Carter Dome Trail
To Carter Dome · New Hampshire
Carter Dome Trail is a trail in the Carter, Wildcat and Baldface ranges, climbing about 2,500 ft from the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail junction to Carter Dome. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
2.8 mi
Climb from the low end
2,490 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
2 h 40 min / 1 h 25 min
High point
4,832 ft
Above treeline
0.3 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
1,333 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2 (2 fords)
Low point
2,332 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer. The mapped trail stops just short of the summit of Carter Dome; these figures end there.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Carter Dome Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Nineteen Mile Brook Trail junction (the lower end) to Carter Dome.
- 0.0Nineteen Mile Brook Trail junction
- 0.5Fords a stream
- 0.7Fords a stream
- 1.7Junction with Carter-Moriah Trail
- 1.9Junction with Carter-Moriah Trail
- 2.3Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 2.5Junction with Black Angel Trail and Carter-Moriah Trail
- 2.8Carter Dome
- 2.8Junction with Carter-Moriah Trail and Rainbow Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 1.7)
1.73 mi (total 1.73) · ↑1,581 ↓0 ft · 1 h 40 min / 52 min
To Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 1.9)
0.16 mi (total 1.89) · ↑151 ↓0 ft · 10 min / 5 min
To Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 2.5)
0.56 mi (total 2.45) · ↑494 ↓0 ft · 32 min / 17 min
To Carter Dome
0.37 mi (total 2.82) · ↑249 ↓0 ft · 19 min / 11 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nineteen Mile Brook Trail junction | Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 1.7) | 1.73 | 1.73 | 1,581 / 0 ft | 1 h 40 min / 52 min |
| Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 1.7) | Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 1.9) | 0.16 | 1.89 | 151 / 0 ft | 10 min / 5 min |
| Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 1.9) | Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 2.5) | 0.56 | 2.45 | 494 / 0 ft | 32 min / 17 min |
| Carter-Moriah Trail junction (mile 2.5) | Carter Dome | 0.37 | 2.82 | 249 / 0 ft | 19 min / 11 min |
↑ walking from Nineteen Mile Brook Trail junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Summit conditions
Recent trip reports
3 reports on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 0, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 3. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Mon, Sep 14MudWetDry
Water crossings: Easy rock hops
Full report on NETC - Sun, Sep 13MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues.
Full report on NETC - Sat, Sep 12MudDry
Water crossings: N/A
Full report on NETC - Sat, Sep 5MudWet
Water crossings: Nothing notable
Full report on NETC - Sat, Aug 29MudDry
Water crossings: Nothing major, all easily hoppable
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
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.
69 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 69 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
29°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 29°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 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
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Above-treeline areas from canopy height by Meta and WRI (CC BY 4.0). Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.