Maine · Hiking · Near North Conway

Highwater

HighwaterPhoto: GOC53, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
4.0 mi
round trip
1,475 ft
climb
963 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is marginal · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 19 h ago

Is Highwater open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White Mountain National Forest. It doesn't name Highwater, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · White Mountain National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Highwater is a 4-mile out-and-back hike in the Androscoggin Ranger District of White Mountain National Forest in northern Maine, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is natural-surfaced and rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 152 feet from a low of 828 feet to a high of 963 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.8 miles, where the grade reaches 11 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gorham, New Hampshire, show July highs around 79°F with lows near 55°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The Hastings Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Hastings Campground is about half a mile off. The Roost Trail and Caribou Trail are within about 2 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Hastings Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Subway

    Fast food

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Museum of White Mountain Art / Jackson Historical Society

    Museum

    On your way back · 17 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in North Conway
  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Highwater

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      27° / 6°

    2. Feb

      30° / 7°

    3. Mar

      39° / 16°

    4. Apr

      52° / 29°

    5. May

      67° / 41°

    6. Jun

      74° / 50°

    7. Jul

      79° / 55°

    8. Aug

      78° / 52°

    9. Sep

      70° / 44°

    10. Oct

      57° / 34°

    11. Nov

      44° / 25°

    12. Dec

      33° / 14°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gorham Ap, NH, 10.3 mi away at 800 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Roost TrailPhoto: GOC53, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Roost Trail

~1 min drive

2.44-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,074 ft elevation gain

Orange (Wiggin Rock) TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Orange (Wiggin Rock) Trail

~8 min drive

0.64-mile out-and-back hike in New Hampshire with 212 ft gain.

HIKE

Haystack Notch Trail

~5 min drive

10.14-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,875 ft elevation gain/loss.

KenduskeagPhoto: John Hayes (gravelboy), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kenduskeag

~10 min drive

4.39-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 500 ft gain.

Austin BrookPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Austin Brook

~9 min drive

0.36-mile out-and-back trail at Austin Brook in New Hampshire with 38 ft gain.

HIKE

East Royce

~6 min drive

East Royce is a 2.35-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 4,218 feet of elevation gain.

Kenduskeag TrailPhoto: John Hayes (gravelboy), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kenduskeag Trail

~11 min drive

2.36-mile out-and-back hike in New Hampshire with 1,016 ft gain and 4,005 ft max elevation.

Gates Brook TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gates Brook Trail

~10 min drive

3.56-mile out-and-back hike in New Hampshire with 822 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Wheeler Brook

~7 min drive

7-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,481 ft gain

HIKE

Caribou Trail

~3 min drive

5.76-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,675 ft elevation gain and loss.