Mount Cardigan (NH): elevation, trails, skiing nearby

Does Mount Cardigan have skiing?

No lift-served ski area on this mountain. Nearest ski area: Tenney Mountain, about 8.9 miles (straight line).

Altitude at a glance

County	Grafton County
Town / township	Orange
Tower	Fire tower Cardigan Mountain Lookout. State fire tower run by the NH Division of Forests and Lands; open to visitors when staffed (staffed weekends April–October and on high fire-danger days) (NH Division of Forests and Lands)
Summit	3,155 ft / 962 m

Mount Cardigan — Photo: Ken Gallager at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Topo map

Base map: USGS The National Map (public domain). Switch to OpenTopoMap with the layer button. Use for orientation only; carry a proper map and compass.

Summit weather

Loading the National Weather Service forecast for the summit…

Full NWS point forecast for Mount Cardigan

Forecast: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), for the 2.5 km forecast grid cell at the summit coordinates, which accounts for elevation. Mountain weather changes fast; check again before you go.

Who manages this mountain

Cardigan Mountain State Forest, managed by NH Department of Resources & Economic Development.

Land unit from the USGS PAD-US database at the summit point; ranger district from USDA Forest Service boundaries. Office address and phone from the Forest Service offices page.

Views & popular hike

Views: Extensive bare granite ledges and alpine scrub make it feel like a much higher mountain.

Source: Wikipedia, “Mount Cardigan”.

Sunrise & sunset today

Calculating…

Calculated in your browser for the summit coordinates (standard sunrise equation, Eastern Time). From a high summit with an open horizon, the sun appears a few minutes earlier and sets a few minutes later than the sea-level times shown here; the extra minutes are estimated from the summit's height.

Safety

Consider a hikeSafe card. It's sold by NH Fish and Game and helps cover the cost of a search and rescue if you need one, under NH rules. Carry the ten essentials, tell someone your plan and know when to turn back.

Huts, shelters & campgrounds nearby

Crag Shelter (Shelter) — 0.8 mi
Clark Brook Campsite (Campground / campsite, Appalachian Mountain Club) — 1.8 mi
Nature Hut (Wilderness hut) — 7.6 mi
Warming Hut (Wilderness hut, Green Woodlands Foundation) — 8.2 mi
Trailside Stays (Hut) — 8.3 mi
Mudgetts Warming Hut (Wilderness hut, Green Woodlands Foundation) — 9.1 mi

Within 15 miles, straight line. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Check with the operator for reservations, fees and seasons.

Real estate nearby

Town	Typical home value	Median household income	Population
Orange	$302,600 (Census ACS median)	$118,750	320
Groton	$350,550 (Zillow, 2026-09; +1.3% in a year)	$85,625	507
Grafton	$306,378 (Zillow, 2026-09; +0.3% in a year)	$81,563	1,354
Alexandria	$407,891 (Zillow, 2026-09; +1.9% in a year)	$89,194	1,983

Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), typical home, as of the month shown; when Zillow has no figure for a town, we show the Census ACS 5-year median home value (table B25077). Income: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020–2024 (via Census Reporter), table B19013. Population: same ACS 5-year release, table B01003.

In the news

Injured Hiker Rescued from Mount Cardigan — NH Fish and Game Department, Oct 26, 2026

Recent headlines from Google News, last 90 days. We link to the publishers and don't copy any article text.

Nearby peaks & ski areas

Straight-line distance.

Closest lakes & ponds

285 named lakes and ponds within 30 miles: 81 with a public boat launch, 38 with a public swimming beach.

