Summit forecast for 4,025 ft · Franconia · Updated 3x daily
4,025 ft | Franconia | 1 route
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET
Owl's Head (4,025 ft) is currently 41°F (feels like 29°F) with clear sky and N winds at 20 mph, gusting to 37 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,642–11,483 ft. Expect the summit to run about 3°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Difficult.
Bring microspikes (29°F summit low), a waterproof shell (59 mph summit gusts) and a headlamp (only 10h 37m of daylight). Why these · Paid links, Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
One email when the first widespread ice reports come in from the Whites, with what to bring. Then the Thursday conditions outlook each week.
Valley forecasts don't apply up high — temperatures drop about 1.2°F per 1,000 ft on Owl's Head.
| Elevation | Temp Range | Max Wind | Wind Chill (Low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit 4,025 ft | 32° – 47°F | 38 mph | 16°F |
| Treeline 4,000 ft | 32° – 47°F | 38 mph | 16°F |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 39° – 50°F | 21 mph | 29°F |
Freezing level today: 3,642–11,483 ft
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| Elevation | Today Oct 22 | Tomorrow Oct 23 | Saturday Oct 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 4,025 ft | 44/45° 30 | 29/30° 29 | 37/39° 14 |
| 3,300 ft | 43/44° 27 | 29/30° 24 | 37/39° 12 |
| 2,500 ft | 42/44° 17 | 30/32° 15 | 37/40° 8 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 43/45° 12 | 31/34° 12 | 36/42° 6 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth.
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET: Owl's Head (4,025 ft) is currently 41°F (feels like 29°F) with clear sky and N winds at 20 mph, gusting to 37 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,642–11,483 ft. Expect the summit to run about 3°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Difficult.
Temperatures drop roughly 1.2°F per 1,000 ft of elevation on Owl's Head. Today the trailhead (2,000 ft) tops out around 50°F while the summit (4,025 ft) reaches about 47°F, with a wind chill as low as 16°F.
Winds at the summit of Owl's Head are forecast to reach 38 mph today, with 38 mph at treeline. Above treeline there is no shelter from wind — plan layers around wind chill, not air temperature.
The freezing level on Owl's Head today is 3,642–11,483 ft. The summit is 4,025 ft, so expect freezing temperatures on the upper mountain — check trail reports for ice and bring traction if in doubt.
Owl's Head Trail Conditions
AI conditions, hazards, gear & trail reports
Routes up Owl's Head
Distance, elevation gain & book time
White Mountains trail reports
Ice, mud and the traction hikers carried this week
Trailhead parking
When the lots fill, from hikers' reports
Paid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
29°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 29°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
59 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 59 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
10h 37m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 5:48 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
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.