4,025 ft | Franconia | 1 route
Feels like 64°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.39" (24h) · 0.64" (48h)
~2.8°F drop per 1,000ft
Owl's Head is showing DANGEROUS conditions
See exactly why with full AI conditions — hazard alerts, gear recommendations, and the best hiking window.
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Conditions are dangerous Tuesday night and remain very difficult through Wednesday with violent winds and ongoing precipitation. Thursday brings another front with more showers. The earliest reasonable window would be Thursday morning if winds subside and stream levels drop, though conditions should be thoroughly reassessed closer to that date. An early morning start is always recommended for this long, demanding hike.
Trail: Lincoln Woods Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owls Head Path
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant
“My friend and I did the 23 mile loop starting at Lincoln woods trailhead going past 13 Falls and around owls head and back to Lincoln Woods trailhead. Be ready for deep and tricky water crossings and lots of mud.”
Trail: Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, herd path, Owl's Head Path
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“We attempted to get Owl's Head. But the storms that rolled through early Thursday morning over night dumped 3 to 4 inches of rain in a short amount of time. It made crossing Lincoln Brook pretty much impossible and not a great idea. we made it all the way out to the one and only crossing of Lincoln Brook and decided it was a no go. The blood suckers were out in force along the Black Pond Trail and Bushwhack. The muddy section after Black Pond was manageable and not as bad as it has been made out to be. Black Pond Bushwhack ( if you want to call it that haha) was easy to navigate and a pleasure. Lincoln Brook Trail was in good shape with a couple rough sections. It was fun watching the raging water on the way out and back. We were so close but decided it was just to much for us to handle. At 6 am the East Branch of the Pemi was at 3000 cfs. Will try again in the summer. if we get a long dry spell may just forge the Pemi or just come in from Galehead.”
Trail: Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path, herd path
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“The bat signal for gridiots went off again last night because it was a veritable reunion on the Owls Head path! It's always a delight to run into friends on trail. Sadly the bugs chased us away and we all ran for our lives after taking a quick picture. Lincoln Woods trail is mostly dry with a few muddy areas. Black Pond trail has some deeper mud pits and the bugs are living their best lives on that trail. BP bushwhack was lovely. There are a few odds and ends of blowdowns and mud in the usual areas. Lincoln Brook trail has no blowdowns that I recall and some pretty epic mud, standing water, and running water. The mosquito farms are thriving in those stretches. The slide was mostly dry but there was some running water in places. Owls Head path up higher had some minor mud and the rocks were mostly dry. Brutus bushwhack was in GREAT condition. No mud and pretty nice footing. Glad to get this one checked off for G2.”
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.
Remote peak in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Known for long approach and slide climb. No official trail to summit.
Elevation
4,025 ft
Range
Franconia
Rank
#43 of 48
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Coordinates
44.1443, -71.6051
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3 incidents on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
19-year-old male from New Ipswich, NH
A solo 19-year-old male hiker departed Friday afternoon for a two-day hike to Owl's Head but became trapped between Franconia Brook and Lincoln Brook on Saturday after heavy rains and snowmelt caused water levels to rise dangerously. He sheltered in his tent and was spotted by a trail runner Sunday morning about 4.8 miles from Lincoln Woods. Pemi Valley SAR members located a safe ford, crossed to the hiker, and escorted him back to Lincoln Woods by 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
20-year-old male and 18-year-old female, brother and sister
Two hikers fell into Lincoln Brook twice on November 23, 2024, soaking all their clothing and developing early-stage hypothermia approximately 8.5 miles from the trailhead. They set up camp and used a Garmin InReach to notify Dartmouth Outdoor Programs staff, who relayed a rescue request to NHFG. Two conservation officers reached them at 2:30 a.m., provided dry clothing, and the hikers were able to walk out, arriving at the trailhead at 7:15 a.m.
Two adult women, ages 30 and 46, from Massachusetts
Erin Tiernan (30) and Monica Trust (46) became stranded on an 18-mile loop to Owl's Head peak in the Pemigewasset Wilderness after rising water on Lincoln Brook prevented their return. They bushwhacked to the Franconia Brook confluence but wisely declined to cross the swollen river, spending the night out with proper equipment. Search teams located them the following morning and used a rope traverse to bring them to safety.