Trail Weather Forecast & Hike Score

How the hike score works

The score starts at 100 and subtracts for the conditions that make hiking less pleasant or less safe: highs below 50°F or a feels-like temperature above 78°F, chance and amount of precipitation, gusts above 25 mph, thunderstorms (a big deduction — lightning is the main summer hazard in the mountains) and snow. 80+ is great, 65–79 good, 50–64 fair, under 50 poor.

It's a quick comparison between days, not a safety guarantee. Mountain weather changes fast, and the forecast is for the point you picked — conditions on a summit 3,000 ft higher can be very different. Use the freezing-level line to judge whether high terrain will have snow and ice, and check the National Weather Service forecast and any park alerts before you go.

Reading a mountain forecast

• Afternoon thunderstorms: in summer, plan to be off summits and exposed ridges by early afternoon when storms are in the forecast.
• Elevation: temperatures typically drop 3–5°F for every 1,000 ft you climb, and wind increases on ridgelines.
• Heat: above about 88°F feels-like, start at dawn and carry more water — see the water calculator.
• Cold nights: a freezing low changes your sleep system; size it with the sleeping bag guide.

Planning further ahead? Our destination guides show 10-year monthly averages for popular parks, and the where-to-go-by-month guide ranks them for every month.