4,170 ft | Pilot | 1 route
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Cabot are currently rated Dangerous. At 8:40 PM ET it was 42°F at the summit (4,170 ft), feeling like 32°F, with W winds at 18 mph. The listed route, Mount Cabot via Bunnell Notch, is 9.1 miles round trip with 2,742 ft of elevation gain, taking about 4-8 hours. Mount Cabot (4,170 ft) is #33 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Cabot weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Kilkenny Ridge Trail (18.7 mi)
Feels like 32°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.06" (24h) · 0.80" (48h)
Snow: 0.2" (24h) · 0.2" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
A strong cold front brings rain changing to snow with possible brief freezing rain overnight, then sub-freezing temperatures, upslope snow, and strong winds on Saturday. Wind chills in the single digits to teens and icy, slick trails at all elevations make Saturday a poor choice for hiking; Sunday is the much safer window as winds ease and skies clear, though trails will be icy and snow-covered.
Conditions worsen sharply with elevation: the trailhead is near freezing with lighter winds, but the freezing level sits around treeline and winds roughly double toward the summit, with wind chill dropping to the teens or lower. Dress in a moisture-wicking base, insulating mid-layers, and a full waterproof shell, and keep extra warm layers accessible for the upper mountain; the transition from wet trail to ice and snow is the key preparation point.
Best Hiking Window
Avoid Saturday. Sunday is the best window: wind eases, clouds break, and temperatures rise above freezing at elevation. Start early after sunrise to maximize the short daylight, and expect icy, snow-packed trails requiring traction.
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: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“There are muddy spots and one stretch of running water on the Bunnell Notch Trail. Mud on the Kilkenny Trail between the cabin and the summit. None of the mud spots were quagmires. Almost all surfaces were wet from the recent rainfall. The forest succession is reclaiming the old forest road section of the Bunnell Notch Trail, so it looks more like a trail rather than a road walk. The cabin is in good condition. There is a compost toilet nearby. The summit of Mt Cabot is close to the large Kilkenny Ridge trail sign on a tree. A short side path goes to the true summit (no cairn, no sign, no USGS plate). The old Mt Cabot Trail to Lancaster is still visible off the Kilkenny Ridge Trail (logs have been placed to keep hikers off the decommissioned trail). Clouds prevented any views from the clearing above the cabin and at Bunnell Rock. The Fall foliage is vivid down low and along York Pond Road. Lots more hikers than I expected. Many were from upstate NY. I met hikers from CO & ID who worked with another hiker from Ireland whom I had seen each of the past three years. Two trail runners were going the entire loop to Unknown Pond.”
Trail: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail
“So we're all just continuing to act like The Horn and The Bulge shouldn't have a cult following because they were named 150 years ago and now are Trailer Park Boys level slang for...you know? Ok, I'll go along with it for now. Trail is in great shape. Chatted with a couple of fun hikers and ran into gridders John and Mel for the second time this year. Also had 10 very enjoyable minutes sitting on The Horn by myself in the sun.”
Trail: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail
“Another good OTHH outing. A couple of us went counterclockwise up Unknown Pond, Horn, Bulge, Cabot, down. Another pair of us, going clockwise, continued past Cabot to bag the Horn. We met a pair of gentlemen at the cabin, one of whom just (finally) finished his 48.”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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Dangerous
Rating
Plan a below-treeline hike
Conditions above treeline are rated Dangerous. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
18°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 18°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
-2°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.
Northernmost 4000-footer, remote location. Cabot Cabin is available for overnight stays.
Elevation
4,170 ft
Range
Pilot
Rank
#33 of 48
Difficulty
Easy
Coordinates
44.5061, -71.4145
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AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
2 incidents on file · 1 fatal · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
44-year-old female hiker from Orange, CT
Heather Allen, 44, slipped while descending the Unknown Pond Trail in Kilkenny on September 14, 2024, suffering a severe lower-leg injury that prevented her from hiking out. She was part of a group participating in the Flags on the 48 September 11th Memorial Hike, having summited Mt. Cabot via Bunnell Notch Trail. Rescuers carried her out in a litter, reaching the trailhead at 10:30 p.m., and she was transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital.
William Whittenaur, 69, of Lancaster, New Hampshire
Whittenaur suffered a medical emergency while ascending the Blue Trail toward Mount Cabot on June 14, 2019. His companion performed CPR for an extended period before running over a mile to reach a phone; despite the response by Gorham Ambulance, Shelburne firefighters, and conservation officers (who relayed a litter, oxygen, and an AED), Whittenaur did not survive.