Sandwich Dome (NH): elevation, trails, skiing nearby

Does Sandwich Dome have skiing?

No lift-served ski area on this mountain. Nearest ski area: Waterville Valley, about 4.7 miles (straight line).

Altitude at a glance

County	Grafton County
Town / township	Waterville Valley
Summit	3,967 ft / 1,209 m
USFS trailhead used for comparison	Drakes Brook/Sandwich Mtn Trailhead: 1,417 ft (2.7 mi from summit, straight line)
Elevation difference	2,550 ft from Drakes Brook/Sandwich Mtn Trailhead to summit

Altitude note (estimate): using the standard lapse rate of about 3.5°F per 1,000 ft, expect the summit to be roughly 9°F colder than the trailhead, before wind chill. Above treeline, wind can make it feel far colder.

Effort score: 944 ft/mi — Moderate

Effort score = elevation gain ÷ straight-line distance from the nearest USFS trailhead to the summit (feet per mile). Trails wind, so real trail grades are gentler than this number. Under 500 Gentle · 500–999 Moderate · 1,000–1,499 Steep · 1,500+ Very steep. Use it to compare peaks, not as a trail grade.

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 Sandwich Dome

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

White Mountain National Forest (USDA Forest Service), Pemigewasset Ranger District.

71 White Mountain Drive, Campton, NH 03223 · (603) 536-6100

The summit is inside the Sandwich Range Wilderness, a federally designated wilderness with stricter rules (group size limits, no mechanized equipment).

WMNF offices (official)

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.

Parking & trailheads

The nearest Forest Service trailheads:

Drakes Brook/Sandwich Mtn Trailhead — 2.7 mi from the summit (straight line), elevation 1,417 ft Get directions Apple Maps
Old Waterville Road Trailhead — 2.7 mi from the summit (straight line), elevation 1,155 ft Get directions Apple Maps
Flat Mountain Pond Trailhead (Bennett Street) — 2.9 mi from the summit (straight line), elevation 1,074 ft Get directions Apple Maps

Trailheads: USDA Forest Service. Pass requirement: WMNF list of fee sites; at other trailheads we don't know of a fee. Check the official page before you go.

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

Flat Mountain Pond Shelter (Shelter, USFS/AMC) — 2.2 mi
Waterville Valley Campground (Campground / campsite, US Forest Service) — 3.0 mi
Goose Hollow Camp & RV Park (Campground / campsite) — 4.9 mi
Site #3 (Campground / campsite, Friends of Mead Base Conservation Center) — 5.0 mi
Site #2 (Campground / campsite, Friends of Mead Base Conservation Center) — 5.0 mi
Site #1 (Campground / campsite, Friends of Mead Base Conservation Center) — 5.0 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
Waterville Valley	$438,675 (Zillow, 2026-09; +3.0% in a year)	$105,625	290
Campton	$415,754 (Zillow, 2026-09; +6.3% in a year)	$118,870	3,407
Thornton	$427,781 (Zillow, 2026-09; +4.5% in a year)	$90,022	2,799
Woodstock	$431,339 (Zillow, 2026-09; +2.1% in a year)	$85,667	1,214

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.

Nearby peaks & ski areas

Straight-line distance.

Closest lakes & ponds

243 named lakes and ponds within 30 miles: 71 with a public boat launch, 30 with a public swimming beach.

