Table of Contents
Madison Spring Hut, situated in the col between Mount Madison and Mount Adams at an elevation of 4,800 feet, was the first structure built by the AMC in 1888. It burned in October 1940 and was immediately rebuilt, being reopened in August 1941.Its location is spectacular, but visitors have to earn the views they get! While Lakes of the Clouds Hut is at a higher elevation, and Galehead Hut is farther from a road, Madison Hut requires the most vertical ascent from the trailhead (about 3,500 feet by most routes).
It can be used for a relatively easy two day ascent of Mounts Madison and Adams, or as the start (or end) of a three day (two night) hut based Presidential Traverse.
The AMC web site has a page on the Madison Hut, with information on the hut, season of operation and rates. Here I give hiking information that supplements what they offer, describing the most frequently used access routes (with distances, elevation gains and book time), and some of the trips that can utilize the hut, including hut to hut trips.
Getting to Madison Hut and Back
I am assuming that most people will want to get to the hut with minimal effort on the first day, and leave Mount Adams for the second day. The easiest way of climbing both mountains on a two day trip is to go up the Valley Way to the hut and, after resting a bit and lightening one's pack, climb Mount Madison. On the second day follow the Gulfside Trail to the Airline, and take that trail to the summit of Mount Adams. Then return to the trailhead by taking the Airline Trail all the way down.
Valley Way Trail
This is the easiest way of getting to the hut (ow: 3.8 miles; 3,550 feet; 3:40). The grades are easier than on most of the other trails, and the footing is better. It is in the trees with no views until the hut, but since the hut and adjoining summits have such great views that is no great loss.
Watson Path
The Watson Path leaves the Valley Way about two thirds of the way up to the hut, and goes over the summit of Mount Madison. Hikers then must descend to the hut using the Osgood Trail (ow: 4.6 miles; 4,050 feet; 4:20). It is both steeper and rougher than the Valley Way, and does not give the opportunity of resting at the hut before climbing Mount Madison.
Airline Trail and Airline Cutoff
This trail starts at Appalachia with the Valley Way, and very shortly diverges to the right. It is steeper in parts than the Valley Way, and also somewhat rougher. It reaches treeline at a lower elevation, and has excellent views into King's Ravine as it goes along the crest of Durant Ridge. The Airline Cutoff connects the Airline Trail to the hut, it is completely sheltered by the scrub (ow: 3.7 miles; 3,550 feet; 3:40).
Gulfside and Airline Trails Over Mount Adams
This route is more suitable for descent than for ascent (ow: 5.2 miles; 950 feet; 3:05). From the hut follow the Gulfside Trail to its junction with the Airline Trail, then take the Airline Trail to the summit of Mount Adams. Return to the trailhead by the Airline Trail.
Osgood Trail
The Osgood Trail can be used to reach Madison Hut from two starting points. One can start at the Great Gulf trailhead and follow the Great Gulf and Osgood Trails to the summit and then down to the hut (5.6 miles; 4,050 feet; 4:50) or one can follow the AT from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center along the Old Jackson Road, Madison Gulf, Great Gulf, Osgood Cutoff and Osgood Trails to the hut (7.7 miles; 4,050 feet; 5:50).
The Osgood Trail is very exposed to the weather in its upper part. It is possible to bypass the summit of Mount Madison by taking the Parapet Trail, which runs on the south side of the mountain, somewhat protected from the prevailing northwest winds. It is a very rough trail, and should only be used to avoid the weather; it is less strenuous to go over the summit than around it!
