South Kinsman Mountain

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”

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

Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“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.”

Trail: Basin-Cascades Trail, Cascade Brook Trail, Fishin' Jimmy Trail, Kinsman Ridge Trail

Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable

“The ledges were pretty much dry making for safe footing. I hadn't been on Basin-Cascades and Cascade Brook trails for decades, so it was like seeing a new trail. They are an easy way to get up to the Lonesome Lake hut with some falls and pools to enjoy. Great view from the docks at Lonesome Lake and at the summits. At North Kinsman one can descend from the initial ledge that looks to Lonesome Lake to arrive at the second ledge that allows a view down to Kinsman Pond. There are a couple of minor ledges and a few branches extending into the short path to this lower ledge. There are two knobs on South Kinsman. The south knob has the best views and the "throne seat: on the large cairn.. Lots of hikers out today. I met hikers from all the New England states coming from both the east and west approaches to the ridge. Also met many AT thru and section hikers from many US states as well as Germany.”