4,340 ft | Osceola | 2 routes
As of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Osceola are currently rated Difficult. At 3:20 AM ET it was 26°F at the summit (4,340 ft), feeling like 13°F, with NW winds at 21 mph. The shortest of 2 listed routes is Mount Osceola via Tripoli Road: 6.0 miles round trip with 2,113 ft of elevation gain, taking about 3-5 hours. Mount Osceola (4,340 ft) is #24 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Osceola weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 13°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.03" (24h) · 0.65" (48h)
Snow: 0.1" (24h) · 0.1" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Early-season snow and ice, a freezing level at or below trailhead elevation, and strong NW winds with dangerous wind chill make Saturday a difficult day on Osceola despite its fully forested summit. Conditions improve markedly Sunday as winds drop and skies clear, making Sunday the much better choice for most hikers.
The trailhead (~2,000 ft) sits near 28-41°F with moderate wind while the summit drops to around 18-33°F with 50 mph winds and wind chill near -6°F, so dress in layers you can adjust and pack the summit-level insulation from the start. Expect snow and ice accumulation to increase with elevation, and carry traction from the trailhead since the freezing line drops to trail base levels Saturday.
Best Hiking Window
If hiking Saturday, start at first light and aim to be off the summit by early afternoon while winds are strongest and snow showers ongoing; Sunday is clearly better, with calmer winds, breaking clouds, and temperatures rising toward freezing from late morning into the afternoon.
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: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail, Tripoli Road, Mt. Tecumseh Trail, Sosman Trail, ski trail, Pipeline Trail, Tripoli Road, West Branch Road, Livermore Road, Greeley Ponds Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Not many people out this morning. Inadvertently entered into the race happening on Tecumseh ski trails. Lead runners were smoking it up the access road! Greeley Ponds had a nice hue to it this morning. Thanks to Chad for the intel on the yellow jackets as well as whoever left the note at the trailhead on Tripoli Road.”
Trail: Mt. Tecumseh Trail, Tripoli Road, Mt. Osceola Trail, Greeley Ponds Trail, road walk, Pipeline Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail
“A loop I've wanted to do for a while is now checked off, and a good reminder that those ridiculous late night routes you pull together on Gaia can actually be hikable in real life too. The trail are in great shape, even the nasty, eroded descent down the Greeley pond side of Mount Osceola Trail. Greeley Ponds trail back to Livemore is a delightful trip with almost no other humans. Highly recommend it at least once. Bee Warning: On the Tripoli road side of Tecumseh's false summit is a ground nest of some yellow and black things that sting. Luckily only one got me, but they are active. Go fast for 10 yards and you'll be out of their zone.”
Trail: Mt. Osceola Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail
“I always seem to get trail amnesia when it comes to this trail Ascending all was fine - the trail was damp as were the rocks but the tedious footing for that first mile or so was no big deal. The slanted slabby section was wet but still pretty grippy. There were some areas of mud in between the 2 peaks but there are logs and rocks to step on to avoid most of it. The chimney had some wet areas from run off but was still totally fine to use and it's fun and interesting so I didn't want to skip it. I felt like I was making good time until the tedious footing section started. Ugh, I cannot seem to figure out where to put my feet and I was thinking it was going to be September by the time I got back to my little car. I saw only 3 people until I was back on the summit of Osceola and heading down. Then I saw lots of friendly and happy hikers who were happy to chat. Another great day on the trail!”
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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.
Highest of the Waterville Valley peaks. Often combined with East Osceola via challenging Chimney route.
Elevation
4,340 ft
Range
Osceola
Rank
#24 of 48
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
44.0016, -71.5356
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Mount Osceola Trail (5.0 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
5.5 mi away
6 incidents on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
a 57-year-old from North Reading, MA
Gregory Cook, 57, of North Reading, MA, slipped on a mucky section of trail while descending near the summit of Mount Osceola on September 6, 2026, and was injured. Other hikers helped stabilize him and assist his family down while he awaited rescue. Conservation Officers and Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team carried him down to the trailhead.
28-year-old female from Boston, MA
On October 4, 2025, Rosalie Doerksen, 28, of Boston, MA suffered a lower leg injury near the summit of Mount Osceola that prevented her from continuing. Conservation Officers and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team volunteers conducted a 2.7-mile litter carryout, reaching the trailhead at 10:15 p.m. She was transported to Speare Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Xiaoming Zhang, of Rochester, MN
Zhang suffered a serious lower-leg injury after slipping on the trail and could not continue. Rescuers carried him over 2.5 miles by litter to the trailhead.
49-year-old female hiker from Houston, TX
On July 26, 2023, Misty Hughes, 49, inadvertently left the Osceola Trail while navigating with AllTrails and climbed onto a steep, slippery exposed ledge on East Osceola, becoming stranded and unable to continue up or down. Three Conservation Officers hiked two miles with ropes and harnesses and reached her at 3:00 p.m., assisting her off the slope using a rope and climbing harness by 3:45 p.m. Hughes suffered no injuries and was reunited with family at the trailhead.
Martha Thompson, 39, of Leicester, MA
On August 14, 2013, Martha Thompson, 39, of Leicester, MA, slipped, lost her balance and fell while descending the Mount Osceola Trail on Mount Osceola in Waterville Valley. She was unable to continue down the trail due to the extent of her injury despite help from her husband and passing hikers. Rescue personnel including the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team, U.S. Forest Service, local fire departments and NH Fish and Game provided first aid, placed her in a litter, and carried her about 2.75 miles to the Osceola trailhead, concluding around 8:15 p.m.
52-year-old male from Concord, NH
Avery Richardson, 52, slipped and was injured while descending the East Peak of Mt. Osceola on the Osceola Trail on April 19, 2012, at approximately 3:00 p.m. Two passing hikers called 911 on his behalf, and Conservation Officers reached him at 6:40 p.m., providing first aid and assisting him to the trailhead by 8:15 p.m. He was assessed by ambulance at the trailhead.