Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness is a 27,605-acre wilderness area in Coos County, New Hampshire. It rises from about 826 to 5,508 ft. The nearest town is Bartlett, 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness map
Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- The maximum group size at Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness is 10.
- Campfires are prohibited in some areas: Prohibited within 200 feet of listed features.
- Bartlett, NH is the nearest town, 1.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness is about 5,508 ft, and its lowest about 826 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Mount Isolation, about 3,994 ft.
Who manages Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 27,605 | Not on record | 10 | Not on record | Saco Ranger District, 603-447-5448 |
Getting to Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
- Bartlett, NH is the nearest town, 1.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
- Nancy Pond Trailhead (0.22 mi outside the boundary, 992 ft), at 44.1047, -71.3537
- Davis Path Trailhead (0.27 mi outside the boundary, 995 ft), at 44.1187, -71.3541
- Sawyer River Road Snowmobile (0.27 mi outside the boundary, 906 ft), at 44.0862, -71.3522
- Mt. Langdon Trail Parking Lot "Pvt." (0.4 mi outside the boundary, 675 ft), at 44.0842, -71.2863
- Dry River Trailhead (0.54 mi outside the boundary, 1,198 ft), at 44.1586, -71.3650
- Mt. Tremont Trailhead (0.55 mi outside the boundary, 889 ft), at 44.0755, -71.3380
- Webster Cliff Trailhead (0.58 mi outside the boundary, 1,276 ft), at 44.1709, -71.3877
- Ethan Pond - Ripley Falls Trailhead (0.72 mi outside the boundary, 1,440 ft), at 44.1670, -71.3859
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
- Mount Isolation summit
- Mount Davis summit
- Stairs Mountain summit
- Desolation Pond lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness
- National forestPresidential Range-Dry River Wilderness lies inside White Mountain National Forest.
- State parkMount Washington State Park is 0.4 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkCrawford Notch State Park is 0.6 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaGreat Gulf Wilderness is 1.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaPemigewasset Wilderness is 2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in New Hampshire
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)