| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Kinsman, South Kinsman, Bald Peak, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail, Reel Brook Trail, Bald Peak Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
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. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues; all seem quite low. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Kinsman Ridge Trail south of Harrington Pond has many blowdowns, although most are easy stepovers. It also needs some brushing in places, mostly just south of the South Kinsman summit. The recent improvements by the Trailwrights on Reel Brook Trail look great! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
None today |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None. |
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 | Comments: |
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. |
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 | Name: |
Jay Baxter |
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 | E-Mail: |
jbaxtermdfacs@comcast.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-08-20 |
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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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