In commemoration of its 175th anniversary, the Crawford Path was designated a National Recreation Trail in 1994. It is the oldest continuously maintained hiking path in the United States.

The trail is 8.2 miles long, begins at 1900 feet and ends at the Mt. Washington Summit (6288 feet). From the parking lot, follow the Crawford Connector 0.3 mile across Gibbs Brook to join the Crawford Path 0.2 miles from Rte. 302. At 0.4 miles from this intersection, a short side trail to the left features a view of Gibbs Falls. The Path traverses the largest spruce and birch old growth stand in the White Mountains as it goes through the Gibbs Brook Research Natural Area. At 1.5 miles, the Mizpah Cutoff diverges right from the main trail leading to Mizpah Springs Hut. The Crawford Path ascends another 1.2 miles to timberline, where it meets the Webster Cliff Trail. The stretch of trail between Mt. Clinton and Mt. Washington, marked by stone cairns, lies fully exposed above treeline.

The trail passes by Mt. Eisenhower (a side trail leads to its summit and then links back to the main trail), ascends Mt. Franklin, passes south of Mt. Monroe, and continues to the AMC Lakes-of-the-Clouds Hut. The path proceeds from the hut, passing between two lakes, to ascend the summit of Mt. Washington.

On the Crawford Path, camping and fires are prohibited:

• Above treeline;
• Within <-mile of Mizpah Hut
• Within 200 feet of the Presidential Range - Dry River Wilderness boundary.

Fire permits are not required to use wood or charcoal fires within non-restricted areas; however, you are responsible for any fires you kindle and subject to fines and suppression costs if any fire escapes.

Access: Approximately 8.5 miles east on Rte. 302 from its Intersection with Rte. 3 in Twin Mountain. A 50 car parking lot is located just off the Mt. Clinton Road. The trail can also be accessed from Rte. 302 (see map).

This trail begins at 2000 feet on the eastern side of Mt. Clinton Road, approximately 2 miles from the junction of Rte. 302 and Mt. Clinton Road. The trail ends at the junction with Crawford Path in the mountain's Eisenhower-Franklin saddle (4450 feet).

From the Mt. Clinton Road, Edmands Path crosses Abenaki Brook at a gentle grade for the first mile. The upper half-mile is graded. The Path steepens as it climbs the north face of Mt. Eisenhower to join Crawford Path above timberline. This path is the easiest route from the Bretton Woods area to Mt. Washington and the Southern Peaks. It also provides the fastest route down from Crawford Path in the area between Mt. Eisenhower and Mt. Monroe.

A striking change in vegetation occurs on the mountainous ascent. Forests of maple, beech, and birch are present in the valley floors, extending up to about 3500 feet. Spruce and fir enter in, gradually taking over. Trees are shorter approaching timberline, forming the stunted spruce-fir known as krummholz (German for "crooked wood"). Timberline, where trees are less than 8 feet in height, occurs lower on exposed western slopes than on warmer eastern slopes due to prevailing winds.

Above timberline is the spectacular and easily damaged alpine zone. Soil here is very thin. Plants found here have adapted for survival in these harsh conditions but have little resistance to human trampling. Help preserve rare and fragile alpine vegetation by staying on the trail, which concentrates damage to a narrow strip. Protecting the alpine zone is very important because once destroyed, the soil becomes highly vulnerable to erosion and revegetation is very slow.