West Ridge Trail
To Mount Cardigan · New Hampshire
West Ridge Trail is a trail in southern and western New Hampshire, climbing about 1,200 ft from West Ridge Trail parking to Mount Cardigan. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
1.4 mi
Climb from the low end
1,187 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
1 h 16 min / 41 min
High point
3,137 ft
Above treeline
0.2 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
1,230 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,945 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 Cardigan; these figures end there.
West Ridge Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From West Ridge Trail parking (the lower end) to Mount Cardigan.
- 0.0West Ridge Trail parking
- 0.4Junction with South Ridge Trail
- 0.9Junction with Ranger Cabin Trail and Skyland Trail
- 1.2Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 1.3Junction with Clark Trail, Holt Trail and Mowglis Trail
- 1.4Mount Cardigan
Distances and book times (map miles)
To South Ridge Trail junction
0.41 mi (total 0.41) · ↑297 ↓2 ft · 21 min / 13 min
To Skyland Trail junction
0.51 mi (total 0.92) · ↑422 ↓0 ft · 28 min / 16 min
To Mount Cardigan
0.43 mi (total 1.35) · ↑451 ↓0 ft · 26 min / 13 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ridge Trail parking | South Ridge Trail junction | 0.41 | 0.41 | 297 / 2 ft | 21 min / 13 min |
| South Ridge Trail junction | Skyland Trail junction | 0.51 | 0.92 | 422 / 0 ft | 28 min / 16 min |
| Skyland Trail junction | Mount Cardigan | 0.43 | 1.35 | 451 / 0 ft | 26 min / 13 min |
↑ walking from West Ridge Trail parking; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
West Ridge Trail parking
Off Cardigan Mountain Road
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in both reports.
Latest report, Mon, Jun 1: Nearly full.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions reportRecent trip reports
1 report on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 0, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 0. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Oct 3WetDry
Water crossings: mostly easily rock-hoppable
Full report on NETC - Sun, Sep 6WetDry
Water crossings: All legitimate water crossings had bridges, though several trail sections were like rivers, with running water down them.
Full report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
45 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 45 mph and up to a 83% 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. 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.