2.7 mi Orange Pond, Orange Boat ramp
3.7 mi Derby Pond, Canaan
3.9 mi Tewksbury Pond, Grafton Boat ramp
3.9 mi Unnamed Pond, Canaan Hand-carry launch
4.1 mi Bryant Pond, Dorchester
4.2 mi Mirror Lake, Canaan
4.8 mi Grants Pond, Grafton
5.3 mi Kilton Pond, Grafton Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
6.0 mi Lary Pond, Canaan
6.0 mi Spectacle Pond, Groton Boat rampSwimming beach
6.1 mi Canaan Street Lake, Canaan Boat rampSwimming beach
6.2 mi Goose Pond, Alexandria
6.3 mi Mud Pond, Grafton
6.8 mi Spectacle Pond, Enfield Boat ramp
7.3 mi Whitney Pond, Grafton
7.3 mi Little Pond, Groton
7.4 mi Newfound Lake, Bristol Boat rampSwimming beach
7.5 mi Halfmoon Pond, Grafton
7.5 mi Foster Pond, Alexandria
7.7 mi Bear Pond, Canaan
7.8 mi Grafton Pond, Grafton Boat rampSwimming beach
7.8 mi Three Thousand Acre Pond, Grafton
8.1 mi School Pond, Danbury Boat ramp
8.7 mi Hale Pond, Grafton
9.0 mi Mudgetts Pond, Dorchester
9.1 mi Goose Pond, Little, Canaan
9.2 mi Waukeena Lake (Pleasant), Danbury
9.3 mi Clark Pond, Canaan Boat ramp
9.4 mi Crystal Lake, Enfield
9.8 mi Goose Pond, Canaan Boat rampSwimming beach
10.0 mi Clark Pond, Little, Lyme
10.3 mi Cummins Pond, Dorchester
10.4 mi Dick Brown Pond, Bridgewater
10.5 mi George Pond, Enfield Boat ramp
10.9 mi Pout Pond, Dorchester
11.0 mi Mcdaniels Marsh (Bog Brook), Springfield
11.1 mi Piper Pond, Wilmot
11.2 mi Trout Pond, Dorchester
11.3 mi Poverty Pond, Hill Hand-carry launch
11.3 mi White Pond, Wilmot Hand-carry launch
11.4 mi Reservoir Pond, Dorchester
11.4 mi Mill Pond Dam, Springfield
11.6 mi Cole Pond, Enfield
11.6 mi Butterfield Pond, Wilmot
11.9 mi Mascoma Lake, Enfield Boat rampSwimming beach
11.9 mi Enfield Reservoir, Canaan
11.9 mi March Pond, Hill
12.0 mi Smith Pond, Enfield
12.0 mi Line Pond, Wentworth
12.1 mi Halfmile Pond, Enfield
12.5 mi Butternut Pond, Grantham
12.7 mi Kolelemook Lake, Springfield Boat ramp
12.7 mi Mccutcheon Pond, Dorchester
12.9 mi Loon Lake, Plymouth
13.1 mi Morgan Pond, Springfield Hand-carry launch
13.1 mi Anderson Pond, Grantham
13.1 mi Webster Pond, Bridgewater
13.2 mi Eastman Pond, Grantham Boat ramp
13.3 mi Eagle Pond, Wilmot Hand-carry launch
13.5 mi Weeks Pond, Andover
13.8 mi Cold Pond, Andover
14.0 mi Rocky Pond, Wentworth
14.0 mi Langenau Pond, Wilmot
14.1 mi Rocky Pond, Little, Wentworth
14.3 mi Leavitt Pond, Grantham
14.6 mi Dutchman Pond, Springfield
14.7 mi Pout Pond, Lyme
14.7 mi Mountain Pond, Sanbornton
14.8 mi Star Lake, Springfield
14.8 mi Miller Pond, Grantham
14.9 mi Brackett Pond, Wentworth
15.0 mi Elbow Pond, Andover
15.0 mi Spectacle Pond, Meredith Boat ramp
15.0 mi Hopkins Pond, Andover
15.0 mi Bog Pond, Andover Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
