4,420 ft | Hancock | 2 routes
As of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Hancock (North Peak) are currently rated Difficult. At 3:20 AM ET it was 26°F at the summit (4,420 ft), feeling like 10°F, with WNW winds at 25 mph. The shortest of 2 listed routes is North Hancock via Hancock Notch: 8.5 miles round trip with 2,282 ft of elevation gain, taking about 4-7 hours. Mount Hancock (North Peak) (4,420 ft) is #21 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Hancock (North Peak) weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
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 subfreezing temperatures, strong gusty winds, fog, and fresh snow and ice on all trails, with wind chill near -5°F at the summit. Conditions improve markedly Sunday as winds decrease and skies begin to break, making Sunday the safer choice. A Saturday start would face slick footing, near-zero visibility on the upper mountain, and a long exposure to cold with limited daylight margin.
Temperatures drop about 10 to 12°F from the trailhead to the summit, with the freezing line near or below the trailhead on Saturday, so expect ice from the start. Start with a moderate layering system for the sheltered climb, then add insulating and windproof layers at the treeline transition near 4,000 ft where winds nearly double and wind chill drops to around -4°F.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday is strongly preferred: winds decrease, clouds begin to break, and temperatures rise toward freezing. Start early Sunday morning after sunrise to use the full daylight, and expect lingering ice from Saturday's snow. If hiking Saturday, wait for late-morning conditions to settle and keep the outing short.
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: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Trail conditions were good with minor mud in the usual places. Streams were very low. I did the loop clockwise - connecting trail was dry and in great shape. Trail to North Hancock was no problem - mostly dry - some scrambling. Trail from South Hancock down requires carefull foot placement - some loose stone - hiking poles help. This is a perfect time to hike the Hancocks.”
Trail: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“Warm start, clouds down low early. Very wet, muddy, slippery as expected. Much drier in the afternoon, feet are still going to get wet. Up to North 1st, ass kicker for sure. Not sure what’s worse, the climb up to North or down from South. Was treated to warm sun no wind and an amazing undercast with just the Osceola’s poking thru the clouds. Clouds as far as you could see in all directions, pretty cool. Quick to South no issues. Also same warm conditions with clouds dispersing. Solo on both peaks, saw no one until heading down. Lot was crazy, traffic jam with cars trying to come in, pullout & park. Roadside parking only added to traffic.”
Trail: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“The gridiot memo must have gone out last night. I saw 8 people in total and knew 5 of them. Huge thanks to Chad for clearing all the spider webs for the rest of us who slept in. The trail is in great shape right now. Things were a little damp which helped with footing but not damp enough to make the rocks slippery. The water crossings are super low and easy. The muddy sections in the first 2 miles are still super muddy and not supportive. I picked my way through that area and tried to step on the limbs and logs thrown into the pits. Don't trust the mud. The steep sections still require care as the rocks are shifting and moving but overall it was a pretty easy ascent and descent. It was great to see Chad first thing this morning, then Ken and Karen below the south peak, then Matthew at almost the top of the South Peak. As I was almost back to the loop junction, I heard yelling behind me and along came Denise who joined me for the rest of the hike out. I love these kind of days. It was the nicest reminder that the best part of gridding is always the people. Today's hike brought me to 50% on G2. Woo hoo!”
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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.
56 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 56 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
-3°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.
North peak of Mount Hancock, usually hiked with the South Peak. Both are wooded summits.
Elevation
4,420 ft
Range
Hancock
Rank
#21 of 48
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
44.0838, -71.4938
Been to Mount Hancock (North Peak)?
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Hancock Loop Trail (4.1 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
1 incident on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Rebecca Justason, 36, of Nashua, NH
Justason, a solo hiker, began feeling ill (apparent heat-related issues) descending the Hancock Loop Trail. Pemi Valley Search and Rescue volunteers reached her 2 miles up, provided food and water, and helped her to the trailhead.