3,198 ft | Sandwich Range | 0 routes
As of September 8, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Paugus are currently rated Good. It's 56°F (feels like 49°F) with WNW winds at 11 mph. See the hour-by-hour Mount Paugus weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Mount Paugus weather forecast
Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit
Feels like 49°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.01" (24h) · 0.01" (48h)
~4°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of September 8, 2026
Mount Paugus is in good shape for hiking with dry-to-mostly-dry trails, mild temperatures, and no precipitation in the last two days. Some wet ledges and minor mud can be expected based on recent trip reports, but overall conditions are favorable for an early-to-midday hike on Monday or Tuesday before rain moves in Wednesday.
Expect temperatures to drop roughly 4°F per 1,000 feet gained, with winds strengthening from around 21 mph at the trailhead to over 30 mph near the summit; bring a windproof layer for the upper sections even though it stays well above freezing.
Best Hiking Window
Early morning Monday or Tuesday, starting shortly after sunrise (6:15 AM) to take advantage of clear skies and lighter winds before afternoon gusts build
Last synthesized Sep 8, 12:20 AM
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: Bolles Trail, Old Paugus Trail, Lawrence Trail, Cabin Trail, Whitin Brook Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Fun loop hike on Paugus. There were some difficult scrambles on wet ledges going up Old Paugus Trail that you need to be careful on. Lawrence Trail down was a lot more tame. Water crossings were a little tricky but doable while keeping feet dry.”
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: Old Mast Road, Kelly Trail, Lawrence Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Excellent first time hike to Mt Paugus. Kelly Trail is very interesting with many water features and box canyon. Views for days on the ledges of Paugus. This is 50 or 51 of the 52wav. Have to check the records. Plenty of water sources on Kelly and Lawrence Trail running nice and cold.saw what i think was my first scarlet tanger drinking from the stream.”
Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail
Monday Sep 7 | Today Sep 8 | Tomorrow Sep 9 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | sunny | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | drizzle | rain |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 55° 51° | 61° 57° | 59° 58° | 58° 54° | 58° 55° | 57° 50° | 53° 50° | 57° 53° | 61° 57° |
| Chill °F | — | — | — | — | — | 46° | 45° | — | — |
| Wind mph | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 31 |
| Gust mph est. | 50 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 32 | — | 22 | 30 | 50 |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| Freezing ft | 11,182 ft | 11,649 ft | 13,243 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | - | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Vis mi | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | 5 | <0.1 |
| UV | 5 | 6 | — | 1 | 6 | — | 3 | 3 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Monday Sep 7 | Today Sep 8 | Tomorrow Sep 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 3,198 ft | 51/55° 31 | 54/58° 29 | 50/53° 14 |
| 2,500 ft | 53/58° 25 | 57/60° 26 | 51/54° 9 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 54/60° 19 | 59/61° 20 | 52/56° 7 |
4 more days of forecast — plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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 to 3,198 feet in the Sandwich Range of central New Hampshire, this rugged peak offers a rewarding but challenging experience for those willing to earn their summit. The mountain features densely forested trails with rocky, rooted terrain that demands careful footing throughout the ascent. While largely wooded at the top, partial viewpoints along the route provide glimpses of the surrounding Sandwich Range peaks and the Lakes Region below. As part of the 52 With a View list, the mountain delivers the scenic payoff that defines that collection. Its remote character means fewer crowds than nearby 4,000-footers, appealing to hikers seeking a quieter backcountry experience. The difficult rating reflects sustained elevation gain and trail roughness rather than technical climbing. Located within the White Mountain National Forest, the peak is typically approached via multi-mile trail networks connecting it to neighboring summits.
Elevation
3,198 ft
Range
Sandwich Range
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
43.9463, -71.3280
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