Wildcat A via Carter Notch

The Wildcat A via Carter Notch is 8.6 miles round trip, starting at Nineteen-Mile Brook Trailhead (Route 16). At AMC book time — half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing — that works out to roughly 4-7 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Wildcat A via Carter Notch climbs about 2,912 ft over 8.6 miles — an average of roughly 339 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole out-and-back, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Wildcat A via Carter Notch Difficult, scored with the Shenandoah difficulty formula — √(elevation gain × 2 × distance) — applied to its 8.6 miles and 2,912 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 Wildcat A via Carter Notch summits 1 named peak: Wildcat Mountain (A Peak).

The Wildcat A via Carter Notch starts at Nineteen-Mile Brook Trailhead (Route 16). Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive — trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.