Wildcat Mountain (D Peak)
#37 of 48Moderate
4,062 ft | Carter | 1 route
27°F / Feels 13°F
21 mph NW
ConditionsDifficult
At the summit, Oct 17, 3:20 AM ETAs of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on Wildcat Mountain (D Peak) are currently rated Difficult. At 3:20 AM ET it was 27°F at the summit (4,062 ft), feeling like 13°F, with NW winds at 21 mph. The listed route, Wildcat D via Wildcat Ridge Trail, is 4.0 miles round trip with 2,173 ft of elevation gain, taking about 2-4 hours. Wildcat Mountain (D Peak) (4,062 ft) is #37 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Wildcat Mountain (D Peak) weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Routes
Trails that reach the summit
Wildcat Valley Trail (3.7 mi) · Wildcat Ridge Trail (4.0 mi)
Trail Map
Today's Conditions
Updated Oct 17, 3:20 AM ETCurrent Weather
27°F
Feels like 13°F
21 mph NW · Gusts 45 mph
98% humidity
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.06" (24h) · 0.77" (48h)
Snow: 0.4" (24h) · 0.4" (48h)
AI Trail Conditions
Difficult
AI Synthesized
medium confidence
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Saturday brings subfreezing temps, upslope snow showers, fog, and strong NW winds gusting to 45 mph at the summit, with snow and ice accumulating on trails at all elevations. Wind chill near -4°F makes frostbite and hypothermia a real risk. Sunday is far better, with clearing skies and lighter winds, so shifting the hike to Sunday is the safer choice.
The freezing level sits between roughly 900 and 3,600 ft, so expect ice and snow underfoot from the trailhead upward, with winds roughly doubling from trailhead (about 24 mph) to treeline and summit (about 47-48 mph). Start with layers you can adjust, carry insulation for the summit where wind chill drops to about -4°F, and add shell and face protection before leaving the sheltered lower sections.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday offers the best window, with clearing skies, 0% precip, and lighter winds (start early to use the full daylight and let temps rise above freezing midday). If hiking Saturday, wait for late morning to afternoon when snow showers diminish, and turn back if conditions worsen.
Hazards
Fresh snow over a glaze of ice (possible freezing rain overnight) making rocks and ledges slick, especially on steep descents
Wind chill near -4°F at the summit with gusts up to 45 mph raises frostbite and hypothermia risk
Fog and upslope snow showers reducing visibility and making navigation harder
Hidden ice under thin snow and wet leaf litter
Temperatures well below freezing from trailhead to summit, with the freezing line dropping to trailhead elevation by late morning
Short daylight window of about 11 hours with sunset around 6 PM; trails will be slow going in icy conditions
Recommended Gear
Microspikes or crampons
Insulated waterproof shell and an insulating mid-layer
Warm hat, balaclava or face cover, and insulated gloves with spare pair
Goggles or eye protection for gusty snow
Trekking poles
Headlamp with extra batteries
Insulated water bottle or hot drink
Emergency bivvy and extra food
Map and compass or GPS (fog)
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.
Recent Trail Reports
10Oct. 6, 2026by Uki
Trail: Ski trails, Wildcat Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“With the blustery winds this was a perfect choice. The winds were blowing on the ski trails but it sure made the clouds beautiful. The ski trails were pretty dry and with the cold temps, where there was mud, it was pretty frozen. Some of the run off was actually ice which was just a gentle reminder that winter is around the corner. There was a lovely dusting of snow once I got up higher and still more ice here and there on the WRT. The dusting of snow on the bog bridges made them slick and I didn't trust any of them for good footing. The rocks were wet here and there and anytime anything looked wet, I just checked it to be sure it was wet and not ice. I got some views all along the way which was really nice. I bumped into Capt Chris and Ken the Flight Engineer which was great. I did and OAB today since I was solo and by the time I was headed back the sun was warming things nicely and some of the mud was less frozen. I only saw 3 people all day and just enjoyed puttering around and admiring the beautiful views and weather. This was just a gift of a day!”
Oct. 4, 2026by Heat Lightning
Trail: Ski trails, Wildcat Ridge Trail, Nineteen Mile Brook Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery
“Ski area very dry, ridge was mostly dry, some mud and puddles. The steep down descending A was dry. Lotsa leaves on the 19 mile brook trail descent made it tedious for wanting to stop thinking about where I was placing my feet at the end of the day. Wobby legged from Saturday made it feel longer”
Oct. 4, 2026by Scott
Trail: Nineteen Mile Brook Trail, Wildcat Ridge Trail, ski trails, NH 16
Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Nice loop route this morning. A bit chilly to start but that’s what fall morning hikes are all about! Leaves are starting to accumulate on trail but didn’t really impact travel as quite a bit of foot traffic have ground them down. Trails were dry for the most part. The trail from Carter notch intersection to Wildcat Mountain was dry, which made that section more enjoyable. Saw very few people on this route of travel and I didn’t get hit by leaf peepers filming while they were driving or yanking the car off in the ditch to get a shot of the presidential range on my run back to trailhead so I’ll take that as a sign it was a great day!”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid 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.
62 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 62 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
19°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 19°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
-2°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.
Get condition updates for Wildcat Mountain (D Peak)
About Wildcat Mountain (D Peak)
Easternmost Wildcat peak, accessible via gondola in summer. Part of Wildcat Ridge traverse.
Elevation
4,062 ft
Range
Carter
Rank
#37 of 48
Difficulty
Moderate
Coordinates
44.2494, -71.2236
Nearby Peaks
Trip Reports
5.0 (1 trip report)