3,500 ft | Sandwich Range | 0 routes
Feels like 65°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.09" (24h) · 0.13" (48h)
~2.6°F drop per 1,000ft
Best Hiking Window
Early Wednesday morning offers the narrowest gap before heavier rain arrives later in the day. Thursday is a secondary option if the overcast holds and precipitation stays light, though trails will remain wet from Wednesday's rain. Both windows require flexibility and a willingness to turn around if conditions deteriorate.
Trail: Champney Falls Trail, Piper Trail
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“Trail is wet, wet, wet”
Trail: Bolles Trail, bushwhack, Bickford Trail, Brook Trail, Liberty Trail, Westside Trail, Piper Trail, Middle Sister Trail, Champney Falls Cutoff, Champney Falls Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“A beautiful day with no wind and perfect temps to hang out on the summits. I only saw a handful of people out throughout the 13.5 miles and 4,100’. It took me 6 hours with long summit breaks. I hit the whack from the hol on Bolles and got lost in thick spruce, might not have found the jar without gps. Surprisingly nice views from ledges once I made my way there. Easier coming back. After summiting Chocorua I had planned to go down Beeline trail, but the top of Brook trail was indeed terrifying to think of descending, and there were passing showers in between sunshine. The rock was a bit slippery in the shade, but dry at the top. I decided to take Champney down, which I was able to run most of, it’s such a moderate grade. I stopped at Pitcher Falls too which was lovely.”
Trail: Champney Brook Trail, Champney Falls Cut-Off, Piper Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Beautiful day on Chocorua. Probably goes without saying, but this route is 100% winter free at this point. Amazing how quickly everything is coming back to life!”
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.
Rising from the eastern edge of the Sandwich Range in New Hampshire, this striking 3,500-foot summit is one of the most recognizable peaks in the state, featuring a dramatic rocky cone that stands prominently above the surrounding landscape. The exposed granite summit offers sweeping 360-degree views, including Lake Chocorua in the foreground and the Presidential Range to the north, making it among the most photographed mountains in New England. Multiple trail routes approach the peak, with several miles of above-treeline scrambling near the top demanding careful footing on open ledges. Rated Difficult, the final push to the summit involves hands-on rock climbing sections that require reasonable fitness and experience. A fixture on the 52 With A View peak list, it rewards hikers with exceptional panoramas that far exceed what its modest elevation might suggest.
Elevation
3,500 ft
Range
Sandwich Range
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
43.9543, -71.2733
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20 incidents on file · 1 fatal · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Robert Hickey, a 65-year-old from New Castle, NH
On July 11, 2026, Robert Hickey, 65, slipped and fell on the Piper Trail on Mt. Chocorua, sustaining a knee injury that left him unable to walk approximately 3.2 miles from the trailhead. NHFG Conservation Officers and Lakes Region Search and Rescue Team responded and carried him by rescue litter to the trailhead, arriving at 7:42 p.m. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.
a 24-year-old from Lincoln, Rhode Island
Paul Carvalho, 24, slipped on a wet rock near Champney Falls and injured his ankle. He continued hiking for approximately 3 hours before being unable to bear weight and called 911. Fish and Game and LRSAR carried him approximately 3.2 miles to the trailhead, arriving at 2:15 a.m. on July 11.
51-year-old female from Wolfeboro, NH
Payne slipped and fell, fracturing her left ankle, 3.1 miles from the trailhead while serving as a counselor for Boy Scout Troop 232. The group splinted the fracture and iced it; Fish and Game and Lakes Region Search and Rescue carried her down, reaching the trailhead at 8:05 p.m. Fish and Game described the group as well prepared.
76-year-old female from Conway, NH
Sandra Rourke, 76, injured her knee while descending the Liberty Trail on Mt. Chocorua on September 12, 2025, approximately 2.2 miles from the trailhead. She had ascended via the Champney Falls Trail and summited before the injury occurred. Fish and Game Conservation Officers and Lakes Region Search and Rescue carried her out in a rescue litter, arriving at the trailhead at 12:15 a.m. on September 13.
Joshua Donovan, 20, and his sister Alyssa Donovan, 18, both from Lawrence, Massachusetts
Joshua Donovan (20) and Alyssa Donovan (18) became lost off the Brook Trail on Mt. Chocorua while descending from near the summit. Joshua sustained a hip injury after falling multiple times while following the brook attempting to self-rescue. Rescuers located them at 10:40 p.m. a short distance from the Brook Trail and assisted them out by 11:45 p.m.
58-year-old male resident of Montreal, QC
On October 19, 2024, a 58-year-old hiker from Montreal, QC suffered a fatal medical emergency on the Piper Trail on Mt. Chocorua, approximately 2.0 miles from the trailhead. Family members and passing hikers with medical experience assisted him, and CPR was performed for over an hour, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
25-year-old female from Bellingham, MA
Calie Bridges, 25, injured her ankle while hiking the Hammond Trail on Mt. Chocorua with three friends on September 27, 2024. She continued hiking but slowed significantly, and the group called for help when their phone batteries and lights began failing. Conservation Officers splinted her ankle, provided lights, and she was able to hike out, reaching the trailhead shortly after 3:30 a.m.
