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Carter Dome

Carter Dome, or simply “The Dome,” is a mountain in Coös County, New Hampshire.

Prominence: 2830 ft Range: Carter-Moriah Range
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Elevation: 4,832 ft

Carter Dome

Mountain Overview
General Info
Elevation
4,832 ft
Prominence
2830 ft
Range
Carter-Moriah Range
Trail Type
Out & back or loop
Difficulty
Difficult
Exposure
Medium - summit in trees but ridge and Mt. Hight exposed to wind.
Typical Time
6–8 hours - out-and-back via Carter Notch.
Best seasons
Summer and fall - popular winter hike as well with snowshoes.
Water availability
Yes - 19 Mile Brook alongside trail for first 1.9 miles; pond at Carter Notch near hut.
Cell reception
Spotty - possible line-of-sight to Gorham from Mt. Hight, but generally weak.
First Photo & Camera
Mountain
Carter Dome
Photo
Twilight Glow Over Carter Dome
Description
Captured in the waning light of a January evening, this landscape photography showcases Carter Dome's distinctive rounded summit within the White Mountain National Forest. The scene reveals subtle snow cover on granite ledges and a quiet forest trail, emphasizing the serene beauty of New Hampshire's White Mountains during winter. The sky's pastel hues reflect the calm atmosphere as daylight fades behind the alpine zone.
Dimensions
4000 x 2667
Credit
© NATHAN SOBOL / NH48pics.com

Area Map

OpenStreetMap area view with summit marker and nearby trail context.

Peak trail map

Static map preview

Carter Dome: summit area with linked trail context.

Summit: 44.2567, -71.1750

Trails: Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, Black Angel Trail

Trails

Current Summit Weather

NOAA / NWS point forecast for this summit location.

Astronomy

Sun and moon timing for this peak.

USNO Snapshot unavailable

Astronomy timing is temporarily unavailable.

Monthly Weather Averages

Water & Crossing Context

Stream context

Drainage context only, not a crossing safety decision. 2 linked water references; expand a row for sources and notes.

Route note: Yes - 19 Mile Brook alongside trail for first 1.9 miles; pond at Carter Notch near hut.

Wild River USGS historical • Observed May 2, 2026, 5:45 AM • 13.4 mi context 173 cfs · 2.31 ft gage · falling · fresh

StationWild River at Gilead, Maine • 01054200

USGS Historical, Observed

Wild River Wilderness context for east-side Moriah and Carter approach planning when remote drainages are the main concern.

Official source
Ellis River USGS historical • 2 proxy gages No Current Live Data

StationELLIS RIVER NEAR JACKSON, NH • 01064300

USGS Historical

Useful Ellis River context for Glen Ellis, Wildcat, Carter Notch, and lower Pinkham approaches when drainages are running high.

  • Nearby live proxy: SACO RIVER AT RIVER STREET, AT BARTLETT, NH • Peabody River at Gorham, New Hampshire
Official source

Treat rising, stale, modeled, or missing readings conservatively.

Nearby Peaks & Connections

Parking & Access

Nineteen-Mile Brook Trailhead - NH 16, Pinkham Notch.
Trailhead parking
Medium parking area off NH 16; can fill on weekends
Trailhead
Nineteen-Mile Brook Trailhead - NH 16, Pinkham Notch.
Capacity
35 vehicles (est.)

Access roads & trailheads

No WMNF seasonal road listing

Primary trailheads are linked, but no WMNF seasonal access-road dependency is currently linked to this route. This is common for state highways, AMC lots, ski-area lots, or year-round paved road access.

Verify official sources and posted signs before driving to a trailhead.

Difficulty Metrics

Technical difficulty (1-10)
7
Physical effort (1-10)
7
Difficulty class
Difficult
Typical completion time
6–8 hours - out-and-back via Carter Notch.

Risk & Preparation

Risk factors
Severe weather, Scramble / steep, No cell service
Preparation notes
Check a summit forecast and carry windproof/warm layers; turn back if visibility or lightning risk increases. Download offline maps and do not rely on cell service; leave a plan with someone.
Bailout distance
19 mi
Weather exposure
Medium - summit in trees but ridge and Mt. Hight exposed to wind.
Field planning note
19 Mile Brook Trail > Carter Dome Trail - via Carter Notch. - 10.2 - 3,500 - Difficult - Out & back - or loop via Imp Trail. Yes - 19 Mile Brook alongside trail for first 1.9 miles; pond at Carter Notch near hut. Medium parking area off NH 16; can fill on weekends

Wilderness Safety

Water availability
Yes - 19 Mile Brook alongside trail for first 1.9 miles; pond at Carter Notch near hut.
Cell reception
Spotty - possible line-of-sight to Gorham from Mt. Hight, but generally weak.
Best seasons
Summer and fall - popular winter hike as well with snowshoes.

Trail & Terrain

Terrain
Wooded mountain trails, moderately steep; rocky and rooty sections, some slabs near Carter Notch
Scramble sections
No - steady uphill trail, no technical scrambles.
View type
Partial - summit wooded; excellent views from nearby Mt. Hight.
Summit marker
Small cairn in wooded summit clearing - no sign.
Flora / environment
Mixed hardwood at base along brook; dense spruce-fir boreal forest at summit - no alpine zone.
Nearby 4,000-footer connections
South Carter Mountain, Mount Hight - adjacent sub-peak.

Carter Dome Route & Conditions

Route
Carter Dome's standard hiking options include 19 Mile Brook Trail > Carter Dome Trail - via Carter Notch at 10.2 miles with 3,500 feet of gain and Loop via Carter-Moriah - over Mount Hight and Carter Dome at 10 miles with 3,800 feet of gain. A typical completion time is 6–8 hours - out-and-back via Carter Notch.
Terrain and exposure
This is a difficult Carter-Moriah Range hike. Expect wooded mountain trails, moderately steep; rocky and rooty sections, some slabs near Carter Notch. There are no major scrambling sections; expect steady uphill trail, no technical scrambles. Upper-mountain terrain includes mixed hardwood at base along brook; dense spruce-fir boreal forest at summit, no alpine zone and partial, summit wooded; excellent views from nearby Mt. Hight. Weather and exposure are defining planning concerns here: medium, summit in trees but ridge and Mt. Hight exposed to wind.
Weather window
The best normal hiking window is summer and fall, roughly popular winter hike as well with snowshoes. Check a summit forecast and carry windproof/warm layers; turn back if visibility or lightning risk increases.
Water, signal, and bailout
Water is available: 19 Mile Brook alongside trail for first 1.9 miles; pond at Carter Notch near hut. Cell reception is spotty, possible line-of-sight to Gorham from Mt. Hight, but generally weak. Bailout options include Carter Notch Hut shelter between Carter Dome and Wildcats and 19 Mile Brook Trail back to trailhead for quickest exit. Nearby live water context is available from Wild River and Ellis River.
Trailhead and access
The most common trailhead is Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead, with room for about 35 vehicles. Medium parking area off NH 16; can fill on weekends.
Connected route context
Major linked trails include Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail, Carter Dome Trail, Carter-Moriah Trail, and Black Angel Trail. Nearby 4,000-footer connections include South Carter Mountain.