15.0 mi Trout Pond, Lyme
15.0 mi Stocker Pond, Little, Springfield
15.1 mi Stocker Pond, Grantham
15.3 mi Mcalpin Pond, Springfield
15.5 mi Pleasant Lake, New London Boat rampSwimming beach
15.5 mi Chase Pond, Plainfield
15.6 mi Highland Lake, Andover Boat rampSwimming beach
15.7 mi Lily Pond, Grantham
15.8 mi Pickerel Pond, Orford
15.9 mi Sunapee Lake, Little, New London Boat rampSwimming beach
15.9 mi Squam Lake, Little, Ashland Boat rampSwimming beach
15.9 mi Bog Brook Reservoir, Springfield
16.0 mi Baptist Pond, Springfield
16.0 mi Horseshoe Pond, Andover
16.0 mi Tannery Pond, Wilmot Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
16.1 mi Stinson Lake, Rumney Boat rampSwimming beach
16.2 mi Pemigewasset Lake, Meredith Boat ramp
16.2 mi Chase Pond, Wilmot
16.3 mi Swain Pond, Wentworth
16.4 mi Hermit Lake, Sanbornton Swimming beach
16.4 mi Jackson Pond, New Hampton
16.4 mi Mason Pond, Orford
16.5 mi Otter Pond, Sunapee
16.5 mi Goose Pond, New London
16.5 mi Cranberry Pond, Croydon
16.6 mi Sky Pond, New Hampton Hand-carry launch
16.7 mi Recreation Pond, Lyme
16.8 mi Bradley Lake, Andover Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
16.9 mi Webster Lake, Franklin Boat rampSwimming beach
16.9 mi Baker Pond, Lower, Wentworth Boat rampSwimming beach
17.0 mi Post Pond, Lyme Boat rampSwimming beach
17.1 mi Morey Pond, Andover
17.2 mi Giles Pond, Sanbornton Boat ramp
17.3 mi Long Pond (Coniston), Croydon
17.3 mi Cawley Pond, Sanbornton
17.4 mi Winona Lake, Center Harbor Boat ramp
17.4 mi Ledge Pond, Sunapee
17.4 mi Currier Wildlife Pond, New London
17.6 mi Rollins Pond, Sanbornton
17.7 mi Ellsworth Pond, Ellsworth
17.7 mi Mud Turtle Pond, Orford
17.8 mi Messer Pond, New London Boat ramp
17.8 mi Forest Pond, Meredith
17.8 mi Three Ponds, Lower, Ellsworth
17.9 mi Clark Pond, New London
18.0 mi Hawkins Pond, Center Harbor Boat ramp
18.0 mi Randlett Pond, Meredith
18.1 mi Rockybound Pond, Croydon Boat rampSwimming beach
18.1 mi Three Ponds, Middle, Warren
18.2 mi Storrs Pond, Hanover Swimming beach
18.3 mi Wicwas Lake, Meredith
18.3 mi Bear Pond, Center Harbor
18.4 mi Baker Pond, Upper, Orford Boat rampSwimming beach
18.5 mi White Oak Pond, Holderness Hand-carry launch
18.5 mi Wildlife Pond Dam, Meredith
18.5 mi Three Ponds, Upper, Warren
18.5 mi Shaw Pond, Franklin
18.7 mi Spectacle Pond, Croydon
18.7 mi Otter Pond, Center Harbor
18.8 mi Boston Lot Lake, Lebanon Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
18.8 mi Perch Pond, Little, Campton
18.8 mi Foxglove Pond, Warren
18.9 mi Heath Pond, Ellsworth
19.0 mi Wheeler Pond, Croydon
19.1 mi Occom Pond, Hanover
19.2 mi Perch Pond, Campton
