West Bond via Zealand

The West Bond via Zealand is 15.5 miles round trip, starting at Zealand Trailhead. At AMC book time (half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing), that works out to roughly 7-12 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The West Bond via Zealand climbs about 3,710 ft over 15.5 miles, an average of roughly 240 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 West Bond via Zealand Very hard on a six-tier scale from Easy to Most demanding. The rating comes from the route itself: its 15.5 miles, 3,710 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 West Bond via Zealand summits 1 named peak: West Bond.

The West Bond via Zealand starts at Zealand Trailhead. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive: trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.