28-year-old female hiker from Flatwoods, KY
On August 24, 2024, Katie Harris, 28, became disoriented on Mt. Chocorua and contacted NH Fish and Game for assistance. She was monitored by phone and directed to stay on the Brook Trail, arriving at the trailhead shortly before 9:00 p.m. She was then driven back to the Champney Falls trailhead where her vehicle was parked.
57-year-old female from Falmouth, ME
Susan Clement, age 57, fell and injured her wrist approximately 0.2 miles from the summit of Mt Chocorua on the Champney Falls Trail. Her husband called 911 and nearby hikers splinted her wrist. Two hikers, a Conservation Officer, and a US Forest Service member assisted her back to the trailhead, arriving at 3:45 p.m.
54-year-old male from Hampton, NH, hiking with his dog
Robert Haile, 54, fell on the Piper Trail on Mt. Chocorua injuring his knee and was unable to bear weight. A passing hiker called 911, and NHFG Conservation Officers and LRSAR members carried him approximately 3.4 miles to the trailhead in a rescue litter. He arrived at the trailhead at approximately 10:50 p.m. and was transported by his daughter to Portsmouth Hospital.
18-year-old female from Pembroke, MA
On May 29, 2023, Alyssa Chahed, 18, severely injured her ankle while descending the Weetamoo Trail on Mt. Chocorua approximately 2.0 miles from the trailhead. She was unable to bear weight and her companions called 911. Rescuers from multiple fire departments and Lakes Region Search and Rescue carried her out in a litter, reaching the trailhead shortly before midnight.
Pauline Sanchez, 36, of San Jose, CA, and Sheena Santos, 34, of Radford, VA
Two hikers became lost after getting off trail while descending the Bee Line Trail on Mt. Chocorua on April 14, 2023. One hiker lost a shoe in deep snow and was unable to recover it. Rescuers located them, provided warm clothes, headlamps, and shoes, and hiked out with them, arriving at the trailhead shortly before 2:00 a.m.
Steven Mathieu, 36, of Somerville, MA
Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday October 22, 2022, Mathieu severely injured his ankle 2.5 miles from the trailhead while hiking with six friends. With no cell service, two members hiked out to call for help. Mountain Rescue Service and Lakes Region SAR carried him out in a litter, reaching the trailhead around 11 p.m.; he was taken to Memorial Hospital in North Conway.
Patrick Cronin, 25, of Stratham, NH
Just after 5 p.m. Saturday July 24, 2021, Cronin, about one mile below the summit of Mt. Chocorua, began swelling and having trouble breathing from an allergic reaction. He was brought down on a utility vehicle, reaching the trailhead around 6:45 p.m.
39-year-old male hiker from Danvers, MA
On October 12, 2012, Mathew Morrill, age 39, became lost on Mt. Chocorua after descending the wrong side of the mountain and was overcome by darkness. He had no overnight gear or lights. Rescuers found him on the Beeline Trail and brought him to the trailhead at approximately 1:10 a.m.
12-year-old boy hiking with his mother and younger brother
On October 7, 2012, a 12-year-old boy descending the Piper Trail on Mount Chocorua in Albany, NH went ahead of his mother and younger brother and took a wrong turn onto the Champney Falls Trail, becoming separated for several hours. After a 911 call, NH Fish and Game, Carroll County Sheriff's deputies, and Conway and Tamworth firefighters searched the trails. The boy, who had joined another descending group, was located at 6:34 p.m. and reunited with his family.
Emily Crane, age 45, of Millbury, Massachusetts
Emily Crane, 45, fell and sustained a lower leg injury shortly after crossing the summit of Mt. Chocorua while on a loop hike with her husband via the Champney Falls Trail. Her husband called 911 at 3:45 p.m. and rescuers carried her approximately 3.5 miles over rugged terrain in darkness using ropes on steep rock slabs. She was transported to Lakes Region General Hospital after reaching the trailhead just after midnight.
Joshua Hayes, age 26, and Emily Smith, age 27, both of Shapleigh, Maine
Two hikers from Maine summited Mount Chocorua via the Piper Trail and on descent missed a turn, inadvertently following the Brook Trail away from their vehicle. Caught by darkness with no headlamps and no map, they called 911 at 4:50 p.m. and were located and escorted to the Liberty Trailhead by Fish and Game officers around 7:10 p.m.
Four males, all age 23, from Weymouth and Dorchester, Massachusetts
Four 23-year-old Massachusetts hikers departed the Champney Falls/Bolles Brook Trailhead at 6 p.m. on July 13, 2009, reached the summit of Mount Chocorua at 7:30 p.m., then continued on the Bolles Trail mistakenly believing it would loop back to the trailhead. They were caught out after dark without a map or flashlights but eventually made their way back to the trailhead around 12:30 a.m., not realizing searchers had been dispatched.
12-year-old boy from Florida
A 12-year-old boy from Florida, hiking with his family of four, reached the Mount Chocorua summit and headed back down the Piper Trail. He got ahead of his parents and took a wrong turn at a trail junction onto the Champney Falls Trail; his parents called 911. U.S. Forest Service personnel located the boy on the Champney Falls Trail and brought him down, reuniting him with his family at the Piper Trailhead by 5 p.m.