2,990 ft | Ossipee | 0 routes
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Shaw are currently rated Moderate. At 8:40 PM ET it was 51°F at the summit (2,990 ft), feeling like 45°F, with WSW winds at 15 mph. See the hour-by-hour Mount Shaw weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
No routes available for this peak.
Gorilla Trail (3.2 mi) · High Ridge Trail (10.4 mi)
Feels like 45°F
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Saturday is a cold, overcast day with a high near 37°F and a low of 26°F, and the elevation profile shows strong winds (up to 47 mph at the summit) and a wind chill near 23°F, so dress for winter-like conditions. Trails will likely be wet and leaf-covered after recent rain, with possible ice on rocks and in shaded spots as temps fall below freezing. Sunday looks clear and a bit milder, making it the better day, but daylight is limited to about 11 hours so start early.
Temperatures drop only about 1.4°F per 1,000 ft, but winds climb from roughly 38 mph at the trailhead to 47 mph at the summit, pushing wind chill from about 29°F to 23°F. The freezing level sits far above the peak, but the forecast lows near 26°F mean ice is likely at all elevations; dress in layers and carry an extra insulating layer for the summit.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday, late morning through early afternoon, after temperatures climb above freezing and under clear skies; if hiking Saturday, wait for the warmest part of the day and expect cold, windy, icy-trail conditions
Last synthesized Oct 16, 8:40 PM 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: Mt. Roberts Trail, High Ridge Trail, Black Snout Trail, Oak Ridge Cut Off, Upper Bridle Path, Lower Bridle Path
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“Great hike overall. Met one other hiker on the High Ridge Trail, we were both surprised to see another hiker up there on a weekday. Lots of people on the Mt. Roberts trail.The upper part of the Oak Ridge Cut Off was basically a stream running down the trail till I hit the Upper Bridle Path. All the other trails were dry enough to miss most of the mud and water from the previous day's rain.”
Trail: Road walk, Cold Spring Trail, Faraway Mountain Trail, Oak Ridge Cutoff, High Ridge Trail, Black Snout Trail, Turtleback Mountain Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery
“1st hike in quite a while, life happens. Wanted something close so this was a great choice. Very gentle grades on all trails. Cutoff was by far the wettest, lots of rock hopping but feet will eventually be wet. Minor snow above 2700 feet, melting fast. Hazy view# from both but still beautiful. Was thinking about grabbing Turtleback as well, weather was moving in so another day. So nice to be back in the woods! Only saw 3 people out.”
Trail: Bushwhack, FR234
Conditions: Dry Trail
“I was originally thinking of doing shaw/twin/ricker from the east as a big loop with Weeks Brook Trail & Province Brook Trail, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add Hurricane, get some free elevation from Hurricane Mt Rd, and to skip the sketchier east side of Shawm, so this traverse plan was hatched. Straight line up Hurricane Mountain, in steep but open woods. Some evidence of an old trail near the summit and a number of boundary markers. Couple summit markers but no register. From here we headed pretty much due north, in mixed woods on the decent which opened up in the col, which had a decent looking old road passing through it east/west - maybe an active snomo trail? We skirted to the west around the bump just south of Weeks Brook Trail, finally meeting up with the trail just shy of 1500 ft. Followed Weeks Brook trail up to the 90 degree left turn just before the pond and headed into the woods for the short ascent of Rickers. Woods were fairly thick here, but it was short, so easy to push through. Nice summits with some open areas - signed in then headed to The Twins. Off Rickers, we headed NNW, towards a stretch when maps show slightly less dense vegetation. Then pivoted NE around 2200 on the bump to the north of Rickers. Ran into some pretty thick stuff in here and didn't feel like I was able to maintain a good line, but I've seen far worse. Made it to the col south of the Twins, which had a trail with some flagging heading NW/SE (possible the old Gemini trail). We followed it NW to a boggy area, then backtracked a bit and ascended the Twins, aiming for the col between the two Twins and then to northern summit. The approach worked well and we were on the rocky summit shortly. From the Twins N, headed north into the col with Shaw, then headed NNE before turning ENE at about 2400. Some thick stuff and boulder fields getting up Shaw, but no cliffs on from this direction. Signed in a headed WSW off the summit, aiming for the kink in FR234 around 1600. Woods were good but had to do keep pushing further south than the topography wanted - specifically getting over the ridge to the west of north twin. Finally made it to FR234 and it was a perfect logging road that we followed right back to the car on Town Hall Rd. Only took 4.5 hours total. 20 mins up Hurricane, 40 mins from Hurricane to Weeks Brook, 50 mins from joining Weeks to Rickers, 70 mins from Rickers to Twin N, 30 mins from Twin N to Shaw, 40 mins from Shaw to FR234 and 20 mins on FR234 to the car. Very happy with this route and the time we made. Wouldn't do anything differently, though I am curious where the trail in the col south of the Twins originates to the east.”
Planning a hike here? Add it to your hikes and, with Trailblazer, we'll email you new trail reports before you go.
Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
Paid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
25°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 25°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
10h 52m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 5:56 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
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.
Rising to 2,990 feet in the Ossipee Range of central New Hampshire, this wooded summit offers a rewarding moderate hike through the distinctive geology of the Ossipee Mountains, one of the state's most geologically unique ranges formed from an ancient volcanic ring complex. The trails wind through pleasant mixed forest, and while the summit itself is largely tree-covered, hikers are rewarded with partial views that hint at the surrounding lakes region landscape, including Lake Ossipee and the broader White Mountains to the north. As the highest point in the Ossipee Range, it holds a satisfying prominence over the surrounding terrain. The moderate rating makes it accessible to hikers building experience or seeking a less crowded alternative to the busier White Mountain peaks. Its inclusion on the 52 With A View list reflects its appeal as a worthwhile destination in New Hampshire's diverse hiking landscape.
Elevation
2,990 ft
Range
Ossipee
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
43.7438, -71.2745
Been to Mount Shaw?
Be the first to share your experience!
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.