White Mt. NF--Valley Way Trail, Randolph/Low/Burbank's Grant

White Mt. NF--Valley Way Trail, Randolph/Low/Burbank's Grant

Randolph, New Hampshire 03593

Official Website
White Mountain National Forest Official Website

About this Location

​The Appalachia Trailhead is a major gateway into the rugged and scenic Northern Presidential Mountains. Traveling on one of the many trails that stem from this point can lead you to three stunning waterfalls in less than an hour. For overnight adventures, longer treks to the Randolph Mountain Club cabins and tent sites can be reached. The high peaks of Mount Madison and Mount Adams can also be reached from this starting point for those wishing to climb into the rare and fragile Alpine Zone. A good trail map is recommended to navigate this concentrated area of trails as well as help you to choose a hike to satisfy your sense of adventure.

About White Mountain National Forest

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In the decades prior to 1911, the unregulated logging practices of private timber companies in the White Mountains had resulted in a damaged landscape susceptible to both fire and flood. Fires had burned thousands of acres, and flash floods affected the water power necessary to the mills of major industrial centers downstream, such as Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lowell, Massachusetts. Concerns over losses to industry, business, and tourism, and the growing conservation movement led to citizen action. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) spearheaded an effort to ensure the permanent protection of the White Mountains from further depredation. After years of lobbying and intense public pressure, Senator John Weeks of Massachusetts, a native of Lancaster, New Hampshire, introduced legislation that became known as the Weeks Act. The Weeks Act was passed by Congress in 1911, appropriating 9 million dollars to purchase 6 million acres of land in the Eastern U.S. In turn, this led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in 1918, and twenty-one other national forests throughout the north and southeast. Many of the groups who were instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act, including the SPNHF and the AMC, are still active today, and the WMNF has grown from 7,000 acres to almost 800,000. Today, the reforested mountains and hillsides supply forest products and provide magnificent recreational opportunities while maintaining healthy watersheds and ecosystems.

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