4,025 ft | Franconia | 1 route
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Owl's Head are currently rated Dangerous. At 8:40 PM ET it was 49°F at the summit (4,025 ft), feeling like 40°F, with WSW winds at 19 mph. The listed route, Owl's Head via Black Pond Bushwhack, is 15.7 miles round trip with 3,122 ft of elevation gain, taking about 7-12 hours. Owl's Head (4,025 ft) is #43 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Owl's Head weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Owls Head Path (0.9 mi)
Feels like 40°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.10" (24h) · 0.49" (48h)
Snow: 0.5" (24h) · 0.5" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
A cold front brings rain turning to snow and possible freezing rain overnight, with temperatures plunging and strong winds into Saturday, so trails will be slick with snow and ice by morning. Owl's Head is a very long, remote hike with multiple river crossings, and the rapid cold-down plus wind chill and short daylight leave little margin for error. Postponing until Sunday, when conditions improve, is strongly advised.
Trailhead temperatures run roughly 40-59°F falling to 33-53°F with winds near 48 mph at the summit and wind chill around 16°F, and the freezing line drops to the trailheads by Saturday late morning. Dress in layers with a waterproof outer shell, and expect a transition from wet mud to snow and ice as you gain elevation, so carry traction from the start.
Best Hiking Window
Avoid Friday night and Saturday. If hiking within the next 48 hours, wait for Sunday, which is forecast to be calmer with temperatures rising above freezing. Start at first light and allow for ice lingering on trails and cold water crossings.
Last synthesized Oct 16, 8:40 PM ET
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Trail: East Side Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path, herd path
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“I finally finished my 48!!! It's been a long time coming. I got a perfect window to bag Owl's Head. All water crossings were super easy including the Pemi coming from East Side Trail. I utilized a fallen oak tree right after the Franconia tent site. Lincoln Brook crossing (last one) was super low making it a simple rock hop.All the trails were in great shape a few step overs along Black Pond Bushwhack shop bigger then others. Mud was minimal and avoidable. Quite a few people out yesterday. Views from the slide were great today no clouds what so ever. Slide is a slog. Man, is that thing steep when you duck back into the woods higher up. It was just relentless and rugged for a bit. Brutus Bushwhack was great footing on the way down. One real steep section that could be tricky when wet and mucky. It was a perfect day to bag Owl's Head, it was ideal hiking weather. I still in awe that I finished my 48 it still feels unreal to me.”
Trail: East Side Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, herd path, Owls Head Path
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant
“The LGH gang is back and we added a few new members to our most elite and prestigious gang. The rain from last night and this morning made everything wet and super muddy but the water levels were still fine and crossings were easy. There are some super muddy sections all along the way and some of the mud is avoidable and some isn't. The rocks were all wet and slick and never dried due to the humidity but we all did fine on Brutus. Descending wasn't too bad either - the dampness added a little grip to the soil but we had to watch out for all the wet roots. This was a GREAT day with a wonderful crew. It's a long day for sure but the miles flew by with all the great conversation and nonstop laughs. Huge thanks to Luke, Celeste, and Michele for feeding me all day long and making sure I had extra snacks for the ride home. If you see us sporting our yellow bandanas, you will know you saw one of the LGH gang. :) Congrats to both Luke and Celeste for both only needing one more hike to grid out August and congrats to Michele for hitting 47/48. I am only here for grid/list support. Well that and snacks.”
Trail: East Side Trail, bushwhack, Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd path, Lincoln Brook Trail, herd path, Owls Head Path
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“We had been watching the water levels closely and things looked low enough for us to feel comfortable with fording the Pemi. The East side trail is a quick walk. We overshot the spot to cross and backtracked and made the call for where we felt comfortable crossing. We saw the downed tree that some folks had used but both agreed that was not going to work for us. We switched into old trail runners and crossed easily near the tree, then bushwhacked up to Lincoln Woods trail. We back tracked on Lincoln Woods to the Black Pond trail The trail was mostly dry with the usual wet and muddy spots. The bushwack was squelchy in spots but was mostly dry. Lincoln Brook Trail was muddy in the usual spots as well but much of it was dry and made for fast hiking. Brutus Bushwhack had good footing since the rain dampened things some and gave us better traction. Owls Head Path was the usual slog that feel way longer than it should. This route is a bit longer than the usual route but was by far the lesser of the evils to tag Owls Head while LW is closed. HUGE HUGE HUGE congratulations to Luke, who gridded out July today and we celebrated with an epic summit dance. :)”
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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.
18°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 18°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
-2°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.
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
Been to Owl's Head?
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AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
4 incidents on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
a 56-year-old from North Conway, NH; also a 68-year-old man from Thornton, NH who was overdue from a planned overnight stay
A 56-year-old hiker slipped and injured his lower leg while descending Owl's Head Mountain via the Brutus Bushwhack in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, and was carried out by a 29-person rescue team after a companion sought help and a Good Samaritan with a Garmin inReach alerted rescuers. Separately, a 68-year-old Thornton man was reported overdue after leaving for a hike and not returning, prompting a search involving drones and canines; he was found uninjured about a quarter mile from his residence, having planned an unannounced overnight stay in the woods.
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.