Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Reel Brook Trail, Bald Peak Spur

Trail Conditions

Notes

I biked from Reel Brook to the new Mt. Kinsman trailhead. It's a quick, mostly downhill run. Bald Peak does have a nice western view, but IMO it would not be worth the $20 car parking fee (I'm from Maine) if it had been my only objective for the day. Of note, I did meet a hiker on the way up who used the old trailhead to access the trail without paying the fee. The Kinsman Flume is very impressive and somewhat scary since you can get right to the edge of its impressive drop. Nice views along the ridge and met many NOBOs and one SOBO. The descent to Harrington Pond is challenging; I think this might be a risky route if the ledges are wet. It took me longer than the 30 minute AMC guide time to descend the mile to Harrington Pond; lots of sitting down and careful sliding from foothold to foothold. Reel Brook was a very pleasant and easy walk down after the hours of scrambling on the Ridge.

Parking

Reel Brook Road is very narrow; thankfully I did not meet another car since I don't think there are many places where 2 cars could pass. The first parking area looks like the better option for a low clearance vehicle since the second is rather rough.

Water Crossings

No issues; all seem quite low.

Wildlife

None today

Trails Used

Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

This was my first time to the Kinsmans from the west. Things were great for the first two miles, but I didn't love the Mt. Kinsman Trail above Bald Peak at all—too rooty and rocky and narrow for me even by White Mountains standards. And no views (besides Bald Peak) until the junction with the KRT. However, if you want/need to get to the Kinsmans by this route, do it now when everything is dry because it's pretty clear that much of the trail is also a stream during wetter times of the year. The KRT was the KRT: very steep in spots just below North Kinsman on both sides, relatively easy approach to South Kinsman when coming from the north. Don't be fooled by the false South Kinsman summit complete with a mini cairn!

Parking

I was happy to pay the $20 and thankful for the work the landowner does to support hiking in the Whites—and protect us from aggressive nesting goshawks!

Water Crossings

No trouble anywhere. It is worth noting that at present there are no water sources above the Bald Peak Spur, so plan accordingly. The stream right before Bald Peak still has plenty of water for filtering.

Wildlife

Some buzzing flies at higher elevations, but no biting or swatting, and no head net needed at all.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Kinsman Ridge Trail, Gordon Pond Spur, Mount Kinsman Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Interestingly, I think this is the first submission covering all these peaks together (Wolf and the two Kinsmans) in a while. Outstanding day in the Whites on every level - temperate weather no higher than the 70s, clear smoke-free skies, 100-mile visibility (to the Adirondacks from South Kinsman), and breezes to keep the bugs away. My brother hiked Franconia Ridge in the morning (which had a cloud cap during the first half of the day that eventually burned off), and so was available to facilitate the car shuttle between the Mount Kinsman Trail and Kinsman Notch. I started at first light from Kinsman Notch (5:15) and saw nobody till after Reel Brook Trail, then people regularly after that. Lots of little ups and downs, it's hard to go super fast! Glad to take the side trip to Gordon Pond to see the nice view of Mount Wolf, but that's too bad to see the trail beyond the pond seems decommissioned (see maintenance notes). As for the former Dilly Trail, its junction with the Kinsman Ridge Trail is unsigned and the tread is pretty faint. It may be invisible in a few years. The west knob of Mount Wolf (considered the true summit) has a faint herd path for the 50 yards or so from the height of land on the AT. The register was last signed a few weeks ago. My favorite view today was the lower ledge beside North Kinsman's summit looking straight down to Kinsman Pond and over to the Franconia battlements. Awesome sights, especially in westerly afternoon light!

Parking

Nothing unusual. My brother picked me up at the Mount Kinsman Trail trailhead, so I was able to skip the $20 fee for that one.

Water Crossings

Streams are on the low side, no problem crossing anything. Trails on the whole are pretty dry, with little mud.

Wildlife

Very breezy, bugs stayed on the lowdown all day. They were only (barely) noticeable at Eliza Brook Shelter.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mt. Kinsman Tr, Kinsman Ridge Tr, Bald Peak Spur

Trail Conditions

Notes

Three cars in the morning, one in the afternoon. Quiet day overall on trails, maybe saw about 8-10 people all day. Woodland sorrel and bunchberry in flower, blue bead, trillium, lady slippers present but past flowering. Nice lookouts along the ridge towards Lafayette to Flume and beyond. Nice views from Bald Peak, short side trail and worth the add-on. A few muddy spots here and there but nothing major. Detour trail to Mt. kinsman Tr is a nice foot bed, super easy to follow. Neat sections of mossy woodland in mid section of Kinsman Tr.

Parking

Parking in lot off Rt 16, room for about a dozen cars.

Water Crossings

A couple bridged, others rock rops, water levels low

Wildlife

Black flies were annoying today, didn't really care about bug spray. Some slides near summits. Lots of moths.

Trails Used

Mt. Kinsman Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

It was a great hike in beautiful weather. Seen a few people on the trail.

Parking

About 5 cars in the lot. Parking is not free.

Water Crossings

There were multiple water crossings but all were doable, you just had to pick your way.

Wildlife

Many bugs at the top of Bald Peak.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

MT Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Bald Peak Spur

Trail Conditions

Notes

Beautiful cooler day to be in the mountains! There is no longer any trace of snow/ice. There are areas of mud and running water, but they were easy enough to navigate. Some of the rock scrambles near the peak of North Kinsman were a bit wet/slick, but there were also dry rock and tree branches handy nearby. If you haven't yet ventured to Bald Peak, it's worth exploring.

Parking

Parking fee...$10 for NH, $20 for out of state.

Water Crossings

All easy to rock hop.

Wildlife

Black flies down low in the afternoon, but no bites.

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mount Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Bald Peak Spur

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Rapidly melting inch of overnight snow on the trail starting just past Bald Peak Spur. A shallow but stable monorail appears a half mile before the junction with Kinsman Ridge Trail. It can be barebooted or spiked to the junction; I threw on spikes and left them on until I returned. Along the ridge over North and to South is a little more icy, but with the warm temps, it's not a problem in spikes. Ledges past North Kinsman are bare, and the summit area of South Kinsman is bare too, bring your rock spikes. Beautiful afternoon with the pooch on the Kinsmans after the early morning weather cleared off. Great views and high clouds today made for a picturesque view of Franconia Ridge from the summits.

Parking

$10 for NH residents, $20 for out of state

Water Crossings

Easy rock hops

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Hadlock Brook, Bald Peak, Grandgent, Sargent Mtn South Ridge, Penobscot Mtn, Amphitheatre, Hadlock Brook

Trail Conditions

Notes

Beautiful day in Acadia. Little chilly in wind at exposed areas. Snow/ice only in few shaded areas and easily avoided. Trails in great shape.

Water Crossings

All easy to cross.