3,905 ft | Kilkenny | 0 routes
As of October 7, 2026
Trail conditions on The Horn are currently rated Moderate. At 3:20 AM ET it was 28°F at the summit (3,905 ft), feeling like 19°F, with WSW winds at 9 mph. See the hour-by-hour The Horn weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
The Horn weather forecast
Hourly summit temps, wind chill & freezing level, trailhead to summit
Best time to hike The Horn
Month-by-month conditions from our daily records
Feels like 19°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.01" (24h) · 0.01" (48h)
~3.2°F drop per 1,000ft
Conditions summary as of October 7, 2026
Wednesday offers a dry, cold window with minimal recent precipitation, but frosty overnight temps and freezing conditions at the summit mean icy patches are possible on shaded trail sections. Moderate rain is forecast Thursday with a cold, drizzly Friday, so aim for early Wednesday while conditions are dry. Early October daylight is limited to about 11.5 hours, so plan a start that allows a comfortable margin before sunset.
Expect roughly a 20F drop from trailhead to summit with the freezing level near the upper part of the climb, so start with a light layer and add insulation and a wind shell as you gain elevation. Summit wind chill can fall near 18F, so carry hat, gloves, and a warm layer to put on at the top.
Best Hiking Window
Wednesday mid-morning through early afternoon, after the coldest temperatures ease but well before sunset; avoid Thursday due to moderate rain and falling temps
Last synthesized Oct 7, 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: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Enjoyable hike to The Horn and back with a stop along the way at Unknown Pond. The Unknown Pond Trail had a few muddy portions but they were quite manageable. Trip planning was helped by the website summitsmarts.com. Took Unknown Pond Trail from southern trailhead off York Pond Rd to Kilkenny Ridge Trail which intersects at Unknown Pond (the actual pond). Then took that close to the top of The Horn where you pick up a short spur trail. Getting to the very top - on the boulder - of The Horn requires a little recon, but was part of the fun. Views from the top were very nice.”
Trail: Unknown Pond Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“A very nice alternative to the out and back route via Bunnell Notch. Beautiful woods walk up to Unknown Pond. Great views from the Horn except for clouds enveloping the Presidentials. The easiest way to summit the rock at the Horn appears to be to curve west and then north before heading back south to the summit. There are many herd paths in the vicinity; keeping on the tread way to ascender’s left seems to be the best choice if in doubt where to go. Continued to Cabin before turning around; views there are getting more limited.”
Trail: York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, bushwhack, Unknown Pond Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“It was a spectacular day to be out! Trails were in great condition!! They were pretty dry for the most part there was a few spots that were a little mucky but nothing that wasn't manageable. All water crossings were easy to hop over. There were a few step over blow downs. I ran into a few people at the start on Bunnell Notch Trail. After I had passed them I saw no one till I got closer to Unknown Pond then I ran into quite a few more people along the way out. I had a nice conversation with somebody who recognized my name from posting on here. Wonderful lady if you see this (Hi again!!!). Lots of moose poop around Unknown Pond. But unluckily no moose sitings this day. I was looking though. The bushwhack up to Unknown Pond Peak had been flagging taped out to it. (I am posting this on 7/28 it has since been removed). All in all it is was a great day to be out!!!”
Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail
Today Oct 7 | Tomorrow Oct 8 | Friday Oct 9 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | rain | cloudy | drizzle | drizzle | drizzle | clear |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 45° 40° | 51° 46° | 49° 48° | 46° 45° | 46° 43° | 43° 38° | 38° 34° | 34° 30° | 30° 28° |
| Chill °F | 30° | 36° | 38° | 34° | 32° | 25° | 19° | 14° | 11° |
| Wind mph | 22 | 32 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 37 | 35 | 35 |
| Gust mph est. | 35 | 51 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 46 | — | 41 | 45 |
| Storm risk | — | — | — | — | mod | — | — | — | — |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | - | - | - | 0.3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chance of precip | 4% | 7% | 16% | 30% | 57% | 36% | 19% | 19% | 10% |
| Freezing ft | 9,474 ft | 6,564 ft | 3,698 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 99% | 8% |
| Vis mi | clear | clear | clear | <0.1 | 9 | clear | clear | clear | clear |
| UV | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 4 | — | 2 | 4 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Today Oct 7 | Tomorrow Oct 8 | Friday Oct 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 3,905 ft | 40/45° 22 | 45/46° 36 | 34/38° 37 |
| 3,300 ft | 40/46° 20 | 47/48° 31 | 36/40° 32 |
| 2,500 ft | 39/47° 13 | 49/51° 22 | 40/42° 28 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 39/49° 9 | 50/53° 18 | 40/43° 25 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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30°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 30°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
58 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 58 mph and up to a 57% chance of rain. A shell blocks both.
11h 21m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:13 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 remote Kilkenny region of northern New Hampshire, this 3,905-foot summit offers a rewarding wilderness experience for those willing to earn their views. The peak features a distinctive rocky summit cone that breaks above treeline, providing panoramic vistas across the wild, heavily forested landscapes of Coos County, with standout views toward the Presidential Range and the surrounding Kilkenny highlands. The approach trail is rugged and demanding, with steep sections, rooty terrain, and limited signage characteristic of this less-traveled corner of the White Mountains. As part of the 52 With A View list, it delivers the open, exposed summit experience that defines that collection. The relative isolation of the Kilkenny range means fewer crowds than the main White Mountain corridors, making this a particularly appealing objective for hikers seeking genuine backcountry character alongside their above-treeline rewards.
Elevation
3,905 ft
Range
Kilkenny
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
44.5179, -71.4002
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