3,570 ft | Baldface Range | 0 routes
As of September 9, 2026
Trail conditions on South Baldface are currently rated Moderate. It's 42°F (feels like 36°F) with NE 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
Feels like 36°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.26" (24h) · 0.42" (48h)
~2.4°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of September 9, 2026
Recent rain has left the Baldface Circle Trail's famous open ledges wet and potentially slick, and heavy rain is forecast to continue Wednesday with more moderate rain Thursday, keeping conditions damp through the next two days. Winds strengthen considerably with elevation gain, so exposed sections near the summit will feel notably colder and gustier than the trailhead. The best window for this hike falls Friday once the rain clears out and drier, cooler conditions move in.
Expect a noticeable temperature drop and much stronger, gustier winds as you climb from the trailhead (~2,000ft, winds ~23mph) to the summit area (~3,570ft, winds up to 41mph); pack a windproof layer to add once you clear the trees, and be extra cautious on the exposed ledges where wind and wet rock combine.
Best Hiking Window
Friday morning (Sep 11) after rain clears, starting near sunrise to take advantage of drier, cooler conditions and full daylight
Last synthesized Sep 9, 8:20 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: 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).”
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.”
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.”
Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail
Today Sep 9 | Tomorrow Sep 10 | Friday Sep 11 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | cloudy | drizzle | rain | sunny | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | sunny | sunny |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 51° 50° | 57° 51° | 62° 58° | 60° 59° | 60° 52° | 50° 40° | 45° 39° | 52° 47° | 51° 48° |
| Chill °F | 44° | — | — | — | — | 30° | 32° | 40° | 41° |
| Wind mph | 18 | 26 | 44 | 36 | 38 | 24 | 12 | 18 | 21 |
| Gust mph est. | 29 | 42 | 62 | 58 | 59 | 38 | — | — | — |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | 0.0 | 0.8 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Freezing ft | 13,094 ft | 13,542 ft | 13,110 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | 100% | 100% | 100% | 3% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 6% | 6% |
| Vis mi | clear | 8 | <0.1 | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear |
| UV | 2 | 3 | — | 5 | 6 | — | 5 | 6 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Today Sep 9 | Tomorrow Sep 10 | Friday Sep 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 3,570 ft | 50/51° 18 | 59/60° 36 | 39/45° 12 |
| 3,300 ft | 49/51° 17 | 60/61° 33 | 40/46° 11 |
| 2,500 ft | 48/50° 13 | 63/65° 26 | 43/50° 10 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 49/51° 10 | 65/67° 23 | 45/52° 9 |
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.
No routes available for this peak.
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
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