Introduction

Sometimes finding a trailhead can be as daunting as doing the hike itself! Fortunately in the White Mountains the AMC's White Mountain Guide and Steven Smith and Mike Dickerman's The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains give good directions. In spite of that many hikers who own a GPS receiver (GPSr) would benefit from having a collection of waypoints to allow the receiver to do the navigating for them. This page, and the downloadable files of waypoints and points of interest (POIs) is a first attempt to meet that need.

This is currently a work in progress, I am making it public in the hope of getting feedback to improve it. My only experience is with Garmin equipment; extensions to equipment from other vendors would be very welcome. Also the collection is currently incomplete, with many regions not yet covered; I will add them as my travels take me to them.

File Formats

I am currently providing the data in two formats: .gpx (the GPS Exchange Format) and .csv (comma separated variables). The former can be directly loaded into Garmin (and perhaps other) receivers, and is accepted by most, if not all, GPS conversion tools. The latter is the format originally adopted by Garmin for their POI Loader software, it is an easy format to manipulate.

I would be very interested in adding files in other formats if there is a need for them in our community, please let me know and I will attempt to include them.

A good description of "Points of Interest" (POIs) from the Garmin perspective can be found in Sam Penrod's page on Garmin's POI Loader. Garmin users may want to read a very interesting post on Multiple Custom POI Files on GPSr. Note that I have not tried it myself!!

The Files

Currently I have waypoints data (.gpx) and POI data (.csv) for the major trailheads in the following regions:

I 93 and US 3 south of it

Here I have data on the trailheads (south to north) to Georgiana Falls, Mt. Pemigewassett (from US 3 and from the Flume), Liberty Springs, Basin Cascade, Old Bridle Path, Lonesome Lake, Kinsman Ridge (north terminus) and Greenleaf Trail. In some, but not all, cases the exit has also been recorded. Download either the GPX or the CSV version.

US 3 north of I 93

The trailheads for the Skookumchuck, Garfield, Gale River and North Twin trails are shown here, as well as both ends of the Gale River Loop road (gated in winter), the Beaver Brook XC Ski trailhead (the preferred approach to the Gale River Trail in winter, labelled GALEHW) and the start of the Haystack Road to the North Twin trailhead (also gated in winter). Download either the GPX or the CSV version.

US 302

This large collection includes the trailheads on and near US 302, including those on Zealand Road, Mount Clinton Road, Base Road, Sawyer River Road, Jerico Road and the Mt. Langdon and Mt. Stanton trailheads. Download either the GPX or the CSV version.

NH 16

The trailheads to the Rocky Branch, Glen Boulder/Wildcat Ridge, Tuckerman's, 19 Mile Brook, Great Gulf, Imp Loop, Daniel Webster, Stony Brook and Pine Link (on the Dolly Copp Road). The Wildcat ski area is also shown, as many use the ski trails for descent. The north terminus of the Moat Mountain Trail is included here. Download either the GPX or the CSV version.

US 2 (partial)

Currently I only have the trailheads in the Randolph/Gorham area: Castle Trail, Lowe's Store, Appalachia, Randolph East (Howker Ridge and Randolph Path), Carter-Moriah and Rattle River. Download either the GPX or the CSV version.

The Kanc

Here I have the trailheads for the Wilderness Trail, East Pond, Greeley Ponds, Hancock Notch, Livermore, Sawyer River, Pine Bend Brook, Sabbaday Brook, the logging road that can be used to access the Mt. Potash Trail when Downe's Brook is uncrossable, Downes Brook (also trailhead for Mt. Potash and UNH Trail to Mt. Hedgehog), Oliverian Brook and Champny Falls. The Attitash trailhead on Bear Notch Road and the southern terminus of the Moat Mountain Trail are included here for convenience. Download either the GPX or the CSV version.

Waterville Valley

This includes Tripoli Road and NH 49, with the trailheads to East Pond, Tecumseh (from both Tripoli Road and the ski area), Osceola, Depot Camp (Livermore Trail and the many trails that branch off it), Drakes Brook, Smart's Brook and Dickey-Welch. Download either the GPX or the CSV version.