4,700 ft | Carrigain | 1 route
As of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Carrigain are currently rated Difficult. At 3:20 AM ET it was 25°F at the summit (4,700 ft), feeling like 10°F, with WNW winds at 23 mph. The listed route, Mount Carrigain via Signal Ridge, is 14.4 miles round trip with 3,799 ft of elevation gain, taking about 7-11 hours. Mount Carrigain (4,700 ft) is #13 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Carrigain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Desolation Trail (1.7 mi) · Signal Ridge Trail (5.0 mi)
Feels like 10°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.06" (24h) · 0.61" (48h)
Snow: 0.3" (24h) · 0.3" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Saturday brings a fresh cold-front aftermath: subfreezing temperatures from trailhead to summit, new snow glazing rock and root, and strong upslope winds with gusts into the 40s-50s mph at the summit. Trails are likely icy and slick, with short daylight and summit wind chill near -9°F. Sunday looks calmer and warmer with clearing skies and is the better window.
Expect freezing temps (about 28-40°F) at the trailhead dropping to the teens-low 30s near the summit, with winds increasing from roughly 22 mph to 50 mph and wind chill falling from about 14°F to -9°F. Start with moderate layers and add insulation and wind protection before reaching Signal Ridge and the upper wooded summit cone, since the freezing level sits between trailhead and summit.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday is the better day: winds decrease, skies begin to clear, and temperatures rise above freezing at elevation. If hiking Saturday, start at first light and aim to be off the summit well before midday, turning around if winds or icing 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: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“A beautiful first day of fall! Lots of reds starting to show up on trees in lower areas of Pemigewasset Wilderness and toward Stairs Mt. I met a gentleman at the summit who was completing #48. What a beautiful peak to do it on! Terrific views of most of the 48, and well into ME, VT, NY!”
Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Surfaces were mainly dry. A few of the usual muddy spots where there are some rocks or logs to step upon. Most of the sloped areas have lots of rocks. Excellent views from Signal Ridge and on the observation platform at the summit. Some hikers finished their NH 48 4K peaks today with one hiker completing the NE 115. The Flags on the 48 contingent were at the summit for the 9/11 observance. Hiked down the mountain with Justin.”
Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“In the timing is everything department, had the tower to myself for over an hour. Wind was blowing pretty good on the platform giving a taste of late fall (noticeably calmer/warmer under the platform at the survey marker). Trail was easy to follow but could probably use a few good blazes because there are a few relocations and random old roads out there. The 2 miles or so to Signal Ridge are a grind after cruising the first 4.7 miles. Most of the muddy spots had plenty of rocks or logs to help avoid against too dirty. The washout on Sawyer River Rd. (about halfway between the 302 parking lot and the old SRT trailhead) is no joke. Someone had already brought a flag up for 9/11. Only cloud at the time was right at the top of George, luckily it moved out by sunset for the people wanting to look at the light memorial.”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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16°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 16°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
58 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 58 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
-6°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.
Features an observation tower with 360-degree views. Often cited as having the best summit views in the Whites.
Elevation
4,700 ft
Range
Carrigain
Rank
#13 of 48
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
44.0936, -71.4468
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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
22-year-old male hiker from Newport, NH
On November 11, 2023, Nathan Stark, 22, called 911 from the Desolation Trail near the summit of Mt. Carrigain reporting frozen feet and inability to continue on the last day of a multi-day hike. His hiking partner returned and got him moving, but they hiked an 8-mile loop away from rescuers rather than the shortest route out. Both hikers arrived at the trailhead shortly after 5:30 p.m. without SAR extraction.
61-year-old man (name not released by NHFG)
Around 12:30 p.m. Saturday July 24, 2021, a 911 call reported an unconscious, non-breathing hiker on the Signal Ridge Trail about 4 miles from the trailhead. He had collapsed while hiking with a female companion; bystanders performed CPR but he was pronounced dead by EMS. Due to the remote, steep terrain his body did not reach the trailhead until 9:30 p.m.