Pinkham Notch was eroded into a glacial U-shaped valley whose walls are formed by the Presidential, Wildcat, and Carter-Moriah ranges.

Due to the volatility of the area's climate and rugged character of the terrain, a number of rare or endemic ecosystems have developed throughout the notch.

[1] The bulk of the western slope of the notch is formed by Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast United States, reaching 6,288 feet (1,917 m) above sea level.

[3] South of the Great Gulf is Huntington Ravine, with a rocky, precipitous headwall renowned for its rock and ice climbing.

[4] The slope then dips into the Ravine of Raymond Cataract, a non-glacial "V-shaped" valley with a notable waterfall.

[5] After passing the Gulf of Slides, a smaller and lesser-known cirque,[3] the notch opens up and continues until Jackson.

The Carter-Moriah Range lies to the north of Wildcat Ridge, forming the eastern side of Pinkham Notch all the way to the Androscoggin River.

This forest type is primarily deciduous and consists mostly of sugar maple, American beech, and yellow birch.

[13] There is also a proliferation of understory and forest floor plants; common examples include wild sarsaparilla, painted trillium, hobblebush, and Indian cucumber-root.

Red efts, the terrestrial stage of development for the red-spotted newt, congregate in large numbers after heavy rains; also present are American toads, spring peepers, and wood frogs.

[18] As elevation continues to increase, only the hardiest trees remain in the forest, which is composed almost exclusively of balsam fir.

Moisture causes nutrients to be stripped from the soil and brought to lower elevations, and decomposition takes place at a rate that is too slow to replenish them.

[19] In the upper reaches of the balsam fir zone, winds and temperatures are extreme enough to force the trees into stunted, "bonsai-like" shapes.

Known as krummholz, from the German word for "crooked wood", trees in this area are often bent into bizarre shapes by the combined effects of wind, temperature, and airborne ice particles.

[20] On the highest slopes of the west wall of the notch, trees are unable to grow, and an "alpine zone" of alpine-Arctic vegetation exists.

[21] Vegetation in this zone tends to be lichens, sedges or small, low-lying plants that can resist the constant exposure to the wind.

The Appalachian Mountain Club converted a logging camp near the height-of-land into what is now the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center in 1921.

[32] The Appalachian Trail was built through the visitor center, making it an important trailhead for ascents of Mount Washington.

The five summits can be reached via the Wildcat Ridge Trail; the first two miles are extremely difficult, and require skill on short, yet exposed, rock scrambles.

Wildcat Mountain offers groomed ski trails and lifts, and is a better choice for less-experienced skiers.

Another cross-country trail system exists in the town of Jackson, extending as far as the summit of Wildcat Mountain.