Hiking Ice Gulch in Randolph

Have you done a lot of 4,000 footers and consider the hardest part of hiking the vertical rise on roots and rocks? Try a different type of challenge by hiking through the sharp boulders of Ice Gulch in Randolph, and cool off there on one of these endless hot summer days.This is a difficult hike. 

Ice Gulch is a dramatically deep east-west ravine that is lined with large angular boulders. Because of its depth and direction, it receives much less sunlight than surrounding areas. Water accumulates between the chaotic boulders at its base, freezes in the winter and can be found in cracks through the summer. The resulting air temperature is colder than elsewhere. In fact, taking into consideration the warmer months, there is a lower mean temperature there than the area’s highest peaks. Vegetation resembles that found at timberline with stunted spruce, and such alpine plants as alpine bilberry and Labrador tea.