South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail

The South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail is 9.6 miles round trip, starting at Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116). At AMC book time — half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing — that works out to roughly 5-8 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail climbs about 3,672 ft over 9.6 miles — an average of roughly 383 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole out-and-back, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail Difficult, scored with the Shenandoah difficulty formula — √(elevation gain × 2 × distance) — applied to its 9.6 miles and 3,672 ft of gain. The score measures physical effort only. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can make a moderate-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail summits 2 named peaks: South Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain.

The South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman Trail starts at Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116). Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive — trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.