19.4 mi Perkins Pond, Sunapee Boat ramp
19.6 mi Waukewan Lake, Meredith Boat rampSwimming beach
19.9 mi Kezar Lake, Sutton Boat rampSwimming beach
19.9 mi Peaked Hill Pond, Thornton
20.0 mi Sunapee Lake, Sunapee Boat rampSwimming beach
20.0 mi Red Leaf Pond, Croydon
20.1 mi The Overflow, Croydon
20.2 mi Mud Pond, Thornton
20.4 mi Indian Pond, Orford Boat rampSwimming beach
20.4 mi Hildreth Dam Pond, Warren Hand-carry launch
20.5 mi Pickerel Pond, Laconia
20.5 mi Hunkins Pond, Sanbornton Hand-carry launch
20.5 mi Harts Pond, Meredith
20.6 mi Gile Pond, Sutton Boat ramp
20.6 mi Campton Pond, Campton
20.7 mi Sky Ranch Pond, Plainfield
21.0 mi Squam Lake, Moultonborough Boat rampSwimming beach
21.1 mi Greenough Pond, Salisbury
21.1 mi Mud Pond, Plainfield
21.3 mi Chalk Pond, Newbury
21.4 mi Moses Pond, Plainfield
21.5 mi Winnisquam Lake, Sanbornton Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
21.5 mi Foote Pond, Laconia
21.5 mi Weeks Crossing Pond, Warren
21.6 mi Armington Lake, Piermont Boat ramp
21.7 mi Chickenboro Brook, Campton
22.0 mi Lity Pond, Newport
22.3 mi Tucker Pond, Salisbury
22.3 mi Palmer Pond, Sutton
22.4 mi Beaver Pond, Sutton
22.4 mi Page Pond (Little Pond), Meredith
22.5 mi Intervale Pond, Sandwich
22.6 mi Mountainview Lake, Sunapee
22.7 mi Tarleton Lake, Piermont Boat rampSwimming beach
22.8 mi Railroad Pond, Belmont
22.9 mi Silver Lake, Tilton Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
22.9 mi Wakondah Pond, Moultonborough
22.9 mi Wachipauka (Meader) Pond, Warren
22.9 mi Duck Pond, Salisbury
23.1 mi Paugus Bay, Laconia Hand-carry launch
23.1 mi Opechee Bay, Laconia Boat rampSwimming beach
23.1 mi Kusumpe Pond, Sandwich
23.1 mi Mirror Lake, Woodstock Boat rampSwimming beach
23.2 mi Katherine Lake, Piermont Hand-carry launch
23.3 mi Governors Pond, Croydon
23.4 mi Sumners Pond, Croydon
23.4 mi Cone Pond, Thornton
23.4 mi Hall Pond, Middle, Sandwich
23.5 mi Kanasatka Lake, Moultonborough Boat ramp
23.5 mi Hall Pond, Lower, Sandwich
23.6 mi Sondogardy Pond, Northfield Swimming beach
23.6 mi Hall Pond, Upper, Sandwich Hand-carry launch
23.8 mi Loch Lyndon Res., Sutton
23.8 mi Atwood Pond, Sandwich
23.9 mi Chapin Pond, Newport
24.0 mi Bagley Pond, Warner
24.0 mi Russell Pond, Sutton Boat ramp
24.2 mi Knowles Pond, Northfield
24.3 mi Barville Pond, Sandwich
24.4 mi Dinsmore Pond, Sandwich
24.4 mi Elbow Pond, Woodstock Boat ramp
24.4 mi Oliverian Brook Pond, Benton Boat ramp
24.5 mi Little Pond, Webster
24.5 mi Kiah Pond, Sandwich
24.7 mi Lily Pond, Gilford Hand-carry launch
24.7 mi Recreation Pond, Newbury
24.7 mi Constance Lake, Piermont
24.8 mi Solitude Lake, Newbury
24.9 mi Rand Pond, Goshen Boat ramp
24.9 mi Glencliff Home Pond, Benton
