Fall Hiking Gear for the White Mountains
What to carry in the Whites from September into November. By Nick Dube, NH 48 finisher. Updated October 2026.
Fall is the best hiking season in the Whites and the easiest one to underestimate: warm valleys and cold summits, short days, wet leaves, the first ice up high, and hunting season. This is what to carry, and when you need each piece.
Paid links: store links on this page go to Backcountry.com, which pays me a commission if you buy. A few items Backcountry doesn't carry link to Amazon instead; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Nobody pays to be listed. How I pick gear
Cold on top today? Every peak's conditions are rated each morning from trail reports and summit forecasts.
Check today's conditionsLayers
Fall is when hikers get caught out: a warm morning at the trailhead can be near freezing and windy on the summit. Carry the layers for the top, not the parking lot.
Insulated puffy jacket
For the summit and every stop. By October, summit temperatures in the Whites are often at or below freezing.
Insulated jackets· Backcountry.comRain shell
Fall storms are cold and wet. A shell also blocks the wind above treeline.
Waterproof shells· Backcountry.comWarm hat and light gloves
Easy to forget on a sunny day, and the first thing you'll want on top.
Hats and gloves· AmazonMerino or synthetic base layer
Stays warm when you sweat on the climb. Skip cotton.
Merino base layers· Amazon
Daylight
Days shrink fast. By late November the sun sets around 4:15 PM, and a hike that fit easily in August can finish in the dark.
Headlamp and spare batteries
The single most useful thing to carry in fall. Check the batteries before you go.
Headlamps· Backcountry.com
Footing
Wet leaves hide roots and rocks, mud season returns after rain, and the first ice shows up on summits and shaded ledges in October.
Waterproof hiking boots
Keep your feet dry through mud, stream crossings and cold puddles.
Hiking boots· Backcountry.comTrekking poles
Balance on slick leaves and wet ledges, and easier on the knees going down.
Trekking poles· Backcountry.comGaiters
Keep mud and water out of your boots.
Gaiters· AmazonMicrospikes (late fall)
Once summits drop below freezing, usually from late October, ice appears on rock and the upper trail. Carry them from then on.
Kahtoola Microspikes· Backcountry.com
Safety
Fewer hikers are out, it gets dark early, and hunting season is under way. Carry a little more than in summer.
Blaze orange hat or vest
Hunting seasons run through the fall in New Hampshire. Bright orange makes you easy to see, especially in November.
Blaze orange hats· AmazonEmergency bivy
Weighs almost nothing and can get you through an unplanned cold night.
Emergency bivies· AmazonHand warmers
For cold hands on the summit, and to keep your phone battery alive.
Hand warmers· AmazonMap and compass
Fallen leaves can hide the trail, and phones die faster in the cold.
White Mountains trail maps· Amazon
Common questions
What should I wear hiking in the White Mountains in the fall?
Dress for the summit, not the trailhead: a base layer, a warm midlayer or puffy, a rain shell, a hat and gloves. Summits are often 15 to 25 degrees colder than the valley, with much stronger wind.
When do I need microspikes in the fall?
Usually from late October, once summit temperatures fall below freezing and ice forms on rock and shaded trail. Check the current conditions before you go, and carry them if summit lows are near freezing.
Do I need blaze orange when hiking in New Hampshire in the fall?
It's a good idea. Hunting seasons run through the fall, and a blaze orange hat or vest makes you easy to see, especially in November.