4,700 ft | Carrigain | 0 routes
Feels like 64°F
~4°F drop per 1,000ft
Best Hiking Window
Friday is the clear choice — dry trail, calm winds, and mild temperatures make for comfortable conditions. Plan an early morning start to maximize time on trail and ensure a comfortable finish well before Saturday's storm system moves in.
Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Started at 7:20 AM. Sawyer River road walk was quick and easy. Signal Ridge trail was in good shape. Water crossing was not difficult (stayed dry). Great views from the tower. Met a few hikers on my way down. Weather was unexpectedly good.”
Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“Nice day for this hike! If you haven't heard, the round trip is now 4 miles longer due to the road being closed. (Rumor has it the closing might be permanent.) A few muddy spots but mostly dry trail.”
Trail: Sawyer River Road, Signal Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Finished my NH48 on a beautiful day on Carrigain which delivered its famous views. The road walk was fine, but what people don’t mention is it does add substantial elevation, not just distance. It basically turns a moderate difficulty 4000 footer (10 miles and 3400’ of elevation gain) into one of the more strenuous outings (14.5 miles and 4000’ elevation gain). So yes, the road is a relatively easy way to begin and end, but you do end up feeling it. I would actually rate the difficulty of this hike as comparable to Owl’s Head (with the bushwacks) and Isolation (via Rocky Branch). I took what I think was the old water crossing (trail left headed in) despite the logs blocking the option. It was shallow and made for easy barefoot wading on relatively small/flat rocks. I rock hopped the remaining crossings. It was a relative warm and humid day given the prior day’s rain, which seemed to inspire the black flies. They weren’t much of an issue as long as you kept moving. They were worst on Signal Ridge which was breezeless. A few mosquitos made an appearance over the day.”
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.
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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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.