Signal Ridge Trail
To Mount Carrigain · New Hampshire
Signal Ridge Trail is a trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the Willey Range, climbing about 3,350 ft from Signal Ridge Trailhead to Mount Carrigain.
Sawyer River Road closed to vehicles
Sawyer River Road has been closed to all vehicles since a December 2023 storm washed out part of the road. The Signal Ridge Trailhead cannot be driven to. Foot travel is allowed: park at the gate on US 302 (limited parking) and walk the road to the trailhead, about 2 miles each way. USFS gives no repair date.
Source: USFSMap length
5.0 mi
Climb from the low end
3,358 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
4 h 11 min / 2 h 33 min
High point
4,653 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,521 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,379 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 Mount Carrigain; these figures end there.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Signal Ridge Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Signal Ridge Trailhead (the lower end) to Mount Carrigain.
- 0.0Signal Ridge Trailhead
- 1.9Junction with Carrigain Notch Trail
- 5.0Mount Carrigain
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Carrigain Notch Trail junction
1.91 mi (total 1.91) · ↑540 ↓14 ft · 1 h 14 min / 58 min
To Mount Carrigain
3.10 mi (total 5.01) · ↑2,815 ↓75 ft · 2 h 58 min / 1 h 35 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signal Ridge Trailhead | Carrigain Notch Trail junction | 1.91 | 1.91 | 540 / 14 ft | 1 h 14 min / 58 min |
| Carrigain Notch Trail junction | Mount Carrigain | 3.10 | 5.01 | 2,815 / 75 ft | 2 h 58 min / 1 h 35 min |
↑ walking from Signal Ridge Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Signal Ridge Trailhead
Off Sawyer River Road · Winter: road closed · Road closed
Weekends (all seasons): Full in 4 of 11 reports, as early as 12:45 pm; others found space as late as 10:30 am.
Fall weekdays: Had space in both reports, as late as 9 am.
Latest report, Sat, Sep 12: Plenty of room at 6:20 am, then overflowing.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report1 incident recorded on this trail, 1 fatal: Mount Carrigain safety record
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.
- Wed, Sep 23MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues
Full report on NETC - Sat, Sep 12MudDry
Water crossings: Carrigain Brook is running low. The downed trees at the crossing can make for awkward maneuvers but the crossing is not difficult. There are various viable routes to cross the brook.
Full report on NETC - Fri, Sep 11MudDry
Water crossings: The one crossing is just a pay attention to which rocks you hop. It wasn't deep (the recent rain might have changed that for a bit).
Full report on NETC - Fri, Sep 4MudWetDry
Water crossings: Easy rock hops even with the rain yesterday. We all remarked on how low the water levels are.
Full report on NETC - Sat, Aug 22MudDry
Water crossings: Super easy rock hops right now.
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.
67 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 67 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. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.