Lakes of the Clouds — Attraction in Sargent's Purchase

Hike on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail from the Cog Railway / Marshfield Station to the 'Lakes of the Clouds' (1K feet below the top of Mt Washington). The 2.5 mile trail features a river with many waterfalls / drop offs, beautiful backgrounds and scenic areas for photos. If you plan on hiking up and down spring & summer, leave before 9am. This will give you plenty of time for stops and lunch at the top before arriving back down at base before dark (you can also sleep at the hut with arrangements).

WHAT TO EXPECT: Be prepared! Pack all essentials needed for a day deep in the woods. I will describe AR trail in two parts. I would rate the first section from the base to the large waterfall and pond a 3 out of 5 (1 being easy and 5 hard / difficult). There is some challenging areas, but for the most part it is not bad. This section of the hike will take you approx 1 hour and 10 min.

Here to the LOTC top I would rate it a soft 5. From this point it's just straight up! You will be hiking on large boulders at a steep angle (caution as the rocks get slippery). This section of the hike will take approx 1 hour 30 minutes (shorter distance, more challenging). Plan a day hike as 7 hours total (2:45 hours up, lunch...

I am not a hiker, far from that, but I've always wanted to walk a stretch of the Appalachian trail, even a minute one. I chose to do it between the summit of Mount Washington and the cabin near the Lake in the Clouds. That was something. The panorama is incredibly beautiful and the trek was not too crowded unlike the cabin. On the other hand, the walk itself is definitely not intended for beginners. Beware your ankles, there is almost no flat surface to walk on. Just stumbling rocks, boulders and crevices, some slippery. Inside the cabin, the atmosphere is congenial and the soup, after walking that distance, tastes heavenly. I recommend it (the walk and...

This place seriously blows me a way. The only alpine lake above treeline in the white mountains of this size. Surrounded by large boulders, tall grasses, and still some snow in late June. It looks like a glacier in the winter. The water was clear and cool and a great place for my dog to cool down before going up the summit. The easiest way to get here is from the Ammonoosuc...