Middle Sister Trail
To Middle Sister · New Hampshire
Middle Sister Trail is a trail in the Sandwich Range and Waterville Valley, climbing about 2,100 ft from the Carter Ledge Trail junction to the Champney Falls Trail junction.
Map length
3.5 mi
Climb from the low end
2,121 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
2 h 49 min / 1 h 53 min
High point
3,339 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,594 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,346 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
Middle Sister Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Carter Ledge Trail junction (the lower end) to Champney Falls Trail junction.
- 0.0Carter Ledge Trail junction
- 2.8Junction with Carter Ledge Trail
- 3.1Middle Sister
- 3.2Junction with Champney Falls Cutoff
- 3.5Junction with Champney Falls Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Carter Ledge Trail junction (mile 2.8)
2.82 mi (total 2.82) · ↑1,843 ↓39 ft · 2 h 20 min / 1 h 26 min
To Middle Sister
0.27 mi (total 3.09) · ↑159 ↓12 ft · 13 min / 8 min
To Champney Falls Cutoff junction
0.10 mi (total 3.19) · ↑0 ↓83 ft · 3 min / 5 min
To Champney Falls Trail junction
0.30 mi (total 3.49) · ↑107 ↓159 ft · 12 min / 14 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Ledge Trail junction (mile 0.0) | Carter Ledge Trail junction (mile 2.8) | 2.82 | 2.82 | 1,843 / 39 ft | 2 h 20 min / 1 h 26 min |
| Carter Ledge Trail junction (mile 2.8) | Middle Sister | 0.27 | 3.09 | 159 / 12 ft | 13 min / 8 min |
| Middle Sister | Champney Falls Cutoff junction | 0.10 | 3.19 | 0 / 83 ft | 3 min / 5 min |
| Champney Falls Cutoff junction | Champney Falls Trail junction | 0.30 | 3.49 | 107 / 159 ft | 12 min / 14 min |
↑ walking from Carter Ledge Trail junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions reportRecent trip reports
No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sun, Sep 6MudDry
Water crossings: None. Note: Hobbs Brook is dry; there is no water on these trails.
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
54 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 54 mph and up to a 76% chance of rain. A shell blocks both.
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: Fall gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.