Crawford Notch is a mountain pass located in the White Mountains of central New Hampshire, United States. The notch lies at an elevation of approximately 1,900 feet (580 m) above sea level and forms a natural corridor between the Saco River watershed to the east and the Ammonoosuc River watershed to the west. It is traversed by New Hampshire Route 112, a scenic highway that connects the towns of Hart's Location and Bartlett.
Geography and Geology
The notch cuts through the White Mountains’ granitic and metamorphic rock formations, exposing a series of cliffs, waterfalls, and glacially carved valleys. Notable geological features within the pass include the Willey Range to the north, the Montalban Ridge to the east, and the highlands of the Presidential Range to the south. The area’s topography was significantly shaped by Pleistocene glaciation, which produced U‑shaped valleys and deposited moraines throughout the region.
Ecology
Crawford Notch lies within the White Mountain National Forest, encompassing a mixed‑type forest community that includes northern hardwood species such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), as well as boreal conifers like red spruce (Picea rubens) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) at higher elevations. The pass provides habitat for wildlife including moose (Alces alces), black bear (Ursus americanus), and a variety of bird species such as the Bicknell’s thrush (Catharus bicknelli).
History
The name “Crawford Notch” derives from the Crawford family, early 19th‑century entrepreneurs—most prominently Abel and Ethan Crawford—who established a series of inns and guide services for travelers and settlers crossing the White Mountains. By the mid‑1800s, the pass became a popular destination for tourists seeking the region’s natural scenery and for artists of the Hudson River School.
In 1889, the Crawford Notch Turnpike was incorporated into the state highway system, later designated as Route 112. The notched landscape was further developed for recreation with the establishment of the Appalachian Trail, which follows the ridge line above the pass.
Recreation and Tourism
Crawford Notch is a focal point for outdoor recreation, offering hiking, camping, fishing, and winter sports. Key attractions include:
- Rattlesnake Chapel – an historic stone chapel constructed in 1879, located near the notch’s western wall.
- Crawford Notch State Park – a 22‑acre park that provides access to trailheads, a visitor center, and interpretive displays on the area’s natural and cultural history.
- The Willey Slide – a famous cliff that collapsed during a storm in 1826, resulting in the deaths of the Willey family and becoming a subject of early American literature and visual art.
Popular trails that originate in the notch include the Sawyer River Trail, the Notchland Trail, and the Crawford Path, which is one of the oldest continuously used mountain hiking routes in the United States.
Conservation
Management of Crawford Notch falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Forest Service, which administers the White Mountain National Forest. Ongoing conservation efforts address issues such as invasive species control, watershed protection, and the mitigation of visitor impact on fragile alpine ecosystems.
References
- United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System. “Crawford Notch.”
- White Mountain National Forest, U.S. Forest Service. “Crawford Notch Management Plan.”
- National Park Service. “Appalachian Trail: Crawford Notch Segment.”
This entry reflects information available from reliable geographic, historical, and ecological sources as of 2026.