| Route | Distance | Elevation Gain | Book Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| To hut by Valley Way | 3.8 | 3,550 | 3:40 |
| To hut by Watson Path (over summit) | 4.6 | 4,050 | 4:20 |
| To hut by Airline Trail and Cutoff | 3.7 | 3,550 | 3:40 |
| To hut by Great Gulf and Osgood Trails | 5.6 | 4,050 | 4:50 |
| To hut by AT from Pinkham | 7.7 | 4,050 | 5:50 |
| From hut by Valley Way | 3.8 | 0 | 1:55 |
| From hut by Watson Path (over summit) | 4.6 | 550 | 2:35 |
| From hut by Airline Trail and Cutoff | 3.7 | 300 | 2:00 |
| From hut by Airline Trail over Mount Adams | 5.2 | 950 | 3:05 |
| From hut by Osgood and Great Gulf Trails | 5.6 | 550 | 3:05 |
| From hut by AT to Pinkham | 7.7 | 1,100 | 4:25 |
Hikes From Madison Hut
Most visitors to the hut will want to explore the area around the hut, specially Star Lake and the parapet (about 0.7 miles and 100 feet, 0:20).
Mount Madison
The Osgood Trail reaches the summit of Mount Madison in an easy half mile (each way) with 550 vertical feet from the hut, for a book time of 0:45. There are 360° views, I specially enjoy the view into the Great Gulf.
Mount Adams
The standard way of reaching Mount Adams from the hut is by following the Gulfside Trail to its junction with the Airline Trail, and taking the latter to the summit (rt: 1.8 miles; 950 feet; 1:20). While there is some scrambling this is probably the easiest way up Mount Adams.
A more "sporting" ascent can be made by following the Star Lake Trail, which ascends the steep and rough southwest side of Mount John Quincy Adams on its way to the main summit (rt: 2.0 miles; 1,000 feet; 1:30).
| Route | Distance | Elevation Gain | Book Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Madison by Osgood Trail | 1.0 | 550 | 0:45 |
| Mount Adams by Gulfside and Airline Trails | 1.8 | 950 | 1:20 |
| Mount Adams by Star Lake Trail | 2.0 | 1,000 | 1:30 |
Routes to Neighboring Huts
Routes to Lakes Hut
The easiest route to Lakes Hut is to follow the Gulfside Trail from the hut almost to the Cog Railway, then bypass the summit of Mount Washington by taking the Westside Trail to its junction with the Crawford Path. Then follow the Crawford Path to Lakes Hut (ow: 6.8 miles; 1,850 feet; 4:20).
This bypasses all the summits. Going over Mount Washington adds 0.7 miles and 650 feet (0:40). The loops over Mts. Clay and Jefferson add little distance and about 300 feet each (0:10), while going up Mt. Adams by the Airline Trail and descending by Lowe's Path adds 0.4 miles and 300 feet (0:20). Going over all the summits adds 1.1 miles and 1,550 feet (1:20), almost doubling the total elevation gain.
Routes to Carter Notch Hut
The shortest route to Carter Notch Hut is to take the Osgood and Great Gulf Trails down to Rt. 16, walk about half a mile south on the road, and take the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail to the hut (ow: 9.4 miles; 2,450 feet; 5:55).
A much more strenuous route is to take the AT between the two huts, going to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, then taking the Lost Pond Trail to the Wildcat Ridge Trail, and following the latter over all the peaks of that ridge to Carter Notch (ow: 13.6 miles; 4,350 feet; 9:00).
Routes to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center
While Pinkham Notch Visitor Center is not a hut, it can be used to break the trip between Madison and Carter Notch huts. As noted above, the AT goes from the hut to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (ow: 7.7 miles; 1,100 feet; 4:25)
| Route | Distance | Elevation Gain | Book Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Lakes Hut, no summits | 6.8 | 1,850 | 4:20 |
| Addition for Mt. Washington | 0.7 | 650 | 0:40 |
| Addition for Mt. Clay or Mt. Jefferson | 0 | 300 | 0:10 |
| Addition for Mt. Adams | 0.4 | 300 | 0:20 |
| To Lakes Hut, all summits | 7.9 | 3,400 | 5:40 |
| To Carter Notch Hut by Osgood and 19 Mile Brook | 9.4 | 2,450 | 5:55 |
| To Carter Notch Hut by AT | 13.6 | 4,350 | 9:00 |
| To Pinkham Notch Visitor Center by AT | 7.7 | 1,100 | 4:25 |