The Wildcat Ridge – Photo Gallery
The Wildcat Ridge Trail is steep; the kind of steep that makes you wonder if what you’re doing is really more of a rock climb than a hike.
The effort to pull yourself up feels well worth it, however, once you get that first glimpse across Pinkham Notch and take in the whole of the Presidential Range. The initial views come from the ledges that form the trail as you make your near vertical ascent. Near Wildcat E and D, two of the five peaks that make up the ridge, ledges become fields blooming with wildflowers as you happen across the top of Wildcat Ski Area. Upon reaching Wildcat A, the ledges return, but now with a view north and the dramatic and rugged Carter Notch.
The Wildcat Ridge Trail is part of the Appalachian Trail. It is not for inexperienced hikers, and extra caution should be taken when conditions are wet, windy, or icy. Access to the trail is from the Glen Ellis Falls parking area, or from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center via the Lost Pond Trail.
