast, then venture outside to explore the Great Gulf Wilderness or head straight for the summits. In the evening, a delicious, home-cooked dinner and comfortable bed or bunk will help you refuel and recharge. Meals are served in the historic Trading Post and are included in most room packages.

Overnight guests can try out LOWA gear and boots at our lodge demo center.

Meal Service

6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Daily Breakfast Buffet
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Black Moose Deli open for hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads and trail lunches
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Daily Dinner Buffet

Please notify AMC’s Contact Service Center if you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions. 603-466-2727

Getting Around

AMC’s Hiker Shuttle connects the Highland Center, Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, and the towns of Lincoln and Gorham with major trails to the huts, allowing hikers to start and end their trip at different points. The stop in the town of Lincoln is coordinated with Concord Coach bus service. Hiker Shuttle runs daily for most of the full-service hut season, from early June to mid-September. The shuttle operates on weekends only from mid-September to mid-October. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Cancellation Policies

Learn more about AMC’s cancellation policies for lodging and programs.

Accessibility

Joe Dodge Lodge is wheelchair-accessible, including bathrooms and showers, as is the Visitor Center and dining hall.

Nearby Trails

Lost Pond Trail to Square Ledge (Easy): This 1-mile, 400-feet elevation gain hike brings you to the top of Square Ledge for great views of Mount Washington’s east face, including Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines. Start at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and cross Route 16 on foot and find the Lost Pond Trailhead. After the bridge over the beaver pond, look for the junction with the Square Ledge Trail on the left. From the junction, the Square Ledge Trail climbs moderately. You’ll cross Hangover Rock about 10 minutes before the summit, and after that the trail becomes considerably steeper and in icy conditions, somewhat challenging. After the steep section, a quick left turn accesses the top of the ledge. Return via the same route. Estimated hike time is 1 hour round trip.

Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Crystal Cascade (Easy): A quick 0.6-mile hike brings you through a series of cascades leading up to Crystal Cascade waterfall‚ take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center. Shortly after you cross the bridge, look for an unsigned stone staircase up to a stone wall on the right. This is the best place to view the falls from, but be careful as they can be quite slippery in winter. Return via the same route. Estimated hike time is half an hour.

Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Hermit Lake (Moderate): For a longer hike, continue on Tuckerman Ravine Trail for 2.1 miles to Hermit Lake, with close up views of Mount Washington’s Tuckerman Ravine, a popular spot in the spring to watch skiers go over the headwall. If you wish to get closer to the base of the bowl, continue on Tuckerman Ravine Trail, but be aware that parts of this trail are exposed to avalanche danger so hikers are advised to speak to the Front Desk at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, the Hermit Lake Caretaker, or the USFS Snow Rangers if they do not have the training and experience to travel in avalanche terrain. Bathrooms and potable water are available at Hermit Lake. Return via the same route or ski down the John Sherburne Ski Trail or continue up to the summit of Mount Washington. Hike time is 3.5 hours round trip to Hermit Lake, 4.5 hours to continue to the bowl.

Lost Pond Trail to Wildcat Ridge Trail and Wildcat D Summit (Strenuous): The hands and knee scrambling on exposed rock is worth the challenge to capture stunning views of Pinkham Notch and the towering Presidential Range. Start at the trailhead for the Lost Pond Trail, directly across from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. This relatively flat trail will take you past Lost Pond before you link up with the Wildcat Ridge Trail. From there, the trail becomes quite steep, with rocky sections that require some scrambling—be sure to stop occasionally and turn around for views of Mount Washington. You will reach the summit of Wildcat D at 2.5 miles—turn around and return the way you came, or continue on Wildcat Ridge Trail to tag peaks C, B, and A.

Getting Here

Driving Directions:

The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and Joe Dodge Lodge are located in the White Mountain National Forest on N.H. Route 16, approximately 18 miles north of North Conway, and 12 miles south of Gorham, NH. GPS Coordinates: 44.25722, -71.25277.

