| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mount Wolf, South Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain, Bald Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Kinsman Ridge Trail, Gordon Pond Spur, Mount Kinsman Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, July 17, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Streams are on the low side, no problem crossing anything. Trails on the whole are pretty dry, with little mud. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Occasional blowdowns along much of Kinsman Ridge Trail, but nothing major or a pain to get around. AT blazes are faint/nonexistent for much of Kinsman Ridge Trail until Reel Brook Trail. Note that the Gordon Pond Trail past Gordon Pond appears to be decommissioned - the old trail is blocked off with tape and is strewn with branches and logs.
The first 1/2 mile of the Mount Kinsman Trail from the new trailhead has been relocated and is a narrow path. Good maintenance work done there to cut through blowdowns.
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Lots of rockiness on these trail. Saw no dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Very breezy, bugs stayed on the lowdown all day. They were only (barely) noticeable at Eliza Brook Shelter. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
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!
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 | Name: |
Dan Saxton |
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 | E-Mail: |
daniel.saxton7@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-07-17 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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