West Branch Peabody River

The West Branch of the Peabody River is a 5.8-mile (9.3 km) long river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Peabody River, which flows into the Androscoggin River, which in turn flows south and east into Maine, joining the Kennebec River near the Atlantic Ocean. The West Branch of the Peabody is within the Great Gulf Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest for most of its length. It is paralleled by the Great Gulf Trail, a popular route for backpackers.

Map of West Branch Peabody River, New Hampshire, USA

The stream rises in Great Gulf, a large glacial cirque on the northern side of Mount Washington. The West Branch flows from the outlet of Spaulding Lake, a tarn seated at the foot of the east face of Mount Clay, and proceeds northeast deeper into the gulf, with Mount Jefferson of the Presidential Range to the west and Chandlers Ridge, a northern spur of Mount Washington, to the east. Upon reaching the outlet of Jefferson Ravine, the river turns east, with Mount Adams and Mount Madison rising above its northern bank.

The river ends at the Peabody River, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north (downstream) of Glen House, the entrance to the Mount Washington Auto Road.

Fishing along the river is excellent. Big brook and rainbow trout can be caught throughout, unlike the other trails on Mt. Washington that are paralleled by rivers.