Winter hiking in New Hampshire is the same mountains with three things changed: the day is barely nine hours long, several trailhead roads close, and every trail needs traction. Plan around those three and most of the White Mountains stay open to you. This guide covers what changes, which hikes make a good first winter trip, and the gear, weather and rescue rules that matter.
The distances below are summer trail distances from each trail's page on this site, where the figure is linked to its source. Snow, breaking trail and short days make winter hikes slower than summer, so leave real margin.
Short Days: Plan Around 9 Hours of Light
On the winter solstice, Lincoln, NH, gets under nine hours of daylight. Start early, set a turnaround time, and carry a headlamp with fresh batteries on every hike.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15 | 6:42 AM | 4:19 PM | 9 h 37 min |
| Dec 21 | 7:18 AM | 4:11 PM | 8 h 52 min |
| Jan 15 | 7:18 AM | 4:33 PM | 9 h 15 min |
| Feb 15 | 6:46 AM | 5:15 PM | 10 h 29 min |
| Mar 15 | 6:59 AM | 6:52 PM | 11 h 52 min |
Times for Lincoln, NH, computed for the 2026–27 winter. Times in the northern Whites differ by a few minutes.
Trailhead Roads That Close in Winter
Several White Mountain National Forest roads are gated or not maintained in winter, which moves the trailhead. Check the Forest Service road status page before you drive. Status as of mid-October 2026:
- Sawyer River Road (Mount Carrigain): closed to vehicles until repaired after December 2023 storm damage. The Signal Ridge trailhead is 2.0 miles up the road, so Mount Carrigain becomes about 14 miles round trip instead of 10.
- Jefferson Notch Road and Mt. Clinton Road: not maintained for winter travel. The Caps Ridge Trail to Mount Jefferson starts on Jefferson Notch Road, so it isn't a winter day hike from your car.
- Zealand Road: open to passenger vehicles roughly May 15 to November 15 (NH48.info). In winter, hikes to Mount Hale, Zealand Falls and Zealand Mountain start with a road walk.
- Ravine Lodge Road (Mount Moosilauke): maintained in winter by the Dartmouth Outing Club, with parking about halfway up the access road, so the Gorge Brook Trail gets longer too.
- Rocky Branch Road and Wild River Road: closed to motor vehicles after storm damage.
Main highways (I-93, Route 302 through Crawford Notch, Route 16 through Pinkham Notch and the Kancamagus Highway) are state roads that are plowed, though they can close briefly in storms.
Good First Winter Hikes in New Hampshire
Pick a hike you've done in summer, ideally below treeline or with only a short exposed summit. These are reachable from plowed roads (except where noted) and have sourced distances:
| Hike | Distance | Gain | Winter note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Major Mount Major Trail | 3 mi round trip | 1,150 ft | Open summit over Lake Winnipesaukee; the ledges near the top ice over. |
| Arethusa Falls Arethusa Falls Trail | 2.8 mi round trip | 800 ft | Below treeline the whole way; the falls freeze and draw ice climbers. |
| Mount Willard Mount Willard Trail | 3.2 mi round trip | 900 ft | Below treeline, from the Crawford Notch depot on Route 302. |
| Mount Cardigan West Ridge Trail | 3 mi round trip | 1,225 ft | Short climb to a bare granite summit that takes the full wind. |
| Mount Monadnock White Dot Trail | 3.8 mi round trip | 1,885 ft | Bare rocky summit, exposed to wind; southern NH, so less snow than the Whites. |
| Welch Dickey Welch-Dickey Loop | 4.5 mi loop | 1,650 ft | Steep open ledges that are often icy; carry microspikes even on a clear day. |
| Mount Hale Hale Brook Trail | 4.4 mi round trip | 2,300 ft | Zealand Road is closed to cars in winter, so add the road walk to the trailhead. |
| Mount Tecumseh Mount Tecumseh Trail | 4.9 mi round trip | 2,283 ft | Starts at the Waterville Valley ski area lot; one of the shortest 4,000-footer hikes. |
| Mount Jackson Webster-Jackson Trail | 5.2 mi round trip | 2,200 ft | Trailhead on Route 302; steep ledges just below the open summit. |
Save the big above-treeline days, such as Franconia Ridge and Mount Washington, for clear, calm forecasts and after you have below-treeline winter trips behind you.
Winter Hiking Gear: Traction and Layers
Traction
- Microspikes for packed snow and ice on most trails. Put them on early.
- Snowshoes after a storm or anywhere the trail isn't packed. Walking a packed trail in boots leaves deep postholes that make it worse for everyone.
- Crampons for steep ice and above-treeline terrain, with the skills to use them.
Clothing and warmth
- Insulated, waterproof winter boots and gaiters.
- No cotton. A wicking base layer, an insulating layer, a puffy jacket for stops, and a windproof shell.
- Spare gloves and mittens, a warm hat and a buff or balaclava; goggles for above treeline.
Also carry
- A headlamp with spare batteries, plus a map and compass. Phone batteries drain fast in the cold.
- Water in insulated bottles, carried upside down so the cap doesn't freeze, and more food than you'd eat in summer.
- A small foam sit pad and an emergency bivy or space blanket.
See the winter hiking gear checklist for a full list.
Weather Above Treeline, Hypothermia and Frostbite
Conditions above treeline are often far worse than at the trailhead. Read the Higher Summits Forecast from the Mount Washington Observatory before any hike that leaves the trees, and set a turnaround time you'll keep. Turn back if visibility drops, the wind is knocking you around, or you're behind schedule.
Hypothermia and frostbite
Watch for uncontrollable shivering, clumsiness, slurred speech and poor decisions in yourself and your group. Stay dry: start a little cold so you don't sweat through your layers, eat and drink often, and add a layer as soon as you stop. Numb, white or waxy skin on the face, fingers or toes is frostnip or frostbite: get out of the wind and rewarm it gently.
The NH Hike Safe Card
New Hampshire can bill hikers for a rescue caused by negligence. A voluntary Hike Safe card ($25 per person or $35 per family, valid for the calendar year) funds NH Fish and Game's search-and-rescue work. A current NH hunting or fishing license gives the same protection. Buy it online at wildnh.com/safe.
The hiker responsibility code that goes with it is the right winter checklist: know your route and the forecast, leave your plan with someone, stay together, turn back in bad weather or when daylight runs low, and be ready for an emergency.
Winter 4,000-Footers: What Counts
The Appalachian Mountain Club's Four Thousand Footer Club keeps a separate winter list for the 48 New Hampshire peaks over 4,000 feet. A hike only counts if the whole trip starts after the exact time of the winter solstice and ends before the exact time of the vernal equinox (AMC Four Thousand Footer Club). Hikes in November or early December don't count, however wintry they feel.
Good first winter 4,000-footers are the shorter, mostly below-treeline ones from plowed roads: Tecumseh, Jackson and Osceola. Check road access first, because the trailhead roads for several others close (see above). See the NH 48 guide for the full list.
Before you go
- Check the road status, and the Higher Summits Forecast if you'll be above treeline.
- Leave your plan and a turnaround time with someone.
- Pack traction, a headlamp, spare layers, and a Hike Safe card.
Start with a short hike you know from summer, and build from there.