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Trail conditions are for informational purposes only. Hiking involves inherent risks. Always verify conditions with official sources and use your own judgment. Use at your own risk.

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  1. Peaks
  2. /
  3. South Baldface

South Baldface

Very Difficult

3,570 ft | Baldface Range | 0 routes

New Hike
46°F / Feels 42°F
4 mph SW
ConditionsGood

As of August 29, 2026

Trail conditions on South Baldface are currently rated Good. It's 46°F (feels like 42°F) with SW winds at 4 mph. See the hour-by-hour South Baldface weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.

South Baldface weather forecast

Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit

View →

Today's Conditions

Updated Aug 29, 7:20 AM

Current Weather

46°F

Feels like 42°F

Clear sky
4 mph SW · Gusts 12 mph
71% humidity

Elevation Forecast

Today
Summit 3,570'
50°/58°F26mphWC 43°☀️
3,300'
51°/59°F28mph☀️
2,500'
53°/63°F29mph☀️
Trailhead
54°/65°F24mph☀️

~3.6°F drop per 1,000ft

AI Trail Conditions

Good
AI Synthesized
medium confidence

Conditions summary as of August 29, 2026

Conditions on South Baldface are favorable with clear skies, mild temperatures, and minimal recent precipitation. Trails should be in good shape overall, though some sections may retain minor mud from light rain in the past 48 hours. Long daylight hours (13.4 hours) give plenty of margin for a full loop hike.

Expect noticeably cooler and windier conditions at the summit (50-58°F, winds up to 26mph, wind chill 43°F) compared to the trailhead (54-65°F, winds 24mph); bring a wind layer for the exposed ledges near the top even though the peak itself has no sustained above-treeline exposure.

Best Hiking Window

Early morning start (around sunrise, 6:00-7:00 AM) through early afternoon on Saturday, August 29, to take advantage of clear skies and calm winds before any afternoon cloud buildup

Hazards
Possible lingering mud or slick spots in shaded areas from recent light rain
Wet or slippery rock on ledges if any moisture remains, especially on the exposed slab sections of Baldface Circle Trail
Increased winds and cooler wind chill on the open summit ledges compared to trailhead
Recommended Gear
Sturdy hiking boots with good traction for ledge sections
Layered clothing for wind at summit
Trekking poles for descent on ledges
Sufficient water, as sections above treeline offer little shade

Last synthesized Aug 29, 7:20 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.

Recent Trail Reports

10
View all on NETC
Jul. 3, 2026by Jewel

Trail: Baldface Circle Trail, Eagle Link, Wild River Trail, Rainbow, Trail Carter-Moriah Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant

“Trails in good shape, all in all, except Eagle Link, which was really overgrown and looked relatively unused. Had some mud on it (went in to my ankles, then up to my knee at point). Attacked by a defensive grouse hen on Eagle Link (also had a moose encounter on same trail). Wild River and Rainbow were in pretty good shape and easy to follow. Decent amount of water at Zeta Pass (no scoop needed).”

Jun. 29, 2026by fossman

Trail: Baldface Circle Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“I went clockwise - the ledges up South Baldface were excellent. Beautiful day, but hot during the ascents. Emerald Pool at the end was super refreshing.”

Jun. 19, 2026by doylehikes

Trail: Baldface Circle Trail

Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery

“BCT was very challenging the day after huge rain. I counted on the wind acting as a big blow dryer on the slabs and was right for the most part. Where I wasn't, I had to go up or down like a snail. Wet rocks out of the sun were mossy and slick. That was most of the descent. Be comfortable with wet and muddy feet on this one. Kestrel got some gusts in the low 30s above treeline.”

3-Day Mountain Forecast

Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail

Today
Aug 29
Tomorrow
Aug 30
Monday
Aug 31
AMPMnightAMPMnightAMPMnight
Temperature & Wind
Weather
sunny
cloudy
cloudy
cloudy
cloudy
cloudy
sunny
sunny
cloudy
Temp °F
hi / lo
52°
50°
58°
53°
59°
58°
59°
57°
61°
58°
58°
56°
56°
54°
63°
58°
59°
54°
Chill °F45°————————
Wind
mph
13
WNW
14
W
36
W
37
W
26
W
24
NW
11
WNW
9
WNW
4
SSE
Gust
mph est.
———5941————
Storm
risk
—————————
Precipitation
Precip
in (rain/snow)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Freezing
ft
12,399 ft11,777 ft13,135 ft
Conditions
Cloud
cover
-98%100%100%100%100%-5%100%
Vis
mi
clearclearclearclearclearclearclearclearclear
UV57—46—57—
Elevation Profile — Conditions by Altitude

Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail

Elevation
Today
Aug 29
Tomorrow
Aug 30
Monday
Aug 31
lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F
Summit
3,570 ft
50/52°
13
45°
57/59°
37
54/56°
11
3,300 ft
51/53°
13
58/60°
36
55/57°
9
2,500 ft
53/56°
13
61/63°
28
57/61°
7
Trailhead
2,000 ft
54/58°
11
63/65°
22
58/63°
6
Wind:<1515-2425-3940-5455+mph
Time periods: AM 5a–12p · PM 12p–8p · Night 8p–5a

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.

Get condition updates for South Baldface

Routes

No routes available for this peak.

Trail Map

About South Baldface

Rising in the scenic Baldface Range of the White Mountains in eastern New Hampshire, this 3,570-foot summit offers one of the most rewarding above-treeline experiences in the region despite its modest elevation. The classic Baldface Circle Trail leads hikers through open ledges and exposed granite slabs that provide sweeping 360-degree views of the Whites, including the Presidential Range and Evans Notch wilderness. A significant portion of the upper route travels above treeline, making it feel far more alpine than the elevation suggests. The trail character is rugged and demanding, with steep pitches and open rock requiring careful navigation in any weather. As part of the 52 With a View (52 WAV) peak list, South Baldface earns its Very Difficult rating through sustained physical challenge and exposed terrain. It is frequently paired with North Baldface for a full loop, making it a popular objective for experienced hikers.

Elevation

3,570 ft

Range

Baldface Range

Difficulty

Very Difficult

Coordinates

44.2309, -71.0779

Nearby Peaks

North Baldface

Very Difficult

3,610 ft · Baldface Range

0.9 mi away

Eastman Mountain

Moderate

2,939 ft · Baldface Range

1.3 mi away

Eagle Crag

Difficult

3,030 ft · Baldface Range

1.6 mi away

Doublehead Mountain

Moderate

3,053 ft · Doublehead

5.3 mi away

Carter Dome

Difficult

4,832 ft · Carter

5.6 mi away

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