2,044 ft | Belknap Range | 1 route
As of September 8, 2026
Trail conditions on Piper Mountain are currently rated Good. It's 62°F (feels like 57°F) with WNW winds at 7 mph. The listed route, Belknap Traverse, is 19.4 miles point to point with 5,295 ft of elevation gain, taking about 9-15 hours. See the hour-by-hour Piper Mountain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Piper Mountain weather forecast
Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit
Feels like 57°F
~4.4°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of September 8, 2026
Piper Mountain is offering excellent hiking conditions with clear skies, dry trails, and mild temperatures in the upper 50s to mid-60s. Wind gusts up to 26mph could feel brisk but shouldn't pose a significant hazard on this low, unexposed peak. Plan an early start to take advantage of the dry weather before precipitation moves in later in the week.
Temperature and wind conditions are essentially uniform from trailhead to summit on this low peak, so no major layering transitions are needed — a light wind layer should suffice throughout.
Best Hiking Window
Tuesday morning, September 8, shortly after sunrise (6:16 AM) through early afternoon, before overcast conditions and increasing precipitation chances develop later in the week
Last synthesized Sep 8, 12:20 AM
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.
Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail
Monday Sep 7 | Today Sep 8 | Tomorrow Sep 9 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | sunny | sunny | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | drizzle | rain |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 59° 55° | 66° 61° | 64° 62° | 62° 60° | 63° 61° | 63° 56° | 58° 55° | 65° 60° | 64° 62° |
| Chill °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wind mph | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 22 | 37 |
| Gust mph est. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.2 |
| Freezing ft | 11,230 ft | 11,692 ft | 13,366 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | - | 22% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Vis mi | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| UV | 5 | 6 | — | 2 | 6 | — | 3 | 3 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Monday Sep 7 | Today Sep 8 | Tomorrow Sep 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 2,044 ft | 55/59° 25 | 60/62° 27 | 55/58° 13 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 55/59° 25 | 60/62° 27 | 55/58° 13 |
4 more days of forecast — plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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.
Rising to 2,044 feet in the Belknap Range of central New Hampshire, this moderate summit offers hikers a rewarding outing in the Lakes Region near Gilford and Laconia. As one of the 12 peaks comprising the Belknap 12 peak list, Piper Mountain attracts both casual hikers and those working to complete the full range. The trail network in the Belknap Range State Forest provides a relatively accessible approach, winding through mixed hardwood and conifer forest characteristic of this compact range. While Piper Mountain sits below treeline, hikers may find partial viewpoints depending on the specific route taken. The peak's moderate rating makes it suitable for hikers with basic fitness and experience, though some sections involve rocky footing typical of New Hampshire terrain. Its inclusion in the Belknap 12 gives it particular appeal for peak-baggers exploring this often-overlooked range west of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Elevation
2,044 ft
Range
Belknap Range
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
43.5038, -71.3777
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1 incident on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Kara Stamatelos of Belmont, NH
On June 28, 2023, hiker Kara Stamatelos slipped on wet rocks on the Old Piper Trail on Piper Mountain, suffering a lower-leg injury. Rescue crews from Gilford Fire and Rescue, Lakes Region Search and Rescue, and Conservation Officers carried her approximately half a mile to a trail junction on the Carriage Road. She was transported to a local hospital by ambulance for evaluation.