New Hampshire · Hiking · Near North Conway

Castle

8.8 mi
round trip
4,266 ft
climb
5,682 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Castle open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White Mountain National Forest. It doesn't name Castle, 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.

Castle is an out-and-back hike in the Androscoggin Ranger District of White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. It is rated hard, with a total climb of about 4,266 feet over roughly 8.8 miles, and the route runs from a low point of about 1,500 feet to a high point of about 5,682 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to bikes. It is not an accessible route. The steepest stretch comes at about the 2-mile mark, where the grade reaches 45 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs at the Mt Washington weather station, about 6.7 miles away, average in the mid-50s, with lows in the low to mid 40s. That station sits about 600 feet higher than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a little warmer. The Presidential Rail Trail lies just 0.1 mile away, and Lowes Path is under a mile off. Within about 6 miles you'll find the Israel River for canoeing and the WM: Pinkham / Presidentials climbing area.

Around this trail

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

    Valley Way Tent Platforms

    Campground

    Campground · 3.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Glen House

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 8 mi
  • If it rainsKen Gallager, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    New England Ski Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 21 mi from North Conway

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ken Gallager, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in North Conway
  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Castle

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      15° / -3°

      20 wet · 20 snow

    2. Feb

      15° / -3°

      18 wet · 18 snow

    3. Mar

      21° / 5°

      20 wet · 18 snow

    4. Apr

      31° / 17°

      18 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      42° / 30°

      18 wet · 7 snow

    6. Jun

      51° / 40°

      17 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      55° / 44°

      17 wet

    8. Aug

      54° / 43°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      49° / 37°

      14 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      38° / 25°

      18 wet · 9 snow

    11. Nov

      28° / 13°

      19 wet · 15 snow

    12. Dec

      20° / 3°

      21 wet · 19 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Washington, NH, 6.7 mi away at 6,267 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

EmeraldPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emerald

~5 min drive

Emerald is a 1.05-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 967 ft of elevation gain.

Watson PathPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Watson Path

~5 min drive

2.74-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,199 ft elevation gain.

Spur TrailPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spur Trail

~6 min drive

Spur Trail is a 1.66-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 1,921 feet of elevation loss.

Castle Ravine TrailPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Castle Ravine Trail

~5 min drive

0.72-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 1,604 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Presidential Rail Trail

Next door

14.24-mile out-and-back rail trail in New Hampshire with 789 ft elevation gain

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

Great Gully

~5 min drive

1.55-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 1,810 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Cabin-Cascades

~3 min drive

1.80-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 552 ft gain.

HIKE

Lowes Path

~2 min drive

8.05-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 4,238 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Cliffway

~2 min drive

4.20-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 1,022 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Sylvan Way

~4 min drive

3.22-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 267 ft elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
8.8 mi round trip
Climbing
About 4,266 ft
Summit
5,708 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Other routes up Mount Jefferson

Questions about this route

How long is the Castle on Mount Jefferson?

About 8.8 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Castle?

About 4,266 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Castle?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Castle take?

About 5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Castle?

Year-round.

How many routes go up Mount Jefferson?

4: Caps Ridge, Castle, Mt Jefferson Loop and Six Husbands.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Jefferson

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.