1.4 mi Black Mountain Pond, Sandwich
2.5 mi Flat Mountain Pond (1&2), Waterville Valley
2.8 mi Guinea Pond, Sandwich
3.2 mi Kiah Pond, Sandwich
3.3 mi Atwood Pond, Sandwich
3.4 mi Corcoran Pond, Waterville Valley
3.5 mi Hall Pond, Upper, Sandwich Hand-carry launch
3.7 mi Hall Pond, Lower, Sandwich
3.7 mi Hall Pond, Middle, Sandwich
4.2 mi Tea Cup Lake Dam, Sandwich
5.3 mi Cone Pond, Thornton
5.7 mi Chickenboro Brook, Campton
6.1 mi Dinsmore Pond, Sandwich
7.0 mi Campton Pond, Campton
7.4 mi Greeley Ponds, Livermore
7.7 mi Red Hill Pond, Sandwich
7.8 mi Kusumpe Pond, Sandwich
7.8 mi Intervale Pond, Sandwich
7.8 mi Barville Pond, Sandwich
7.8 mi Greeley Pond, Upper, Livermore
8.1 mi Miles Pond, Sandwich
8.1 mi East Pond, Livermore
8.3 mi Great Hill Pond, Tamworth
8.4 mi Perch Pond, Campton
8.4 mi Lily Pond, Livermore
8.6 mi Bearcamp Pond, Sandwich
8.7 mi Little Pond, Sandwich Boat ramp
8.7 mi Perch Pond, Little, Campton
9.2 mi East Pond, Little, Livermore
9.4 mi Church Pond, Livermore
9.5 mi Jackman Pond, Tamworth
9.6 mi Duck Pond (Great Hill School), Tamworth
10.0 mi Squam Lake, Moultonborough Boat rampSwimming beach
10.0 mi Beaver Pond, Tamworth
10.1 mi Mirror Lake, Woodstock Boat rampSwimming beach
10.1 mi Mud Pond, Thornton
10.7 mi Berry Pond, Moultonborough Boat ramp
10.8 mi Russell Pond, Woodstock Boat rampSwimming beach
11.0 mi Peaked Hill Pond, Thornton
11.3 mi James Pond, Tamworth
11.4 mi Garland Pond, Moultonborough
11.5 mi Wakondah Pond, Moultonborough
11.5 mi Loon Pond, Lincoln
11.6 mi Heath Pond, Ellsworth
11.9 mi Sawyer Pond, Livermore
11.9 mi Loon Pond, Little, Lincoln
12.0 mi Sawyer Pond, Little, Livermore
12.1 mi Lees Pond, Moultonborough Boat ramp
12.3 mi Kanasatka Lake, Moultonborough Boat ramp
12.5 mi Lonely Lake, Tamworth
12.7 mi Ellsworth Pond, Ellsworth
13.0 mi Chocorua Lake, Tamworth Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
13.0 mi Elbow Pond, Woodstock Boat ramp
13.0 mi Falls Pond, Albany
13.0 mi Carrigain Pond, Lincoln
13.2 mi White Oak Pond, Holderness Hand-carry launch
13.3 mi Little Lake, Tamworth
13.8 mi Squam Lake, Little, Ashland Boat rampSwimming beach
14.0 mi Meadow Brook Pond, Moultonborough
14.1 mi Pickering Pond, Moultonborough
14.3 mi White Lake, Tamworth Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
14.5 mi Shannon Brook, Moultonborough
14.7 mi Loon Lake, Plymouth
14.9 mi Black Pond, Lincoln
15.0 mi Hawkins Pond, Center Harbor Boat ramp
15.1 mi Moores Pond, Tamworth
15.2 mi Stinson Lake, Rumney Boat rampSwimming beach
15.2 mi Whitton Pond, Albany
15.3 mi Iona Lake, Albany
15.3 mi Bear Pond, Center Harbor
15.3 mi Nancy Pond, Livermore
15.6 mi Norcross Pond, Lincoln
15.6 mi Shadow Lake, Lincoln
15.7 mi Winona Lake, Center Harbor Boat ramp
15.7 mi Conner Pond, Ossipee Boat ramp
15.7 mi Otter Pond, Center Harbor
15.8 mi Unnamed Pond, Bartlett
16.0 mi Three Ponds, Upper, Warren
16.1 mi Jackson Pond, New Hampton
16.1 mi Page Pond (Little Pond), Meredith
16.1 mi Three Ponds, Middle, Warren
16.1 mi Lily Pond, Madison
16.1 mi Three Ponds, Lower, Ellsworth
