2,539 ft | Twin | 0 routes
As of October 7, 2026
Trail conditions on Middle Sugarloaf are currently rated Moderate. At 3:20 AM ET it was 32°F at the summit (2,539 ft), feeling like 25°F, with NW winds at 5 mph. See the hour-by-hour Middle Sugarloaf weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Middle Sugarloaf weather forecast
Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit
Best time to hike Middle Sugarloaf
Month-by-month conditions from our daily records
Feels like 25°F
~2.6°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of October 7, 2026
Wednesday looks like the best hiking day: dry, cool, and calm with no recent precipitation and no above-treeline exposure. Thursday brings moderate rain that will leave rock and roots slick, and Friday has a chance of snow showers with freezing overnight lows. Daylight is a limited 11.5 hours, so plan for an early start and an early finish.
The trailhead (~2,000 ft) runs a few degrees warmer than the summit (~2,539 ft), with winds a bit stronger and wind chill around 24-27°F at the top, so start with a warm layer and adjust as you climb. The freezing level sits near the bottom of the hike during the cold morning hours, so shaded upper sections may hold frost early; the summit has no treeline exposure, but dress for a chilly, breezier top.
Best Hiking Window
Wednesday from mid-morning through mid-afternoon, once any frost has burned off and temperatures peak in the mid-50s; finish well before dusk. Avoid Thursday for rain and Friday for possible snow showers.
Last synthesized Oct 7, 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: Elwell Trail, Goose Pond-Elwell Link, Goose Pond Trail, Goose Pond Loop Link, Around the Pond Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail
“Terrific quick after-lunch hike. Saw many more people than usual here, but, this is one of the last hurrah weekends of the summer season in the Lakes Region. Beautiful trails as usual and enjoyed the fact that nothing was slippery!!!”
Trail: Elwell Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail
“Terrific afternoon for us jetlagged old folks!!! Just what was needed. Love this section of the Elwell Trail - very dry and get some cardio!!! Around 18 minutes each way with this approach.”
Trail: Sugarloaf Mountain Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Was a great day for hiking and had some company at the summit. Great views and a cool pot bellied stove at the summit. This hike is definitely one of the more remote hikes I've done.”
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Today Oct 7 | Tomorrow Oct 8 | Friday Oct 9 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | rain | drizzle | drizzle | drizzle | snow shwrs | cloudy |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 49° 40° | 55° 51° | 54° 52° | 52° 49° | 53° 47° | 46° 40° | 43° 40° | 43° 37° | 36° 33° |
| Chill °F | 34° | — | — | 42° | 39° | 32° | 32° | 27° | 22° |
| Wind mph | 10 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 17 |
| Gust mph est. | 16 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 35 | 22 | 24 | 32 | 27 |
| Storm risk | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | - | - | 0.3 | - | - | - | 0.2 | - |
| Chance of precip | 3% | 7% | 10% | 24% | 38% | 24% | 16% | 16% | 15% |
| Freezing ft | 9,610 ft | 6,717 ft | 3,854 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 90% |
| Vis mi | clear | clear | clear | 2 | 8 | clear | clear | 5 | clear |
| UV | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 5 | — | 2 | 3 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Today Oct 7 | Tomorrow Oct 8 | Friday Oct 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 2,539 ft | 40/49° 10 | 49/52° 19 | 40/43° 15 |
| 2,500 ft | 40/49° 10 | 49/52° 19 | 40/43° 14 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 41/51° 8 | 51/54° 16 | 41/45° 13 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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11h 21m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:13 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Fall 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, Mt. Washington Avalanche Center, USGS Stream Levels, OpenWeather Air Quality.
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
No routes available for this peak.
Rising within the Twin Range of the White Mountains, this 2,539-foot summit offers an accessible yet rewarding hiking experience suitable for those building their mountain skills. Middle Sugarloaf is one of three distinct Sugarloaf peaks in the area and stands out for its open, rocky summit, which provides surprisingly expansive views considering its modest elevation. Hikers are rewarded with panoramic sightlines toward the surrounding peaks of the Twin and Roan Highlands region, making the effort well worth it. The trail character is moderate, featuring steady elevation gain through mixed forest before emerging at the exposed summit ledges. As part of the 52 With a View (52 WAV) peak list, it attracts hikers working through this popular New Hampshire collection. Its combination of above-treeline exposure, strong views, and manageable distance makes it an appealing objective for intermediate hikers and list enthusiasts alike.
Elevation
2,539 ft
Range
Twin
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
44.2517, -71.5176
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