3,196 ft | Moat | 0 routes
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on North Moat Mountain are currently rated Moderate. At 8:40 PM ET it was 52°F at the summit (3,196 ft), feeling like 41°F, with WSW winds at 21 mph. See the hour-by-hour North Moat Mountain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 41°F
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Saturday looks cold, overcast, and breezy with wind chills in the 20s at the summit, and the steep, wet-rock sections of the Moat Mountain Trail will be slick after recent rain. Sunday is similar but calmer-feeling with no precipitation expected. Daylight is limited to about 11 hours, so start early and carry a headlamp.
Expect roughly 3-5 degrees cooler and noticeably windier at the summit than at the trailhead, with wind chill dropping from the upper 20s to near 20°F. Start with a moderate layer, add a windproof shell and insulating layer before reaching the more exposed ledges, and keep extra layers accessible for summit stops.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday late morning through early afternoon, after overnight freezing conditions ease and with dry weather; Saturday is workable with an early start but colder and blustrier
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: Moat Mountain Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Did a traverse from north to south, with car spot on south trailhead. Excellent fall day for it. Quite steep going up North Moat then a few scrambles with down climbing to get from North Moat to Red Ridge Trail junction on the way to Middle Moat. That steep section going up North Moat was wet and slippery in places, but fine for ascending. Excellent views from each of the three Moat peaks with near-peak fall colors. Route and hike planning helped by www.summitsmarts.com, as with other hikes on the various lists.”
Trail: Moat Mountain Trail, Attitash Trail, road walk, Bartlett Experimental Forest trails, road walk, Mt. Tremont Trail, Brunel Trail, Sawyer Pond Trail, forest roads, Sawyer River Trail, Hancock Notch Trail, NH 112, Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. Osceola Trail, Tripoli Road, Mt. Tecumseh Trail, XC ski trails
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“This is a full report from the Jigger Johnson 50, which took place starting on August 15th, and was a point-to-point trip from the Moat Mountain trailhead on Passaconaway Rd. to the village of Waterville Valley. Trails were relatively dry, which made the Attitash Trail much more pleasant- the most likely places to get wet feet were the Hancock Notch Trail and the Greeley Ponds Trail. Even the swamp just west of the Big Attitash summit had enough logs and tree roots above the mud level that you could theoretically get across without submerging (I wasn't dexterous enough to fully accomplish this). Dry rocks also made the going much easier descending from North Moat, Mt. Osceola, and Mt. Tecumseh. We were treated to relatively temperate weather and partly cloudy skies- perfect conditions to abuse ourselves over 61.1 miles with 15,900' elevation gain. Many thanks to all of the random hikers who cheered us on and blatantly lied by telling us how strong we looked! :) Excruciating details- in keeping with the spirit of the race- on Unnecessary Climb!”
Trail: Moat Mountain Trail, Red Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“We enjoyed the hike! A good few miles of warm up and then you hit the steep climb for a few miles up to the summit of North Moat. We found the descent also steep as we made our way over to the Red Ridge Trail and enjoyed the views from there as well! Follow the cairns to stay on trail on the ridge. After the trail took us back into the woods, there was some steep descents for a mile and then more gentle ups and downs to finish. A tough hike but lovely on a beautiful day. I would NOT do this trail if it was wet.”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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23°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 23°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.
Standing at 3,196 feet in the Moat Range east of North Conway, this peak offers one of the most rewarding ridge walks in the White Mountain foothills. The standard approach via the Red Ridge Trail rewards hikers with extensive open ledges and sweeping views of the Saco River Valley, Mount Washington, and the Sandwich Range. Significant above-treeline exposure along the rocky ridge makes this summit feel more alpine than its modest elevation suggests. The trail character is rugged, featuring steep pitches and scrambling sections that justify its Very Difficult rating on the 52 With A View list. The open summit ledges provide outstanding 360-degree panoramas, making this one of the most visually rewarding peaks on the list. Its proximity to popular North Conway makes it a frequently visited but genuinely challenging objective for peak baggers and view seekers alike.
Elevation
3,196 ft
Range
Moat
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Coordinates
44.0431, -71.2146
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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
Two male hikers, ages 69 and 66, from Elliot, ME and Hampton, NH respectively
Orrin Johnson (69) and George Prive (66) set out on the Moat Mountain Trail in Conway on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, and lost the trail near the North Moat Mountain summit. Family reported them overdue that evening, prompting an overnight search by NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers. The hikers established cell phone contact with family early the next morning and bushwhacked out to West Side Road, where they were met by the SAR team in tired but good condition.