Trail and weather information is available at 603-466-2721 ext. 8116. The AMC Contact Service Center can be reached at 603-466-2727 Monday through Saturday from 10-5.

From Central Massachusetts and Central New Hampshire (Manchester, Concord):

• Interstate 93 North to Exit 35 (US-3 N Twin Mountain) (12.5mi)
• Turn right onto NH-115 N (9.7 mi)
• Turn right onto US-2 E (12.5 Mi)
• Turn right onto Main St in Gorham (1.4 mi) then turn right onto NH-16/Glen Rd (10.6 mi)
• There will be a road sign on the right for the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge.

From Boston and Southeastern New Hampshire (Portsmouth):

• Take Interstate 95 North to Spaulding Turnpike in Portsmouth (2nd exit in traffic circle)
• Get on the Spaulding Turnpike (N) to Route 16 (N) Drive on Route 16 for approx. 88 miles travelling through Rochester, Ossipee, Conway, Jackson.
• In Glen, turn right at the stoplight to continue on Route 16 North to Pinkham Notch.
• Pinkham Notch is on the left, on Route 16 North, 12 miles north of the Glen Rt.16/302 intersection.

From Portland, Maine:

• Take I-295S to exit 5B ME-22 (7.5mi)
• Turn right onto ME-114N (1mi)
• First 2 traffic circles exit to ME-112S (3.5 mi), 3rd circle -2nd exit to ME-25W.(8mi)
• Turn right onto ME-113N.Turn left onto Route 302 W in Fryeburg follow for (10.5mi)
• Turn right onto Route 16 North to Pinkham in Glen at the traffic lights (12mi)
• Pinkham Notch is on the left, on Route 16 North, 12 miles north of the Glen Rt.16/302 intersection

From New York City and Hartford, Connecticut:

• Take Interstate 95 North (44mi) to exit 27A.
• Follow CT-25N to get to CT-15N (27mi)
• Take exit 68 N-E for 17miles to merge onto Interstate 91 North.
• Take exit 29 to CT-15N then use left lane to merge onto I-84E towards Boston. (41.5mi)
• Take exit to I-90E (11.7mi.) to I-290E until exit 26B for I-495N, then exit 60 for I-95N.
• Take exit 4 to merge onto NH-16N. Route 16 approx. 88 miles travelling through Rochester, Conway, Jackson.
• In Glen, turn right at the stoplight to continue on Route 16 North to Pinkham Notch
• Pinkham Notch is on the left, on Route 16 North, 12 miles north of the Glen Rt.16/302 intersection.

From Montreal:

• Take Autoroute 10 East to Exit 121 to Autoroute 55 South (Magog)
• Follow Autoroute 55 South to Interstate 91 South at the U.S./Canada borderFollow Interstate 91 South to Exit 23 in Lyndonville VT to US-2 East for 35km.
• Follow Route 2 East to Route 16 South (in Gorham).Route 16 South to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge, on the right, 12 miles south of Gorham

Approximate mileages & driving times may vary depending on driving style, traffic, and road conditions):

• From Boston: 170 miles 3.5 hours
• From New York: 350 miles 8 hours
• From Montreal: 170 miles 3.5 hours

Weather

The right clothing and gear are essential in the unpredictable weather of the Northeast’s mountains. Even if it feels like summer in the valleys, it can be cold and winter-like on the high peaks. Be prepared for severe weather regardless of season, dress in layers (including synthetic or wool base and insulating layers, and a windproof/waterproof outer shell), eat high energy foods, and stay hydrated.

Our Commitment to Sustainable Operations

AMC has a long-standing commitment to using its huts, lodges, and sporting camps as models for sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. At Joe Dodge Lodge we have a solar preheat (which reduces the need for use of energy to heat the water), a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station, and composting toilets. We send old linens to animal shelters and our kitchen grease is pumped and made into biofuel.