3,980 ft | Sandwich | 0 routes
As of October 4, 2026
Trail conditions on Sandwich Dome are currently rated Moderate. It's 44°F (feels like 38°F) with ESE winds at 10 mph. See the hour-by-hour Sandwich Dome weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Sandwich Dome weather forecast
Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit
Best time to hike Sandwich Dome
Month-by-month conditions from our daily records
Feels like 38°F
~2.4°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of October 4, 2026
Dry trails and light winds make for manageable fall hiking, but chilly temperatures, overcast skies, and fog limit views and call for solid layering. Daylight is just 11.6 hours with a sunset around 6:23 PM, so an early start is important. Monday brings dense drizzle and subfreezing overnight lows, making Sunday afternoon the better window if conditions hold.
Expect roughly 42-51\u00b0F at the trailhead dropping to 39-42\u00b0F with wind chill near 30\u00b0F at the summit, so start in a breathable layer and add a mid-layer and shell before reaching higher, breezier terrain. The freezing level is far above the summit, so rain or drizzle would fall as liquid, but wind chill makes it feel near freezing up high.
Best Hiking Window
Start as early as possible Monday if weather holds (Sunday afternoon is already well underway, so only a short outing with adequate daylight is advisable); otherwise Tuesday morning after midday warming offers the driest outlook with 0% precip, though Monday's drizzle may leave wet or icy surfaces.
Last synthesized Oct 4, 5:20 PM
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: Algonquin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Algonquin Trail was quite spectacular. Soft underfoot in the trees, challenging and picturesque on the ledges. This route would probably be used more if it wasn't for the 3.6-mile drive to the trailhead from Waterville on rough Sandwich Notch Road. But highly recommended. Great views south and west.”
Trail: Algonquin Trail, Sandwich Mountain Trail, Jennings Peak Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail
“The Algonquin trail is a great trip to Sandwich Dome and other 3 sections that make this a Terrifying 25 hike is in better condition then the Sandwich Mtn trail- where you have a nice “soft bed” for smooth walking and easy on your feet”
Trail: Sandwich Mountain Trail, Drakes Brook Trail, Jennings Peak Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
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 | clear | drizzle | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 40° 39° | 42° 39° | 46° 41° | 45° 39° | 39° 32° | 30° 26° | 27° 24° | 35° 30° | 42° 32° |
| Chill °F | 31° | 30° | 31° | 26° | 15° | 5° | 3° | 16° | 21° |
| Wind mph | 15 | 18 | 25 | 36 | 45 | 53 | 47 | 25 | 17 |
| Gust mph est. | 21 | 26 | 35 | 58 | 63 | 74 | 66 | 40 | 27 |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | - | - | 0.1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chance of precip | 1% | 2% | 4% | 23% | 4% | 1% | - | - | - |
| Freezing ft | 10,744 ft | 4,887 ft | 4,533 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | 11% | 100% | 8% | 100% | 88% | 100% | 95% | 100% | 100% |
| Vis mi | 0.2 | clear | 8 | <0.1 | clear | 9 | clear | clear | clear |
| UV | 3 | 4 | — | 1 | 5 | — | 4 | 5 | — |
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 3,980 ft | 39/40° 15 | 39/45° 36 | 24/27° 47 |
| 3,300 ft | 40/42° 13 | 42/47° 33 | 27/30° 43 |
| 2,500 ft | 41/43° 13 | 46/48° 26 | 30/34° 34 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 42/45° 11 | 48/49° 21 | 32/36° 28 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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66 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 66 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
24°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 24°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 from the heart of the Sandwich Range in central New Hampshire, this 3,980-foot summit sits just below the 4,000-foot threshold that defines the White Mountains' most celebrated peaks, yet it delivers a rewarding wilderness experience that rivals many of its taller neighbors. The mountain earns its Difficult rating through sustained climbing on trails that wind through dense northern hardwood and boreal forest. The summit and upper ridgeline offer filtered to open views across the Sandwich Range, with Sandwich Notch and the broader Lakes Region visible to the south. As a prominent entry on the 52 With a View (52 WAV) peak list, it attracts hikers seeking quality summits beyond the standard 4,000-footer circuit. The relatively remote approach and rugged trail character give this peak a genuine backcountry feel, making it a favorite among hikers looking to explore less-trafficked corners of the White Mountain National Forest.
Elevation
3,980 ft
Range
Sandwich
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
43.9001, -71.4981
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