3,463 ft | Montalban Ridge | 0 routes
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on Stairs Mountain are currently rated Difficult. At 1:20 PM ET it was 43°F at the summit (3,463 ft), feeling like 38°F, with S winds at 6 mph. See the hour-by-hour Stairs Mountain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
No routes available for this peak.
Feels like 38°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.54" (24h) · 0.57" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 16, 2026
Fog, recent rain, and a sharp temperature drop make for challenging conditions through Friday night, with moderate snow forecast Saturday and lows near 19°F that will turn wet trails and rock to ice. Sunday looks like the best window, but expect leftover ice and snow on upper sections and plan around the limited daylight.
Expect roughly 40-60°F at the trailhead but near-freezing wind chill (about 21°F) at the summit, with the freezing level crossing the route around 2,756 ft. Start with moderate layers and add insulation and wind protection before climbing above that point, and carry spikes for ice higher up.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday morning through early afternoon, after Saturday's snow ends, with a prompt start to finish well before dark; avoid Friday evening and Saturday.
Last synthesized Oct 16, 1:20 PM 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: Davis Path, Crawford Spur
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts
“The beginning of the trail was packed down, but people turned around not far into the trail. Two of us broke out the rest of the trail to Crawford. We attempted to head to Stairs and Resolution, but only made it 0.3 miles from the Crawford Junction. At 0.3 miles from the junction snow was consistently waist deep, so we decided to call it quits for the day. Definitely need snowshoes for this one. There's a lot of snow up there.”
Trail: Davis Path, Mt. Parker Trail, Stairs Mountain Spur, Crawford Spur
Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder
“Bareboot or spikes up to Crawford; too many exposed rocks for snowshoes there. Past Crawford, the snow is light powder so snowshoes were helpful on the way to stairs and resolution but not totally necessary. The Stairs trail was a little narrow and over overgrown (ducking and dodging low branches). On the way to Resolution, we were able to pass through the icy slab going up, but it’s definitely very sketchy and dangerous. But some hero broke out a bushwhack to the left of the slab that we used on the way down and that was a lot better. From Mount resolution to the south knob was not yet broken out, so we broke trail on that section with snowshoes. The view from the knob was very expansive. No real issues with wind past Crawford. The walk out felt very long, pack a positive attitude…”
Trail: Davis Path, Mt. Parker Trail, Stairs Mountain Spur, Crawford Spur
Conditions: Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Small Patches
“Incredible views.”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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20°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 20°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
54 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 54 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
10h 52m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 5:56 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.
Rising along the scenic Montalban Ridge in New Hampshire's White Mountains, this 3,463-foot summit earns its Difficult rating through a rugged, sustained approach that challenges even experienced hikers. Part of the 52 With a View (52 WAV) peak list, it rewards the effort with rewarding ridge perspectives and a sense of true backcountry immersion. The mountain takes its name from its distinctive stepped, stair-like rock formations visible on its flanks. Trail character is generally forested with rocky, rooted terrain, and hikers can expect some above-treeline or open exposure near the summit that frames views of the surrounding Presidential and Montalban Ridge landscapes. The relatively remote location means lighter foot traffic compared to nearby 4,000-footers, making it a worthwhile objective for hikers seeking a quieter, more adventurous experience while working through the 52 WAV list.
Elevation
3,463 ft
Range
Montalban Ridge
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
44.1551, -71.3184
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AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.