4,285 ft | Willey | 2 routes
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Willey are currently rated Dangerous. At 8:40 PM ET it was 47°F at the summit (4,285 ft), feeling like 37°F, with WSW winds at 21 mph. The shortest of 2 listed routes is Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail: 5.2 miles round trip with 2,758 ft of elevation gain, taking about 3-5 hours. Mount Willey (4,285 ft) is #29 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Willey weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 37°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.09" (24h) · 0.66" (48h)
Snow: 0.4" (24h) · 0.4" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
A cold front brings rain changing to snow with a possible brief glaze of freezing rain overnight, plus strong winds and a rapidly falling freezing line that reaches trailheads by late Saturday morning, making trails slick at all elevations. Saturday carries a serious hypothermia and slip risk with sub-freezing temps and upslope snow. Sunday is the far better window as winds ease and skies begin to clear.
Expect roughly 40-59°F at the trailhead versus the low 30s with wind chill in the teens near the summit, and the freezing line crosses the route as the front passes, so ice and snow can build the higher you climb. Dress in layers you can adjust, keep a dry insulating layer in reserve, and carry traction from the car since the freezing level drops toward trailhead elevations by late Saturday morning.
Best Hiking Window
Postpone the hike. Saturday is not recommended due to ice, upslope snow and sub-freezing wind chill. The best window is Sunday, starting at first light once winds ease and clouds begin to break, with traction devices carried or worn for lingering ice.
Last synthesized Oct 16, 8:40 PM ET
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Trailblazer adds the full 7-day summit forecast, the best day to go for every peak, and conditions for each route up.
Trail: Kedron Flume Trail, Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Avalon Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“I was part of a Flags on the 48 hike for Field. Our group was large so we broke up into smaller crews. Our crew opted to ascend Willey first and then make our way to Field. Kedron Flume trail is so lovely. The footing is excellent. It gets steep fast but we really liked the trail and the crew was so much fun that the time flew by. We made it to Willey and took a few quick pictures and headed to Field. The stretch between Willey and Field as some muddy sections and is tight in places but is just so pretty. We made it to Field with our flag sections just in time and our flag was flying at 11:59am. Jo-Ann sang the National Anthem and many words and stories were shared. It was a very moving experience. We visited with all the folks hiking past and then at 2pm, broke down the flag and broke up into groups again. Some headed straight down but our smaller crew headed to Tom. The footing between Field and Tom is amazing and made for very fast travel. The Mt Tom spur is in great shape and we tagged the peak and headed down. The A-Z trail down from Mt. Tom also has really good footing and the Avalon trail is positively cruisy from there. This was an absolutely incredible day with wonderful and kind people. Flags on the 48 is such a meaningful way to commemorate the events of 9/11. Huge thanks to Jo-Ann and George for all the planning and organization that went into the day. See you again next year. We all agreed that they are stuck with us.”
Trail: Ethan Pond Trail, Willey Range Trail
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“In the last year since I have done this trail it has declined a lot. It is a shame because it could be a nice hike, steep yes, but I can only imagine how it once looked with solid path and well constructed ladders up the steepest rocks. In search of better footing, people are going off trail on the sides and further degrading the trail, and the ladders are in pieces. Can you really call them ladders when some have no planks at all?”
Trail: Willey Range Trail, A-Z Trail, Mt. Tom Spur, Ethan Pond Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock
“Was very pleasantly surprised by the AZ trail, very beautiful upper half.Despite the 16.5 miles, it didn't feel like that much with all the lovely flat sections. I'd do this one again!”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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Dangerous
Rating
Plan a below-treeline hike
Conditions above treeline are rated Dangerous. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
17°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 17°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
-4°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.
Named for the Willey family tragedy of 1826. Part of the Willey Range with Field and Tom.
Elevation
4,285 ft
Range
Willey
Rank
#29 of 48
Difficulty
Easy
Coordinates
44.1836, -71.4208
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Willey Range Trail (3.0 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
1 incident on file · 1 fatal · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
69-year-old male from Thetford, Vermont
Phillip G. Phillips, 69, collapsed on the Willey Mountain Trail at approximately 2:30 p.m. on November 30, 2010 while descending from the summit of Mt. Willey. His female companion called 911 and performed CPR but could not revive him. NHFG Conservation Officers, AMC personnel, and Twin Mountain Fire and Rescue carried him out to the trailhead in Hart's Location, arriving just before 8:00 p.m.