Cannon and Kinsmans Loop

The Cannon and Kinsmans Loop is 11.4 miles around the loop, starting at Lonesome Lake Trailhead. At AMC book time (half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing), that works out to roughly 6-10 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Cannon and Kinsmans Loop climbs about 4,405 ft over 11.4 miles, an average of roughly 388 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole loop, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Cannon and Kinsmans Loop Most demanding on a six-tier scale from Easy to Most demanding. The rating comes from the route itself: its 11.4 miles, 4,405 ft of gain, and the steepest quarter mile of trail, with routes known for scrambles or ledges rated a step harder. It is the same scale our NH 4,000-footer difficulty ranking uses. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can still make a well-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Cannon and Kinsmans Loop summits 3 named peaks: South Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain, Mount Cannon.

The Cannon and Kinsmans Loop starts at Lonesome Lake Trailhead. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive: trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.