4,100 ft | Kinsman | 2 routes
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Cannon are currently rated Difficult. At 8:40 PM ET it was 48°F at the summit (4,100 ft), feeling like 39°F, with WSW winds at 19 mph. The shortest of 2 listed routes is Cannon Mountain via Kinsman Ridge Trail: 4.2 miles round trip with 2,204 ft of elevation gain, taking about 2-4 hours. Mount Cannon (4,100 ft) is #36 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Cannon weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 39°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.06" (24h) · 0.51" (48h)
Snow: 0.2" (24h) · 0.2" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
A cold front brings rain changing to snow overnight, with strong winds and falling temperatures making Saturday a poor hiking day: expect icy, snow-covered, slick trails at all elevations and wind chill in the teens near the summit. Sunday looks much better as winds ease and skies clear, though early icy patches will linger and daylight stays short, so plan an early start.
The trailhead is the mildest spot (about 40-59°F) with rain or mixed precipitation, while near the summit it is 33°F or colder with wind chill near 16°F; the freezing line sits near 3,300 ft or lower, so expect a transition from wet trails to snow and ice partway up. Start with moisture-wicking layers and add insulation and a windproof shell before leaving the trailhead.
Best Hiking Window
Saturday is not recommended due to snow, ice, wind, and low visibility. Sunday morning through early afternoon offers the best window as winds decrease and skies clear, with an early start to allow for trail ice.
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: Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi-Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Leaves - Significant/Slippery
“This was supposed to be a recovery day hike. I made it to the top - the trail was leaf covered and the pea gravel was slippery. The rocks were damp but seemed pretty grippy. It was windy so I didn't stay long. I made it back down below the ladders but fell somewhere in that next section but I have no memory of the fall. I broke a pole wherever I fell. I got myself down and made it to the ranger station where I asked for help and they called my son. My kids came and got me and took me to the ER. I have no memory of any of this but THANK YOU to the rangers for helping me. I guess despite not recalling any of what happened, I made good decisions. My face has been glued back together and I am benched for a little while. I look like I went a few rounds with Mike Tyson but no permanent damage was done. This was a day. And not the good kind.”
Trail: Kinsman Ridge Trail
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery
“This was the third time I climbed this mountain. I had recalled all the big rocks and the very eroded trail down low but, the first time was a dry day and the second time was in the winter. This was a much more challenging hike. Just about every rock was wet until the upper ledges of the trail. With the epic amount of foot traffic (due to peak leave season) the mud was liberally spread around as well. Lots of running water and wet leaves. It seems like everyone I met too a slip or slide. After the junction with the spur trail for the lookout, the mud is still pretty thick but, easy to get by if one is careful.”
Trail: Lonesome Lake Trail, Hi Cannon Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Trails were beautiful in late September. Leaves starting to turn make for gorgeous views at the top and along the way. Trails were mostly dry, muddy sections were easily worked around. There were some steep rock scrambles especially on the way down via lonesome lake trail. No accessible bathrooms at the top as the ski lodge is closed this time of year.”
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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.
54 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 54 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
-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.
Home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain profile (collapsed 2003). Aerial tramway provides alternative access.
Elevation
4,100 ft
Range
Kinsman
Rank
#36 of 48
Difficulty
Easy
Coordinates
44.1567, -71.6986
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Kinsman Ridge Trail (14.2 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
9 incidents on file · 3 fatal · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Ethan Haust, 36, of Ashland, NH, snowboarder
On March 30, 2026, snowboarder Ethan Haust, 36, caught his edge and collided with a tree while navigating a steep, rocky out-of-bounds section at Cannon Mountain Ski Area, resulting in a serious injury. His group was unable to evacuate him due to the terrain severity and called ski patrol for assistance. Conservation Officers and Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team used ropes to extricate Haust and transported him to a hospital.
Calvin Swanson, 21, of Plymouth, NH
On June 12, 2025, Calvin Swanson, 21, of Plymouth, NH, injured his leg while descending Cannon Mountain on the Kinsman Ridge Trail after summiting with a friend. A trail crew located and stayed with Swanson until Conservation Officers and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue arrived and carried him out in a litter. He was transported by family to Littleton Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Vincent Lapointe, 31, of Montgomery Center, VT, and Zephi Friel, 36, of Concord, NH; male and female ice climbers
On February 16, 2025, two climbers were caught in an avalanche at the base of the Black Dike route on Cannon Cliffs. The male slid approximately 300 feet and was partially buried; the uninjured female called 911 and helped extract him. The pair partially self-evacuated before being met by rescue personnel and transported by snowmobile to a waiting ambulance.
Christopher Huyler, 44, of Littleton, NH
Huyler hiked toward the middle Cannon Ball via the Coppermine Brook Valley to check a ski glade before ski season; he told his wife at about 4 p.m. he was heading out, then did not return. His body was found just before 1 a.m. at about 2,800 feet by a steep iced-over slide, where he had suffered a significant fall in icy terrain; he was wearing micro-spikes and was well-equipped.
21-year-old male from Marlborough, Massachusetts; self-described inexperienced hiker
A 21-year-old solo hiker became lost near the Kinsman Ridge Trail on Cannon Mountain and fell off a ledge, landing on rocks 20-30 feet below and sustaining serious upper-body injuries. Rescuers from NH Fish and Game and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team reached the hiker around midnight, stabilized his injuries, lowered him by rope, and escorted him to the summit where a tram car transported him down. The hiker was taken to Littleton Regional Healthcare; he was not equipped with a map, light source, or raingear.
67-year-old male from Wallington, New Jersey
Jahnsz Witkowski, 67, slipped and fell on wet rocks on the Hi-Cannon Trail on Cannon Mountain, sustaining a leg injury. He and his adult son attempted to continue before calling for help. Conservation Officers and 24 Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue volunteers performed a 1.5-mile carryout, completing the rescue just before 1:00 a.m. on June 27; Witkowski was transported to Littleton Regional Hospital.
Benjamin Kessel, 34, of Somerville, MA
Around 4 p.m. Sunday September 20, 2020, Kessel was climbing the Moby Grape route on Cannon Cliff in Franconia Notch when a rock 'the size of a refrigerator' dislodged, severed his rope, and knocked him roughly 150 feet down the cliff into spruce trees. Other climbers located his body around 5:30 p.m.; it was recovered the next morning.
Three 18-19 year old male college freshmen rock climbers
Three college freshmen attempted the Moby Grape route on Cannon Cliffs on October 23, 2011, starting at 5:30 a.m. but becoming overextended on terrain beyond their expertise level. By 8:00 p.m. they had not reached the top and were stranded in temperatures dipping into the 20s F without adequate gear for overnight conditions. Mountain Rescue Service lowered rescuers by rope to reach the climbers and lifted all three to safety around 1:40 a.m.
20-year-old rock climber
David Koop, 20, was killed on Cannon Cliff on April 28, 1968 when a loose block dislodged while he was placing a piton near the top of the route 'Sam's Swan Song.' He fell roughly 60 feet, dying rapidly from a severed leg artery and head injuries. His belayer Charles Ericsson held the fall. The American Alpine Club notes that of the first seven recorded deaths on Cannon Cliff, five involved loose rock.