25.0 mi Blaisdell Lake, Sutton Boat ramp
25.1 mi Whitewater Reservoir, Cornish
25.2 mi Winnepocket Lake, Webster
25.3 mi Billings Pond, Sutton
25.4 mi Simmons Pond, Warner
25.6 mi Forest Pond, Canterbury
25.7 mi Todd Lake, Newbury
25.7 mi Guinea Pond, Sandwich
25.8 mi Pickering Pond, Moultonborough
25.8 mi Pout Pond, Belmont
25.8 mi Black Mountain Pond, Sandwich
25.9 mi Walker Pond, Boscawen Boat ramp
26.0 mi Trumbull Pond, Webster
26.0 mi Rice Reservoir, Claremont
26.1 mi Saltmarsh Pond, Gilford Boat rampSwimming beach
26.2 mi Garland Pond, Moultonborough
26.4 mi Gillingham Pond, Newbury
26.5 mi Lees Pond, Moultonborough Boat ramp
26.6 mi Meadow Brook Pond, Moultonborough
26.8 mi Farm Pond, Gilford
27.0 mi Gunnison Lake (Gunnerson), Goshen
27.0 mi Morrill Pond (Hayward Brook), Canterbury
27.2 mi Red Hill Pond, Sandwich
27.2 mi Berry Pond, Moultonborough Boat ramp
27.3 mi Clough Pond, Belmont
27.5 mi Little Pond, Sandwich Boat ramp
27.5 mi The Channel, Canterbury
27.6 mi Lyford Pond, Canterbury
27.7 mi Sargent Lake, Belmont
27.7 mi New Pond (Stump Pond), Canterbury
27.7 mi Dole Reservoir, Claremont
27.7 mi Tea Cup Lake Dam, Sandwich
27.8 mi Pillsbury Lake, Webster Boat ramp
27.8 mi Beaver Pond, Woodstock Hand-carry launch
28.0 mi Long Pond, Benton Boat ramp
28.0 mi Russell Pond, Woodstock Boat rampSwimming beach
28.1 mi Massasecum Lake, Bradford Boat rampSwimming beach
28.1 mi Cunningham Pond, Warner
28.3 mi Kimball Pond, Canterbury
28.4 mi Winnipesaukee Lake, Moultonborough Boat rampSwimming beach
28.4 mi Wood Pond, Haverhill Hand-carry launch
28.5 mi Crane Neck Pond, Canterbury
28.5 mi Gunstock Mtn Recreation Pond, Gilford
28.7 mi Tom'S Pond (Diamond), Warner
28.8 mi Rocky Pond, Loudon
28.8 mi Gilman Pond, Unity
28.8 mi Flaghole Pond, Boscawen
28.9 mi Long Pond, Canterbury
29.0 mi Sawyer Lake, Gilmanton
29.0 mi Runaway Pond, Canterbury
29.1 mi Horseshoe Pond, Canterbury
29.1 mi Marshall Pond, Unity
29.2 mi Corcoran Pond, Waterville Valley
29.2 mi Morrill Pond, Canterbury Hand-carry launch
29.2 mi Ox Pond, Webster
29.2 mi Pleasant Pond, Warner
29.3 mi Bear Pond, Warner
29.3 mi Hirst Marsh Dam, Boscawen
29.4 mi Unnamed Pond, Canterbury
29.4 mi Factory Pond, Canterbury
29.5 mi Bearcamp Pond, Sandwich
29.5 mi Flat Mountain Pond (1&2), Waterville Valley
29.5 mi Turning Mill Pond East, Canterbury
29.6 mi Little Pond, Boscawen
29.6 mi Sawmill Pond, Canterbury
29.7 mi North Pond, Washington Hand-carry launch
29.8 mi Ayers Pond, Bradford
29.8 mi Bear Pond, Washington
29.9 mi Day Pond, Warner
29.9 mi Colleague Pond, Henniker
29.9 mi Carding Mill Pond, Canterbury
30.0 mi Hurd Pond, Lempster
30.0 mi Gordon Pond, Lincoln
30.0 mi Cold Brook Pond, Lempster