16.2 mi Blue Pond, Madison
16.2 mi Drew Pond, Madison
16.3 mi Foxglove Pond, Warren
16.4 mi Silver Lake, Madison Boat rampSwimming beach
16.4 mi Mack Pond, Madison
16.4 mi Bean Pond, Ossipee
16.6 mi Sky Pond, New Hampton Hand-carry launch
16.7 mi Waukewan Lake, Meredith Boat rampSwimming beach
16.7 mi Moody Pond, Ossipee
16.8 mi Davis Pond, Madison
17.1 mi Ledge Pond, Madison
17.1 mi Webster Pond, Bridgewater
17.2 mi Gordon Pond, Lincoln
17.5 mi Cooks Pond, Madison Swimming beach
17.5 mi Bog Pond, Lincoln
17.6 mi Beaver Pond, Woodstock Hand-carry launch
17.7 mi Pequawket Pond, Upper, Madison
17.7 mi Mud Pond, Lincoln
17.8 mi Durgin Pond, Madison
17.9 mi Wildlife Pond Dam, Meredith
18.1 mi Forest Pond, Meredith
18.3 mi Dan Hole Pond, Tuftonboro Hand-carry launch
18.3 mi Dan Hole Pond, Little, Ossipee
18.3 mi Pea Porridge Pond, Middle, Madison
18.3 mi Red Eagle Pond, Albany
18.3 mi Shoal Pond, Lincoln
18.6 mi Dick Brown Pond, Bridgewater
18.6 mi Harts Pond, Meredith
18.9 mi Copps Pond, Tuftonboro Hand-carry launch
19.0 mi Pea Porridge Pond, Big, Madison
19.0 mi Trout Pond (Stacy Pond), Freedom
19.1 mi Pequawket Pond, Conway Hand-carry launch
19.2 mi Ossipee Lake, Ossipee Boat rampSwimming beach
19.2 mi Harrington Pond, Lincoln
19.3 mi Melvin Pond, Tuftonboro
19.4 mi Lonesome Lake, Lincoln
19.4 mi Ethan (Willey) Pond, Bethlehem
19.6 mi Loud Pond, Madison
19.8 mi Winnipesaukee Lake, Moultonborough Boat rampSwimming beach
19.8 mi Hildreth Dam Pond, Warren Hand-carry launch
19.9 mi Wicwas Lake, Meredith
19.9 mi Foote Pond, Laconia
19.9 mi Echo Lake, Conway Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
20.0 mi Duck Pond, Freedom
20.0 mi Shaw Pond (Shawtown), Freedom
20.0 mi Kinsman Pond, Lincoln
20.1 mi Glencliff Home Pond, Benton
20.3 mi Pemigewasset Lake, Meredith Boat ramp
20.3 mi Danforth Ponds, Freedom
20.3 mi Profile Lake, Franconia Boat ramp
20.3 mi Unnamed Pond, Bartlett
20.4 mi Dollof Pond, Conway
20.4 mi Zealand Pond, Bethlehem
20.5 mi Little Pond, Groton
20.6 mi Purity Lake, Madison Hand-carry launch
20.7 mi Swain Pond, Wentworth
20.8 mi Pickerel Pond, Laconia
20.9 mi Broad Bay, Freedom
20.9 mi Garland Pond, Ossipee Hand-carry launch
20.9 mi Weeks Crossing Pond, Warren
21.1 mi Crystal Lake (Robertson), Eaton
21.1 mi Spectacle Pond, Groton Boat rampSwimming beach
21.1 mi Long Pond, Eaton
21.3 mi Newfound Lake, Bristol Boat rampSwimming beach
21.3 mi Echo Lake, Franconia Boat rampSwimming beach
21.3 mi Pudding Pond, Conway
21.3 mi Round Pond, Eaton
21.3 mi Heath Pond, Ossipee
21.4 mi Hatch Pond, Eaton Hand-carry launch
21.6 mi Beech Pond, Lower, Tuftonboro
21.7 mi Leavitt Bay, Ossipee
21.8 mi Archers Pond, Ossipee
21.9 mi Wachipauka (Meader) Pond, Warren
21.9 mi Roberts Pond, Eaton
22.1 mi Conway Lake, Eaton Boat rampSwimming beach
22.2 mi Long Pond, Benton Boat ramp
22.2 mi Basin, The, Tuftonboro
22.3 mi Paugus Bay, Laconia Hand-carry launch
22.3 mi Berry Bay, Freedom Hand-carry launch
22.3 mi Spectacle Pond, Meredith Boat ramp
22.3 mi Saco Lake, Carroll Hand-carry launch
22.4 mi Mirror Lake, Tuftonboro Boat ramp
