New Hampshire · Hiking · Near North Conway

Mt Clay Loop

Mt Clay LoopPhoto: John Hayes (gravelboy), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.0 mi
round trip
762 ft
climb
5,527 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Mt Clay Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White Mountain National Forest. It doesn't name Mt Clay Loop, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

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

Mt Clay Loop is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest, within the Pemigewasset Ranger District and along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and rated easy, with a total elevation gain of 762 feet over the round trip. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.15 miles from the start, where the grade reaches 34%. The high point is 5,527 feet, and the trail is natural-surfaced and not accessible. Bikes are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Mt Washington weather station, which sits about 740 feet higher than the trail, show July highs around 55°F and lows near 44°F, with no snow days. Winter is harsh, with January highs around 15°F and snow on about 20 days a month. The hike is open year-round, and the trip takes about an hour. Sphinx and Westside are both within a mile, and the WM: Pinkham / Presidentials climbing area is about 1.5 miles away. For an overnight stay, Hermit Lake Complex is about 2.6 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Hermit Lake Complex

    Campground

    Campground · 2.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Glen House

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rainsKen Gallager, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    New England Ski Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 20 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 Mt Clay Loop

    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, 1.9 mi away at 6,267 ft. The station sits about 700 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

WestsidePhoto: roy.luck, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Westside

~2 min drive

1.80-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 486 ft gain.

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

Edmands Col

~2 min drive

Edmands Col is a 0.46-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 605 ft of elevation gain.

Huntington RavinePhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Huntington Ravine

~3 min drive

3.72-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,765 ft of elevation loss.

WamsuttaPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wamsutta

~3 min drive

2.97-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,201 ft elevation loss

Mt Jefferson LoopPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mt Jefferson Loop

~2 min drive

1.25-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 505 ft gain.

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

Cornice

~2 min drive

3.12-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 983 ft gain

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

Adams Slide Trail

~3 min drive

0.82-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 2,099 ft of elevation gain.

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

Castle Ravine Trail

~3 min drive

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

Six HusbandsPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Six Husbands

~3 min drive

3.68-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,544 ft elevation gain.

Lowe's PathPhoto: John Hayes (gravelboy), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lowe's Path

~4 min drive

Lowe's Path is a 4.14-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 1,026 feet of elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
2.0 mi round trip
Climbing
About 762 ft
Summit
5,527 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 1 hour

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Mt Clay Loop on Mount Clay?

About 2.0 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Mt Clay Loop?

About 762 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mt Clay Loop?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Mt Clay Loop take?

About 1 hour round trip.

When is the best time for the Mt Clay Loop?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Clay

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.