4,430 ft | Carter | 2 routes
As of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on South Carter Mountain are currently rated Difficult. At 3:20 AM ET it was 25°F at the summit (4,430 ft), feeling like 11°F, with NW winds at 23 mph. The shortest of 2 listed routes is South Carter via Zeta Pass: 8.9 miles round trip with 2,874 ft of elevation gain, taking about 4-8 hours. South Carter Mountain (4,430 ft) is #19 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour South Carter Mountain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 11°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.04" (24h) · 0.39" (48h)
Snow: 0.2" (24h) · 0.2" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Saturday brings subfreezing temperatures, strong NW winds, fog, and fresh snow over wet trails that froze overnight, so icy, slick footing is likely at all elevations. Wind chill near 0°F and gusts above 40 mph at the summit raise hypothermia and frostbite risk, so a Sunday start looks much better as winds ease and clouds break.
Expect roughly 28-40°F at the trailhead, dropping to the high teens to low 30s at the summit, with the freezing line moving down toward trailhead elevations by late morning. Wear a moisture-wicking base, insulating mid-layer, and windproof shell from the start, add a puffy and balaclava before the upper ridge where winds climb to ~47-49 mph and wind chill reaches about -5°F.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday is the better day: winds decrease and clouds break, with temperatures rising toward freezing in the afternoon. If hiking Saturday, start at first light and aim to be off the summit well before afternoon, when fatigue and cold compound.
Last synthesized Oct 17, 3:20 AM ET
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: Road walk, Camp Dodge Cutoff, Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“I needed a 4K for my calendar day grid so this worked great. This closed out September with 30/30 and got me over 94% on that grid. Let's not talk about leap year. The trails were damp and muddy from yesterday's rain but the rocks really were not slick at all. The clouds were low when I started and I could hear the wind whipping above me. As I got higher, things got misty and cold. I was thankful for my hat and mittens. I could see areas of clearing below me but the Presis were totally in the clouds. The winds were strong in the open areas so I didn't linger. There are quite a few muddy areas on the Carter-Moriah trail. Some is supportive but most of it is not. Some mud pits have rocks for stepping but others are just too big so I just slopped through it. I only saw 2 people until I reached 19 Mile Brook where I was happy to bump into Debra and catch up a bit and to chat with her guests who were just lovely. Shout out to the very nice woman from NY who joined me for the last 1.5 miles out and was just delightful to chat with. She made that last stretch fly by!”
Trail: Camp Dodge Cutoff, Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails, NH Route 16
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Parked at Great gulf so I could actually have a semi-decent spot to set up and get ready for ripping up and across some ridges. There was also a Gorham 10k race starting outta this lot in addition to flags on the 48 and typical weekend 4k madness so simply leaving the lot, crossing the road and getting above camp dodge felt like the first monumental achievement of the day. Pretty basic slog up to the ridge then Middle carter was rather muddy, otherwise very dry, basic and straightforward cross the ridge and down to the hut. Amazing break and then another stiff climb up to Wildcat A and summit mudpits. Pretty dry from B summit over to the ski area and down Polecat. 48x11 on Carter Dome and month 11 gridout on Wildcat D. (OMG I'm gonna finish the grid next month!!!) Walked a couple miles of route 16 before getting a much enjoyed ride the last mile to my car”
Trail: NH 16, Camp Dodge Cutoff, Imp Trail, North Carter Trail, Carter Moriah Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails
Conditions: Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“What a day to hike in the clouds! If you have to get wet, it might as be about 60 degrees while you are. Trails are in mostly good shape but have gotten muddy in spots, particularly on Wildcat Ridge Trail. Go out with confidence, but be ready to get muddy. Also great to run into jeffb for the second day in a row, as well as seeing the most recent Trailwrights 72 completer Barry! A great day to see friendly faces. Fun note: Boston groups of 10 people, you don't need to tell others you're from Boston. We know.”
Planning a hike here? Add it to your hikes and, with Trailblazer, we'll email you new trail reports before you go.
Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
Paid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
18°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 18°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
58 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 58 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
-4°F
Wind chill
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.
Southernmost peak of the Carter Range. Often done as part of a Carter traverse.
Elevation
4,430 ft
Range
Carter
Rank
#19 of 48
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
44.2898, -71.1762
Been to South Carter Mountain?
Be the first to share your experience!
Carter-Moriah Trail (12.5 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
3.6 mi away