3,442 ft | Willey | 1 route
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Avalon are currently rated Difficult. At 8:40 PM ET it was 50°F at the summit (3,442 ft), feeling like 41°F, with WSW winds at 21 mph. The listed route, Mount Field via Avalon Trail, is 5.5 miles round trip with 2,382 ft of elevation gain, taking about 3-5 hours. See the hour-by-hour Mount Avalon weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Avalon Trail (2.5 mi)
Feels like 41°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.09" (24h) · 0.66" (48h)
Snow: 0.4" (24h) · 0.4" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Conditions are poor for Saturday: strong wind with gusts to the 40s mph, wet trails, and a temperature crash to a summit high around 32°F with snow showers, which will turn wet rock and trail to ice. Sunday is the safer window with dry, overcast weather, though icy and snow-dusted surfaces will linger on the upper trail and short fall daylight leaves little margin.
Expect about 10-15°F colder and noticeably windier at the summit than the trailhead, with the freezing level near summit height, so ice and rime become likely on the upper trail. Start with a warm mid-layer and shell, bring extra insulation to add at the top, and carry traction before the steep, rocky upper section.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday late morning through early afternoon, after overnight ice softens and winds ease; start early enough to be off the summit well before dark and avoid Saturday entirely.
Last synthesized Oct 16, 8:40 PM 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: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Most surfaces are dry. It was easy to get around the minor snow patches without going off trail. I prefer to ascend the steep and rough Avalon Trail to the ridge and descend via the A-Z trail. The view from Mt Avalon is worth the hike up the short spur trail off the Avalon Trail. Be sure to go over Mt Willey summit down the short spur to the magnificent overlook. The sign is on the opposite side of the Willey Range Trail from the spur and faces south so it is not evident to hikers approaching from the Mt Willey summit. There are good views to the eastern Pemigewasset area from cleared out paths at the Mt Field summit. No views from Mt Tom at this time of year. Saw Painted Trillium, Red Trillium, and Hobblebush flowers.”
Trail: Avalon Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail
“Excellent short hike despite raining when we reached the summit. Cleared up as we descended.”
Trail: Avalon Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow/Ice - Postholes
“Trails are all in decent condition. On and off microspikes, mostly used when descending from the various summits. The monorail was all the May things: stable and friendly in places, icy or pointy in others, hanging on by a thread in others. Looked like some folks were making it bare boot, but I am not that bold :). Some hikers reported that the Willey stairs coming up from the South were largely ice free, though wet and missing some rungs. It starting sprinkling as I was getting to the car at 1:30, so things will stay wet.”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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20°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 20°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
51 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 51 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
10h 52m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 5:56 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
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.
Standing at 3,442 feet in the Willey Range of Crawford Notch, this moderate New Hampshire summit offers a rewarding experience without demanding technical skill. The approach follows a well-maintained trail through classic White Mountain hardwood and conifer forest before opening onto a partially exposed summit with surprisingly expansive views. From the top, hikers are treated to striking panoramas of Crawford Notch, the Presidential Range, and surrounding peaks. While the summit itself sits near treeline rather than fully above it, open ledges provide satisfying vistas that feel disproportionate to the modest effort required. The trail character is steady and engaging, with enough elevation gain to feel like a genuine mountain experience. As part of the 52 With A View (52 WAV) peak list, this summit attracts peak-baggers seeking scenic destinations beyond the more crowded Four Thousand Footer circuit.
Elevation
3,442 ft
Range
Willey
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
44.2064, -71.4268
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AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
2 incidents on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Cassandra Haskell, 37, of Bath, Maine
On February 17, 2024, hiker Cassandra Haskell suffered a lower-leg injury just below the summit of Mt. Avalon after losing control of a small sled she was using to descend steep trail sections and hitting a tree. She was unable to move on her own; her hiking companion and Good Samaritan hikers stayed with her and provided extra clothing until rescuers arrived. Conservation Officers and Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue volunteers carried her out in a rescue sled, and she was transported to Littleton Regional Healthcare.
Shawn Edwards, 54, of Hebron, Maine
Around 1:40 p.m. Saturday October 22, 2022, Edwards suffered injuries while descending Mount Avalon with a religious group and was unable to walk. A passerby called 911; Pemigewasset Valley SAR responded and a National Guard helicopter lifted him off the trail to the AMC Crawford Notch Visitor Center, then to Littleton Regional Hospital.