Rainbow Trail

To Carter Dome · New Hampshire

USFS trail #32373

Rainbow Trail is a trail in the Carter, Wildcat and Baldface ranges, climbing about 2,300 ft from the Wild River Trail junction to Carter Dome.

Map length

2.2 mi

Climb from the low end

2,314 ft

Book time up / down (from map miles)

2 h 17 min / 1 h 9 min

High point

4,828 ft

Above treeline

None

Steepest ¼ mile

1,785 ft/mi

Stream crossings

0

Low point

2,577 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.

Rainbow Trail

Elevation profile Steep (25%+)
2,000'3,500'5,000'Carter Dome, mile 2.230 mi2.2 mi

Mile by mile (map miles)

From Wild River Trail junction (the lower end) to Carter Dome.

  1. 0.0Wild River Trail junction
  2. 0.0Perkins Notch
  3. 2.2Carter Dome
  4. 2.2Junction with Carter Dome Trail and Carter-Moriah Trail

Summit conditions

Carter DomedifficultOct 9, 8:20 PM
Today's conditions report

Connecting trails

Wild River TrailCarter Dome TrailCarter-Moriah Trail

What to bring

From the summit forecast, Sat to Mon

Paid 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.

    Kahtoola Microspikes at Backcountry.com ($89.95)

  • 11h 13m

    Daylight

    Headlamp

    Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.

    Headlamps at Backcountry.com

The rest of the list: Winter 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.