4,293 ft | Kinsman | 4 routes
As of October 16, 2026
Trail conditions on North Kinsman Mountain are currently rated Difficult. At 8:40 PM ET it was 47°F at the summit (4,293 ft), feeling like 39°F, with W winds at 18 mph. The shortest of 4 listed routes is North Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail: 7.9 miles round trip with 3,136 ft of elevation gain, taking about 4-7 hours. North Kinsman Mountain (4,293 ft) is #28 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour North Kinsman Mountain weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 39°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.06" (24h) · 0.52" (48h)
Snow: 0.2" (24h) · 0.2" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
A cold front brings rain changing to snow and possible glaze overnight, with a hard freeze and strong winds on Saturday. Trails will likely be slick with fresh snow and ice at all elevations, and fog and upslope snow will limit visibility. Sunday offers a much calmer, clearer window, though lingering ice remains a concern on shaded, rocky sections.
Expect roughly 40-59°F at the trailhead but a summit near 33°F with wind chills in the mid-teens, and the freezing line near treeline can sit right at the upper trail, so expect a transition from wet, slushy surfaces to snow and ice higher up. Dress in moisture-wicking layers with a waterproof shell and carry an insulating layer to add above about 3,500 feet.
Best Hiking Window
Sunday late morning through early afternoon, once temperatures rise above freezing and skies clear, with an early start to maximize limited daylight. Saturday is not recommended due to icing, snow, and strong winds.
Last synthesized Oct 16, 8:40 PM ET
Planning a hike here this week?
Trailblazer adds the full 7-day summit forecast, the best day to go for every peak, and conditions for each route up.
Trail: Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“First off, what a heck of an improvement to the Mount Kinsman Trail. No standing water, very little mud, and the bit of water that there was from springs was going where it needed to. This is one of the better trails in the White Mountains right now and worth paying to park, in my opinion. Hats off to the trail maintainers for their work on continuously improving the trail. Once getting onto Kinsman’s Ridge Trail, the water and mud returns. Not as much as yesterday across the notch but still enough to make you think on some foot placements. Wind was moving at a good clip and doing its best to dry off the slabs between the two peaks. Hopefully the parking lot owner will buy the trail maintainer group a nice steak dinner this fall.”
Trail: Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail
“The original plan was a big loop of Tecumseh, Osceolas and Greeley ponds, but a trail race derailed those plans, so we grabbed a NEHH for Scott. Conditions were perfect, the gliders were out, and the trails are in very good shape. I much prefer going from Kinsman to Cannon rather than the other way around. This is a fun one if you have a car spot.”
Trail: Mt. Kinsman Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock
“A FINE day in the forest was had. I have not used this trail due to the landowners squabble. As a North Country resident who lives ten minutes away, these folks routinely air their dirty laundry in op-eds about eachother and have had articles written about them about how NOT to do business up here. I really did not want to patronize them or give them any support due to this. I likely still wont, but credit is due to the work they have done from the parking lot (which they complained about the old one was visible, but then moved the new one behind their house, which they where smoking pot out there at 8am). It's cruiser. Wet trails, minor erosion is starting to be evident (some more than minor) on KRT. Another trail being loved to death. No issues, car to car in about 5h”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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17°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 17°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
54 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 54 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
-4°F
Wind chill
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth.
Northern Kinsman peak, usually done with South Kinsman. Rocky summit with good views.
Elevation
4,293 ft
Range
Kinsman
Rank
#28 of 48
Difficulty
Difficult
Coordinates
44.1334, -71.7368
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Kinsman Ridge Trail (14.2 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
1 incident on file · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Dennis Boyce, of Bermuda Run, NC, Appalachian Trail thru-hiker; a second AT thru-hiker also sustained a serious but non-life-threatening injury
On August 25, 2025, Dennis Boyce, an AT thru-hiker, slipped and fell near the summit of North Kinsman on the Kinsman Ridge Trail and was unable to hike out under his own power. Conservation Officers and Pemi Valley Search and Rescue volunteers carried him out to Lafayette Place Campground, where he was transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A second AT thru-hiker was also found with a serious but non-life-threatening injury during the operation and similarly transported to Littleton Regional Hospital.