22.4 mi Oliverian Brook Pond, Benton Boat ramp
22.5 mi Randlett Pond, Meredith
22.6 mi Ammonoosuc Lake, Carroll
22.7 mi Beech Pond, Upper, Wolfeboro
22.8 mi Labrador Pond, Conway
23.1 mi Lily Pond, Gilford Hand-carry launch
23.1 mi Mirror Lake, Jackson
23.2 mi Goose Pond, Alexandria
23.4 mi Baker Pond, Lower, Wentworth Boat rampSwimming beach
23.4 mi Mountain Pond, Sanbornton
23.4 mi Batson Pond, Wolfeboro
23.7 mi Tarleton Lake, Piermont Boat rampSwimming beach
23.7 mi Armington Lake, Piermont Boat ramp
23.7 mi Duncan Lake, Ossipee Boat rampSwimming beach
23.9 mi Hermit Lake, Sanbornton Swimming beach
23.9 mi Line Pond, Wentworth
23.9 mi Farm Pond, Gilford
24.2 mi Sargents Pond, Wolfeboro
24.2 mi Jericho Pond, Landaff
24.3 mi Opechee Bay, Laconia Boat rampSwimming beach
24.5 mi Loon Pond, Little, Freedom
24.5 mi Rocky Pond, Little, Wentworth
24.6 mi Loon Lake, Freedom Hand-carry launch
24.6 mi Brackett Pond, Wentworth
24.7 mi Baker Pond, Upper, Orford Boat rampSwimming beach
24.7 mi Katherine Lake, Piermont Hand-carry launch
24.7 mi Hutchins Pond, Effingham
24.9 mi Rocky Pond, Wentworth
25.1 mi Shingle Pond, Chatham
25.3 mi White Pond, Ossipee Boat rampSwimming beach
25.4 mi Pout Pond, Dorchester
25.4 mi Mccutcheon Pond, Dorchester
25.4 mi Constance Lake, Piermont
25.5 mi Winnisquam Lake, Sanbornton Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
25.6 mi Cawley Pond, Sanbornton
25.6 mi Bryant Pond, Dorchester
25.6 mi Trout Pond, Dorchester
25.6 mi Pickerel Pond, Orford
25.7 mi Gunstock Mtn Recreation Pond, Gilford
25.8 mi Unnamed Pond, Canaan Hand-carry launch
25.9 mi Chandler Pond, Landaff
26.0 mi Rollins Pond, Sanbornton
26.1 mi Saltmarsh Pond, Gilford Boat rampSwimming beach
26.1 mi Foster Pond, Alexandria
26.2 mi Derby Pond, Canaan
26.3 mi Crescent Lake, Wolfeboro Boat ramp
26.3 mi Mudgetts Pond, Dorchester
26.7 mi Wentworth Lake, Wolfeboro Hand-carry launchSwimming beach
26.9 mi Cummins Pond, Dorchester
26.9 mi Gordon Pond, Landaff
27.0 mi Joe Coffin Pond, Sugar Hill Hand-carry launch
27.1 mi French Pond, Haverhill
27.2 mi Mountain Lake, Upper, Haverhill
27.2 mi Railroad Pond, Belmont
27.4 mi Kimball Lake, Upper, Chatham Hand-carry launch
27.4 mi Indian Pond, Orford Boat rampSwimming beach
27.4 mi Province Pond, Chatham
27.6 mi Pearl Lake, Lisbon Hand-carry launch
27.6 mi Mountain Lake, Lower, Haverhill
27.6 mi Hunkins Pond, Sanbornton Hand-carry launch
28.0 mi Clark Pond, Haverhill
28.1 mi Mountain Pond, Chatham
28.1 mi Round Pond, Gilford Hand-carry launch
28.2 mi Reservoir Pond, Dorchester
28.3 mi Wood Pond, Haverhill Hand-carry launch
28.4 mi Lary Pond, Canaan
28.4 mi Mason Pond, Orford
28.5 mi Kimball Pond, Lower, Chatham Boat rampSwimming beach
28.5 mi Rust Pond, Wolfeboro
28.9 mi Province Lake, Wakefield Boat rampSwimming beach
29.0 mi Streeter Pond, Sugar Hill Boat ramp
29.1 mi Carter Pond, Upper, Beans
29.2 mi Giles Pond, Sanbornton Boat ramp
29.2 mi Grants Pond, Grafton
29.3 mi Knights Pond, Alton
29.3 mi Trapper Pond, Wolfeboro
29.7 mi Orange Pond, Orange Boat ramp
30.0 mi Trout Pond, Lyme

