High Plains Drifter
New Hampshire
Free — you'll pick up right here.
1.6 mi
Distance
1,287 ft
Gain
1h 7m
Time
Conditions: Caution
for hike, todayAgency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good
2 factors · 2 sources
Newest 20 h ago · oldest 20 h
caution: Agency alerts
7 active alerts in White Mountain National Forest; most severe: Town Hall Road Camping and Fire Restrictions
USFSPosted Jun 8 · checked 20 h ago
clear: Weather
Clouds, high 58°F / low 45°F, 20% precip — 92/100 for hike
OpenWeather20 h ago
Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
High Plains Drifter
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 1.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,287 ft
- Elevation loss
- 1,287 ft
- Highest point
- 2,409 ft
- Lowest point
- 1,641 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
About this trail
High Plains Drifter is a 3.1-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire managed by the Forest Service. The trail gains 1,200 feet of elevation and loses 529 feet on the return.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- Starts at
- 1,709 ft
- High point
- 2,409 ft
- Total climbing
- 1,287 ft
- Total descent
- 1,287 ft
- Steepest stretch
- 21% grade around mile 1.1 on the way out
- Length (round trip)
- 3.1 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
Where it is
- Pemigewasset Ranger District · Ranger district
- White Mountain National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for Pemigewasset Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Rattlesnake Fire – Pemigewasset Ranger District
fire-restriction · posted Aug 27, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Fat LipHiking0.3 mi
- Kettle TrailHiking0.6 mi
- Coppermine ShelterCamping0.9 mi
- Artist's BluffRock climbing2.2 mi
- Kinsman PondCamping2.3 mi
- Franconia Notch BoulderingRock climbing2.3 mi
- Pemigewasset RiverCanoeing6 mi
- Ammonoosuc RiverRiver fishing9.3 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
