The Belknap Traverse is a 19.4-mile point-to-point with 5,295 ft of elevation gain.
19.4 mi • 5,295 ft gain • 9-15 hours • Mount Major Parking Lot
Feels like 57°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.02" (24h) · 0.02" (48h)
Best Hiking Window
Wednesday, August 19 in the morning through early afternoon, when skies are forecast to be overcast with minimal precipitation chance and winds likely lighter than the gusty conditions expected Monday and Tuesday
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.
Summit-level conditions by time of day at 2,382' elevation
Tap a day header to expand to 3hr or hourly detail
Today Aug 17 | Tomorrow Aug 18 | Wednesday Aug 19 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
| Temperature & Wind | |||||||||
| Weather | drizzle | ptly cloudy | fog | fog | drizzle | drizzle | cloudy | cloudy | drizzle |
| Temp °F hi / lo | 61° 60° | 69° 62° | 65° 64° | 64° 61° | 64° 61° | 65° 62° | 67° 63° | 74° 69° | 69° 63° |
| Chill °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wind mph | 29 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 16 |
| Gust mph est. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Storm risk | — | mod | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precipitation | |||||||||
| Precip in (rain/snow) | 0.1 | - | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - |
| Freezing ft | 14,764 ft | 14,767 ft | 13,320 ft | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| Cloud cover | 100% | 68% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Vis mi | 0.2 | 8 | 0.4 | <0.1 | 8 | 2 | clear | clear | clear |
| UV | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 5 | 7 | — |
Tap a day header to expand AM/PM/Night detail
| Elevation | Today Aug 17 | Tomorrow Aug 18 | Wednesday Aug 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 2,382 ft | 60/61° 29 | 61/64° 12 | 63/67° 12 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 61/62° 27 | 62/65° 12 | 62/68° 10 |
4 more days of forecast — plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
Full hourly summit forecasts: Belknap Mountain weather · Gunstock Mountain weather · Piper Mountain weather · Mount Klem weather · Mount Mack weather · West Quarry Mountain weather · Straightback Mountain weather · Mount Rand weather · Mount Major weather · Mount Rowe weather · Mount Anna weather · Whiteface Mountain (Gilford) weather
The Belknap Traverse is a 19.4-mile point-to-point in New Hampshire's White Mountains, starting at Mount Major Parking Lot and finishing at Alpine Parking Lot. It climbs about 5,295 ft — an average of 274 ft per mile — which works out to roughly 9-15 hours at AMC book time. It summits 12 named peaks, topping out on Belknap Mountain at 2,382 ft: Belknap Mountain (2,382 ft), Gunstock Mountain (2,245 ft), Piper Mountain (2,044 ft), Mount Klem (2,001 ft), Mount Mack (1,945 ft), West Quarry Mountain (1,894 ft), Straightback Mountain (1,890 ft), Mount Rand (1,883 ft), Mount Major (1,786 ft), Mount Rowe (1,680 ft), Mount Anna (1,670 ft), Whiteface Mountain (Gilford) (1,664 ft). HikerNerd rates it Very Difficult on effort alone — check the current conditions above before committing, since weather above treeline changes the day far more than the numbers do.
Distance
19.4 mi
Elevation Gain
5,295 ft
Duration
9-15 hours
Trailhead
Mount Major Parking Lot
Belknap Mountain
2,382 ft • Belknap Range
Gunstock Mountain
2,245 ft • Belknap Range
Piper Mountain
2,044 ft • Belknap Range
Mount Klem
2,001 ft • Belknap Range
Mount Mack
1,945 ft • Belknap Range
West Quarry Mountain
1,894 ft • Belknap Range
Straightback Mountain
1,890 ft • Belknap Range
Mount Rand
1,883 ft • Belknap Range
Mount Major
1,786 ft • Belknap Range
Mount Rowe
1,680 ft • Belknap Range
Mount Anna
1,670 ft • Belknap Range
Whiteface Mountain (Gilford)
1,664 ft • Belknap Range
The Belknap Traverse is 19.4 miles point to point, starting at Mount Major Parking Lot. At AMC book time — half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing — that works out to roughly 9-15 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.
The Belknap Traverse climbs about 5,295 ft over 19.4 miles — an average of roughly 274 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole point-to-point, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.
HikerNerd rates the Belknap Traverse Very Difficult, scored with the Shenandoah difficulty formula — √(elevation gain × 2 × distance) — applied to its 19.4 miles and 5,295 ft of gain. The score measures physical effort only. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can make a moderate-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.
The Belknap Traverse summits 12 named peaks: Belknap Mountain, Gunstock Mountain, Piper Mountain, Mount Klem, Mount Mack, West Quarry Mountain, Straightback Mountain, Mount Rand, Mount Major, Mount Rowe, Mount Anna, Whiteface Mountain (Gilford).
The Belknap Traverse starts at Mount Major Parking Lot and finishes at Alpine Parking Lot, so it needs a car spot or shuttle. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive — trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.
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