The Ice Gulch Path earns its place on the Terrifying 25 through a half-mile-plus corridor of jumbled glacial talus that demands more scrambling than hiking. The gulch, a narrow ravine in the Randolph Community Forest maintained by the Randolph Mountain Club, is choked floor to rim with massive boulders, requiring near-constant use of hands and feet, careful navigation through dark crevices, and the occasional body-squeeze between house-sized rocks. Through the gulch proper, the word "trail" is generous: cairns appear only sporadically, and route-finding between boulders demands full attention. The 0.9-mile gulch traverse draws frequent comparisons to Mahoosuc Notch in effort per mile, though it sees far less traffic and is harder to navigate.
The full path runs approximately 2.9 miles. A pronounced microclimate keeps the ravine floor 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding forest, with ice and snow persisting in the deepest crevices well into summer, which is how the gulch got its name. This cold air provides relief on hot days but adds real hazard in shoulder seasons, when wet, shaded rocks stay icy long after snow melts elsewhere. The AMC White Mountain Guide lists the gulch section among the most strenuous terrain in the range. Hikers should budget considerably more time per mile than the distance implies, wear sturdy footwear with ankle support, and bring an extra layer regardless of forecast temperatures. The route is not suitable for dogs.