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

Straight-line distance. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Trails & mileage

31.0 miles of USDA Forest Service–managed trail: the full length of every USFS trail segment that comes within 2 miles of the summit (computed from USFS trail GIS data).

Trail (USFS name)	Total length
Flat Mtn Pond Snomo	6.7 mi
Smarts Brook	4.9 mi
Algonquin	4.1 mi
Bennett Street Trail	3.7 mi
Sandwich Mtn	3.6 mi
Black Mtn Pond	3.3 mi
Fletcher Cascade	1.2 mi
Gleason Trail	0.4 mi

Lengths are each trail's full mapped length in USFS GIS data, not a summit route. Difficulty ratings are not published in this data, so we leave them out.

Summit sunrise & sunset by month

Mid-month	Sunrise	Sunset	Turn around by*
Jan	7:17 AM	4:31 PM	2:31 PM
Feb	6:46 AM	5:13 PM	3:13 PM
Mar	7:00 AM	6:50 PM	4:50 PM
Apr	6:04 AM	7:27 PM	5:27 PM
May	5:20 AM	8:03 PM	6:03 PM
Jun	5:02 AM	8:29 PM	6:29 PM
Jul	5:16 AM	8:27 PM	6:27 PM
Aug	5:49 AM	7:52 PM	5:52 PM
Sep	6:23 AM	6:58 PM	4:58 PM
Oct	6:58 AM	6:04 PM	4:04 PM
Nov	6:39 AM	4:21 PM	2:21 PM
Dec	7:13 AM	4:09 PM	2:09 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	17°F	0°F	37%
Feb	18°F	1°F	39%
Mar	27°F	10°F	40%
Apr	39°F	21°F	45%
May	53°F	35°F	44%
Jun	60°F	44°F	50%
Jul	66°F	50°F	48%
Aug	64°F	48°F	42%
Sep	58°F	42°F	33%
Oct	45°F	31°F	43%
Nov	32°F	19°F	38%
Dec	22°F	7°F	44%

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

Waterville Valley — 3.9 mi
Campton — 7.3 mi
Thornton — 8.9 mi

Trailheads & parking (USFS)

Drakes Brook/Sandwich Mtn Trailhead — 2.7 mi from summit, 1,417 ft · Directions
Old Waterville Road Trailhead — 2.7 mi from summit, 1,155 ft · Directions
Flat Mountain Pond Trailhead (Bennett Street) — 2.9 mi from summit, 1,074 ft · Directions

Check the USFS trailhead page for parking rules and any recreation pass required.

Closest airports with scheduled flights

Lebanon Municipal Airport (LEB) — about 44.5 mi straight line
Portland International Jetport (PWM) — about 61.9 mi straight line
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM) — about 66.1 mi straight line

Campgrounds & places to stay

KOA campgrounds

Lincoln / Woodstock KOA Holiday — 9.8 mi, Woodstock · Directions
Twin Mountain / Mt. Washington KOA Holiday — 27.9 mi, Carroll · Directions
Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday — 29.8 mi, Lisbon · Directions

National Forest campgrounds

Waterville Campground — 2.9 mi
Osceola Vista Campground/Group Campground — 5.1 mi
Campton Campground — 6.7 mi

Nearby ski areas

Waterville Valley — 4.7 mi 2020 vertical ft · 62 trails · 10 lifts · 265 acres
Loon Mountain — 11.2 mi 2190 vertical ft · 73 trails · 13 lifts · 403 acres
Tenney Mountain — 18.1 mi 1500 vertical ft · 49 trails · 4 lifts · 130 acres

Hike + ski pairing: hike Sandwich Dome in summer or fall, then come back in winter to ski Waterville Valley, 4.7 miles away.

Hiking clubs & trail groups

Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) — the region's largest trail-maintaining club in the White Mountains.
White Mountain National Forest (volunteer opportunities)

Peaks nearby

Sandwich Mountain — 0.0 mi, 3,980 ft
Welch Mountain — 4.2 mi, 2,460 ft
Dickey Mountain — 4.4 mi, 2,707 ft
The Sleepers — 4.9 mi, 3,881 ft
Mount Whiteface — 5.1 mi, 4,019 ft

Sources

Summit location: Wikidata Q34903434. 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.