2,680 ft | Sandwich | 0 routes
As of October 5, 2026
Trail conditions on Potash Mountain are currently rated Moderate. It's 44°F (feels like 37°F) with SE winds at 10 mph. See the hour-by-hour Potash Mountain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Potash Mountain weather forecast
Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit
Best time to hike Potash Mountain
Month-by-month conditions from our daily records
Feels like 37°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.09" (24h) · 0.09" (48h)
~2.4°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of October 5, 2026
Cool, mostly dry early-October conditions with no above-treeline exposure make Potash a straightforward objective, though autumn leaf cover, damp rock, and shorter daylight (about 11.6 hours) add some challenge. Monday brings a chance of drizzle and fog, so Tuesday looks like the clearest, driest option, with lows near freezing at the summit.
Temperatures run roughly 2-3°F cooler at the summit than the trailhead, with wind chill near 32°F up top, so bring an insulating layer to add at the summit. The freezing level is far above the peak, so expect no snow, but cold mornings can leave frost on shaded rock.
Best Hiking Window
Tuesday late morning through mid-afternoon is the best bet, with clear skies and the driest conditions. Monday is workable but plan for fog and possible drizzle; start early in the morning and finish well before dusk.
Last synthesized Oct 5, 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.
Trail: Mt. Potash Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
Trail: Mt. Potash Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“I was pleased that the forest road did not have high grass that may harbor ticks. I don't know if it was due to seasonal dieback or from mowing. There is no sign for the trail as it crosses this road. There are rock stairs on the right side of the road. The trail is a mix of easy hardwood forest path, wet ledges in the evergreen forest, a rock strewn section, and finally a steep ledge section near the summit. Fortunately, the steep ledges were mostly dry. These ledges may be difficult when wet or icy. The trail ends at a rock ledge with a great outlook including Mt Washington in the distance. I did not find any USGS marker. There is a WMNF wilderness stake in the woods near the summit. Nice talking with Jim from Boxborough MA and another hiker from Chester, NH.”
Trail: Downes Brook Trail, Mt. Potash Trail, UNH Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Leaves - Significant/Slippery
“The trails are in great condition, minor areas of mud that are easily avoidable. Great weather and incredible views.”
Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail
Sunday Oct 4 | Today Oct 5 | Tomorrow Oct 6 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | fog | cloudy | cloudy | drizzle | sunny | clear | sunny | sunny | cloudy |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 43° 40° | 47° 45° | 48° 45° | 49° 46° | 47° 38° | 36° 31° | 32° 30° | 39° 33° | 40° 36° |
| Chill °F | 33° | 39° | 38° | 37° | 25° | 14° | 12° | 20° | 28° |
| Wind mph | 12 | 14 | 16 | 27 | 36 | 45 | 45 | 25 | 11 |
| Gust mph est. | 19 | 22 | 26 | 43 | 58 | 63 | 63 | 40 | 18 |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | - | - | 0.1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chance of precip | 1% | 4% | 6% | 24% | 4% | 1% | - | - | - |
| Freezing ft | 10,759 ft | 5,272 ft | 4,179 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | 36% | 100% | 89% | 100% | 15% | 4% | 7% | 36% | 100% |
| Vis mi | 0.2 | 9 | 0.7 | 4 | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear |
| UV | 3 | 4 | — | 2 | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Sunday Oct 4 | Today Oct 5 | Tomorrow Oct 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 2,680 ft | 40/43° 12 | 46/49° 27 | 30/32° 45 |
| 2,500 ft | 40/43° 11 | 47/49° 26 | 30/33° 43 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 41/45° 9 | 48/50° 21 | 32/35° 34 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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63 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 63 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
30°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 30°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 28m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:17 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, 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.
No routes available for this peak.
Rising to 2,680 feet in the Sandwich Range of central New Hampshire, this rewarding moderate hike delivers outsized views relative to its elevation. The trail winds through pleasant hardwood and mixed forest before opening onto open ledges near the summit, where hikers are treated to sweeping panoramas of the surrounding Sandwich Range peaks and the Lakes Region to the south. The exposed rocky summit provides a genuine above-treeline feel uncommon for a peak of this modest height, making it a satisfying destination for hikers seeking open views without committing to a more strenuous alpine climb. As a member of the 52 With a View (52 WAV) peak list, it attracts peak baggers looking to combine accessibility with scenic reward. Its relatively straightforward approach and well-defined trail character make it an excellent choice for intermediate hikers exploring the less-traveled southern Whites.
Elevation
2,680 ft
Range
Sandwich
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
43.9821, -71.3909
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