Mount Washington is basically the king of chaos in the Northeast. People go there for the views, the Cog Railway, and that "World's Worst Weather" badge of honor. But lately, the conversation has shifted from wind speeds to something way more unsettling: shooting in Mt. Washington and the surrounding White Mountain National Forest.
It's a weird vibe right now. You’ve got hikers trying to find peace, and then suddenly, the crack of a semi-automatic echoes through the notch. Honestly, it catches people off guard. Most tourists think of the Presidential Range as a pristine, regulated theme park. It isn't. It’s a multi-use federal land, and that means the rules for firearms are a lot more complex—and sometimes a lot more permissive—than you’d expect.
What’s Actually Legal? The Reality of Target Practice
The U.S. Forest Service manages the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF). Because it’s federal land, your 2nd Amendment rights don't just vanish at the trailhead. You can carry. You can even shoot. But—and this is a massive "but"—there are strict federal regulations under 36 CFR 261.10.
You can't just blast away at a stump near the Appalachian Trail. Law enforcement Rangers, like those often patrolling the Tuckerman Ravine area during the spring skiing madness, are looking for very specific violations. You aren’t allowed to shoot within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area. You also can't shoot across or on a forest road or a body of water. And most importantly? You can't shoot into a cave or in any manner that exposes any person or property to injury or damage.
The problem is the "occupied area" part. In a place as crowded as Mount Washington, finding a spot that is truly 150 yards away from everyone is statistically difficult.
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The 2022 Crawford Notch Incident
If you’re searching for info on a shooting in Mt. Washington, you might be thinking of the 2022 incident that shook the local hiking community. It didn't happen on the summit, but right in the shadow of the mountain near Crawford Notch.
A hiker was found dead. The investigation was intense. For weeks, the "White Mountains are safe" myth felt broken. New Hampshire State Police and Fish and Game Department officials eventually clarified the details, but the ripple effect remained. It reminded everyone that despite the postcards, this is rugged, remote territory. When people hear a "pop" in the woods now, they don't just assume it’s a backfiring truck on the Auto Road. They freeze.
Hunting vs. Target Shooting
There is a huge distinction here that locals understand but visitors often miss. Hunting is a way of life in New Hampshire. During deer or bear season, seeing a rifle in a glass rack of a truck at a trailhead is normal. It's expected.
Target shooting is different.
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The Forest Service doesn't love target shooting in high-traffic zones. Why? Lead. It pollutes the watershed. Noise. It disrupts the experience for the thousands of people trying to bag a peak. Safety. A stray round in the mountains can travel way further than people realize because of the elevation changes. If you are standing at 4,000 feet and fire downward, that bullet has a terrifying range.
If you are going to shoot, you basically need a backstop. A real one. Not just "the woods." We’re talking a dirt mound that will definitively stop the projectile. Using trees as targets is actually illegal because it damages federal property.
The "Wild West" Perception
New Hampshire is a "Constitutional Carry" state. You don't need a permit to carry a concealed loaded handgun if you’re legally allowed to own it. For a lot of hikers coming up from Massachusetts or New York, this is a total culture shock.
You’ll see it on the forums—people arguing about whether they should carry a piece for protection against bears or "bad people." Experts like those at the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) generally tell you that bear spray is more effective for wildlife. But the law allows the firearm. This tension between "recreational shooters" and "recreational hikers" is at an all-time high near the base of the mountain.
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Safety Tips for the Presidential Range
If you are hiking and you hear gunfire, don't panic. Usually, it’s someone on private land bordering the forest or someone in a legal clearing.
- Wear Blaze Orange: If it’s autumn, wear it. No excuses. Even if you aren't a hunter, you want to be visible.
- Know Your Location: If you see someone shooting unsafely (like toward a trail), get coordinates. Use an app like Gaia GPS or AllTrails to pin the spot.
- Report, Don't Confront: Rangers are spread thin. The WMNF is nearly 800,000 acres. If you see a violation, call the Forest Guard or the local State Police barracks in Twin Mountain.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
If you're heading to the White Mountains, you need to be aware of the environment beyond just the weather.
- Check the Season: Before you go, look up the New Hampshire Fish and Game hunting calendar. If it’s muzzleloader or rifle season, your hiking strategy should change.
- Verify Land Status: Use a map that shows the boundary between National Forest and Private Land. Shooting rules change the second you cross that line.
- Find a Range: If you actually want to shoot near Mt. Washington, don't do it in the woods. Go to a place like the North Country Sportsman’s Club. It’s safer, legal, and you won't have a Ranger breathing down your neck.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is non-existent in the notches. If you need to report an unsafe shooting in Mt. Washington area, you need to know exactly where you are without relying on a 5G signal.
The mountains are for everyone, but that only works if everyone follows the 150-yard rule and respects the fact that a bullet doesn't care about a "No Parking" sign or a hiking trail marker. Stay visible, stay informed, and keep your head on a swivel.