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Pinkham Notch: Route 16, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives New Hampshire New Hampshire's White Mountains and Lakes

Pinkham Notch: Route 16

NH 16, White Mountain Highway, Pinkham Notch Road · Jackson → Gorham

Leisurely19.2 mi25 min1,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,000 ftOne way
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The drive

NH 16 turns north at Glen toward Jackson and then runs through Pinkham Notch, a pass at about 2,000 feet on the east side of Mount Washington. The mountain forms the western wall of the notch and rises more than 4,000 feet above its floor; the Wildcat Range, with a ski area on its western slopes, forms the eastern wall.

Going north from Jackson, the road passes the Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, a former logging camp converted in 1921 and now a major trailhead for Mount Washington. Glen Ellis Falls, on the Ellis River, is reached by an easier hike. NH 16 meets the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road, continues north, where the Peabody River drains the notch, and meets US 2 in Gorham.

Along the way

  1. Jackson (NH-16A)
  2. Glen Ellis Falls
  3. Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
  4. Mount Washington Auto Road
  5. Gorham (US-2)
Elevation
1,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,000 ft
JacksonGorham
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
JacksonGorham
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The Appalachian Trail runs through the notch, and the visitor center is a major trailhead for Mount Washington.
  • The Auto Road is a separate private toll road; its base is on NH 16.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check New England 511 (New Hampshire).

Questions about this drive

How long does Pinkham Notch take to drive?

Pinkham Notch on NH 16 from Jackson to Gorham is 19.2 miles and takes about 25 minutes.

What is in Pinkham Notch?

The Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club, is a major trailhead for Mount Washington, and Glen Ellis Falls is a short hike from the road.

Where is the Mount Washington Auto Road?

It begins on NH 16 in Pinkham Notch.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

Map of Pinkham Notch: Route 16, from Jackson to Gorham