4,265 ft | Bond | 5 routes
As of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on Bondcliff are currently rated Difficult. At 3:20 AM ET it was 26°F at the summit (4,265 ft), feeling like 11°F, with NW winds at 24 mph. The shortest of 5 listed routes is Bondcliff via Lincoln Woods: 17.7 miles round trip with 3,282 ft of elevation gain, taking about 8-13 hours. Bondcliff (4,265 ft) is #30 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Bondcliff weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 11°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.06" (24h) · 0.61" (48h)
Snow: 0.3" (24h) · 0.3" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Fresh snow and icy trails, subfreezing temperatures, and strong NW winds gusting past 40 mph with fog make Saturday a challenging day on Bondcliff, and the long approach to this remote peak leaves little margin for error with short late-October daylight. Sunday looks calmer with winds easing and clouds breaking, making it the much better choice if flexible.
The freezing level sits near the trailhead, so expect snow and ice at every elevation, with temperatures dropping about 10°F and wind chill falling from roughly 13°F at the trailhead to about -5°F near the summit. Start with layers you can adjust, and add insulation and wind protection before reaching the open, exposed sections near treeline and the summit.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday is the better day, with winds easing and clouds breaking; start early and aim to be off the summit by early afternoon. If hiking Saturday, begin at first light and turn around early if wind, ice, or visibility worsen.
Last synthesized Oct 17, 3:20 AM ET
Planning a hike here this week?
Trailblazer adds the full 7-day summit forecast, the best day to go for every peak, and conditions for each route up.
Trail: Zealand Trail, Zeacliff Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“ZBonds out and back is 19.5 miles with 4,000 feet of elevation gain and it took us a little more than 10 hours. Weather and foliage was peak for fall. Trails were pretty crowded and hut looked full.”
Trail: Zealand Trail, Twinway, Zealand Spur, Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Twinway, North Twin Spur, North Twin Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“First off, a huge thanks to Chad for the car spotting idea. This led to an stress-free day out and not having to worry if my text went through to catch a ride. Boy did it rain hard last night and this morning. We’ve been pretty spoiled this summer with weather but the mud and standing water on the trails is back. Had a great time today and this is a new way to avoid the long walk out to Lincoln Woods. All reports were that Guyot Shelter water is flowing well.”
Trail: Bondcliff Trail, West Bond Spur, Twinway, Garfield Ridge Trail, Gale River Trail, Gale River Road
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Day 2 early start for sunrise. Was planning on West 1st but it was very foggy so headed to Bond instead. Wet muddy in the usual spots. Wasn’t looking good as the clouds were boiling, did have a nice undercast with Carrigain poking out from the clouds. Just as I arrived the sun started to appear, rising thru the clouds, truly an amazing experience! Stunning 360 of colors off the clouds. No one else around, I had it to myself. Very windy & cool here as I made my way to Bondcliff, very dry. Beautiful views as always, windy so I found a sheltered spot for coffee and breakfast. I love it here in the early morning, an amazing place. Dropped pack to West, no issues, lots of flyers but none biting. Very peaceful. Back to pack up as it was early, and start the long hike out. 1st time up to South this way, much better than the day before. 1st .6 miles on Gale River wet & slippery, once past junction it started to dry. Very fast out. 50 yards from the lot as I was celebrating a great trip a root jumped up & sent me sprawling. Nothing injured except my pride. 1.3 road walk to finish an amazing trip! This Grids out August”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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18°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 18°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
59 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 59 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
-3°F
Wind chill
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth.
Dramatic cliff face with spectacular views. One of the most photographed summits in the Whites.
Elevation
4,265 ft
Range
Bond
Rank
#30 of 48
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Coordinates
44.1406, -71.5409
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Bondcliff Trail (8.1 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
1 incident on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
75-year-old male hiker from Falmouth, Maine
David Humphrey, age 75, set out on May 4, 2014 from Crawford Notch intending to hike 21 miles over multiple 4,000-foot summits in a single day, equipped only for a day hike with no overnight gear. He encountered up to two feet of snow, ice, and rain, became wet, cold, and fatigued, and called 911 at 9:30 p.m. after being stranded on Bond Cliff summit overnight. He was rescued by Conservation Officers and a U.S. Army National Guard helicopter on May 5 and suffered symptoms of hypothermia.