Straight-line distance from the summit. Lakes and towns: NH Fish and Game fishing guide data. Boat launches: NH Fish and Game public access sites. Swimming: NH Fish and Game access sites and NH DES monitored public beaches. No badge means access is unknown, not that there is none. Check local rules before you go.

Closest golf courses

Montcalm Golf Club, Enfield — 13.2 mi
Lake Sunapee Country Club — 17.3 mi
Den Brae Golf Course — 17.3 mi

Straight-line distance. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Trails & mileage

This peak is outside USFS trail data. Check the land manager below for official trail info.

Summit sunrise & sunset by month

Mid-month	Sunrise	Sunset	Turn around by*
Jan	7:18 AM	4:34 PM	2:34 PM
Feb	6:47 AM	5:16 PM	3:16 PM
Mar	7:01 AM	6:52 PM	4:52 PM
Apr	6:06 AM	7:29 PM	5:29 PM
May	5:23 AM	8:04 PM	6:04 PM
Jun	5:05 AM	8:30 PM	6:30 PM
Jul	5:18 AM	8:27 PM	6:27 PM
Aug	5:51 AM	7:53 PM	5:53 PM
Sep	6:25 AM	7:00 PM	5:00 PM
Oct	7:00 AM	6:06 PM	4:06 PM
Nov	6:40 AM	4:24 PM	2:24 PM
Dec	7:13 AM	4:11 PM	2:11 PM

Computed for the summit coordinates with the NOAA solar formula, Eastern Time (DST applied). *Rule of thumb: be heading down at least 2 hours before sunset; start early enough to reach the summit before this time.

Best month to hike

Sep — the month with the fewest wet days (≥1 mm precipitation) among months where the average summit high reaches 50°F.

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Wet days
Jan	21°F	4°F	30%
Feb	23°F	5°F	33%
Mar	32°F	14°F	32%
Apr	44°F	26°F	40%
May	57°F	38°F	39%
Jun	65°F	47°F	44%
Jul	71°F	54°F	41%
Aug	69°F	52°F	35%
Sep	62°F	45°F	29%
Oct	49°F	35°F	38%
Nov	36°F	23°F	31%
Dec	26°F	12°F	37%

2006–2025 daily ERA5 reanalysis from the Open-Meteo archive, adjusted to summit elevation. Reanalysis smooths mountain weather; summits like Mount Washington are often colder and windier than shown.

Getting there & parking

Nearest towns

Orange — 2.8 mi
Groton — 5.3 mi
Grafton — 6.1 mi

Closest airports with scheduled flights

Lebanon Municipal Airport (LEB) — about 19.5 mi straight line
Rutland - Southern Vermont Regional Airport (RUT) — about 52.4 mi straight line
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) — about 55.1 mi straight line

Campgrounds & places to stay

KOA campgrounds

Lincoln / Woodstock KOA Holiday — 24.6 mi, Woodstock · Directions
Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday — 41.6 mi, Lisbon · Directions
Twin Mountain / Mt. Washington KOA Holiday — 49.1 mi, Carroll · Directions

National Forest campgrounds

Nearby ski areas

Tenney Mountain — 8.9 mi 1500 vertical ft · 49 trails · 4 lifts · 130 acres
Ragged Mountain — 12.0 mi 1250 vertical ft · 57 trails · 5 lifts · 250 acres
Dartmouth Skiway — 13.3 mi 968 vertical ft · 30 trails · 4 lifts · 104 acres

Hike + ski pairing: hike Mount Cardigan in summer or fall, then come back in winter to ski Tenney Mountain, 8.9 miles away.

Hiking clubs & trail groups

NH State Parks — manages the state park on this mountain.

Peaks nearby

Mount Assurance — 13.2 mi, 1,655 ft
Ragged Mountain — 13.3 mi, 2,264 ft
Smarts Mountain — 13.6 mi, 3,238 ft
Carr Mountain — 16.6 mi, 3,437 ft
Mount Cube — 17.2 mi, 2,893 ft

Sources

Summit location: Wikidata Q6919993. Elevations: Wikidata/GNIS and USGS 3D Elevation Program (EPQS). Trails & trailheads: USDA Forest Service EDW datasets. Ski stats: Ski NH. Climate: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5). Airports: OurAirports. KOA locations: OpenStreetMap contributors.