South Carter Mountain rises to 4,445 feet in the Carter-Moriah Range, the long ridge running north from the Wildcat Mountains above Pinkham Notch. The Appalachian Trail traces the spine of this range, connecting a string of summits including Carter Dome, Mount Hight, Middle Carter, and Mount Moriah.
South Carter is typically reached via the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail from Route 16 north of North Conway, then the Carter-Moriah Trail, a round trip of roughly 9 to 11 miles with 3,700 to 4,100 feet of gain depending on the exact route; it is most often combined with Middle Carter in a single day. The Imp Trail from the north provides an alternate loop option. The summit is wooded with limited views, but the ridge walking between Carter peaks becomes progressively more open as elevation increases, and the range sees lighter traffic than the nearby Presidential Ridge, offering a quieter experience overall.
