Lakes of the Clouds
Encyclopedia
The Lakes of the Clouds are a set of small ponds located at the 5032 ft (1,534 m) col
between Mount Monroe and Mount Washington
in the White Mountains
of the U.S. state of New Hampshire
. The lakes form the source of the Ammonoosuc River
, a tributary of the Connecticut River
.
The Lakes of the Clouds Hut, a rental hut and lodge for hikers operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club
, is adjacent to the lakes, facing west toward some spectacular sunsets. Lakes of the Clouds may be reached by hiking from Marshfield Station
, on the Mount Washington Cog Railway, via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail (in approximately four hours). The area is also traversed by the Crawford Path (part of the Appalachian Trail
) and the Dry River Trail.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
between Mount Monroe and Mount Washington
Mount Washington (New Hampshire)
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at , famous for dangerously erratic weather. For 76 years, a weather observatory on the summit held the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, , on the afternoon of April 12, 1934...
in the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
of the U.S. state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. The lakes form the source of the Ammonoosuc River
Ammonoosuc River
The Ammonoosuc River is a river, 55 mi long, in northwestern New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River, which flows to Long Island Sound. "Ammonoosuc" is Abnaki for "small, narrow fishing place"....
, a tributary of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
.
The Lakes of the Clouds Hut, a rental hut and lodge for hikers operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club
Appalachian Mountain Club
The Appalachian Mountain Club is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups. Created in 1876 to explore and preserve the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it has expanded throughout the northeastern U.S., with 12 chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C...
, is adjacent to the lakes, facing west toward some spectacular sunsets. Lakes of the Clouds may be reached by hiking from Marshfield Station
Marshfield Station
Marshfield Station is located in the township of Thompson and Meserve's Purchase, at the base of the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire, USA. It was formerly a transfer point from passenger train service to the cog train taking tourists to the hotels at the summit...
, on the Mount Washington Cog Railway, via the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail (in approximately four hours). The area is also traversed by the Crawford Path (part of the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
) and the Dry River Trail.