Containing the highest peaks of the Whites, its most notable summits are named for American presidents, followed by prominent public figures of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Presidential Range is notorious for having some of the worst weather on Earth, mainly because of the unpredictability of high wind speeds and whiteout conditions on the higher summits.

The third and fourth are: The summits marked with an asterisk (*) are included on the peak bagging list of 4,000-foot and higher mountains in New Hampshire; the others are excluded, in some cases because of lesser height and in others because of more technical criteria.

Several of these peaks, drained on their west faces by the Dry River, are less accessible than the main and most-visited ridge of the range.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department conducts an average of 200 rescues a year for hikers in need of assistance.