Kinsman Ridge Trail
To South Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain, Mount Cannon · New Hampshire
Kinsman Ridge Trail is a trail in the Kinsman Range and around Moosilauke, climbing about 6,200 ft from Beaver Brook Trailhead to Cannon Mountain Tramway Parking. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
14.2 mi
Climb from the low end
6,178 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
10 h 12 min / 10 h 9 min
High point
4,344 ft
Above treeline
0.1 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
2,163 ft/mi
Stream crossings
5 (4 fords)
Low point
1,873 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
- Cannon and Kinsmans LoopMount Cannon, North Kinsman Mountain, South Kinsman Mountain
- Kinsman's Out and BackSouth Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain
- Cannon Mountain via Kinsman Ridge TrailMount Cannon
- North Kinsman via Mount Kinsman TrailNorth Kinsman Mountain
- South Kinsman via Mount Kinsman TrailSouth Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain
Kinsman Ridge Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Beaver Brook Trailhead (the lower end) to Cannon Mountain Tramway Parking.
- 0.0Beaver Brook Trailhead
- 0.6Junction with Dilly Trail
- 2.9Junction with Gordon Pond Trail
- 4.0Mount Wolf
- 5.7Junction with Reel Brook Trail
- 6.5Eliza Brook Campsite Shelter
- 6.5Fords Eliza Brook
- 7.3Crosses Eliza Brook
- 7.3Fords a stream
- 7.4Fords Eliza Brook
- 7.4Fords Eliza Brook
- 7.7Harrington Pond
- 8.6South Kinsman Mountain
- 9.4North Kinsman Mountain
- 9.7Junction with Mount Kinsman Trail
- 9.8Junction with Fishin' Jimmy Trail and Kinsman Pond Trail
- 10.7The Cannonballs West
- 11.3The Cannon Balls
- 11.7The Cannon Balls East
- 11.9Junction with Lonesome Lake Trail
- 12.2Junction with Hi-Cannon Trail
- 12.5Junction with Short Trail
- 12.6Mount Cannon
- 12.6Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 12.7Junction with Rim Trail and Short Trail
- 12.8Back below treeline
- 13.0Cannon Mountain - East Peak
- 14.2Cannon Mountain Tramway Parking
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Dilly Trail junction
0.59 mi (total 0.59) · ↑753 ↓2 ft · 40 min / 18 min
To Gordon Pond Trail junction
2.35 mi (total 2.94) · ↑689 ↓637 ft · 1 h 31 min / 1 h 29 min
To Mount Wolf
1.09 mi (total 4.03) · ↑819 ↓78 ft · 57 min / 35 min
To Appalachian Trail and Reel Brook Trail junction
1.67 mi (total 5.70) · ↑100 ↓916 ft · 53 min / 1 h 17 min
To Eliza Brook Campsite Shelter
0.83 mi (total 6.53) · ↑83 ↓307 ft · 28 min / 34 min
To Appalachian Trail junction
1.85 mi (total 8.38) · ↑1,909 ↓3 ft · 1 h 53 min / 56 min
To South Kinsman Mountain
0.19 mi (total 8.57) · ↑53 ↓14 ft · 7 min / 6 min
To North Kinsman Mountain
0.81 mi (total 9.38) · ↑241 ↓329 ft · 32 min / 34 min
To Mount Kinsman Trail junction
0.33 mi (total 9.71) · ↑0 ↓405 ft · 10 min / 22 min
To Fishin' Jimmy Trail and Kinsman Pond Trail junction
0.14 mi (total 9.85) · ↑0 ↓101 ft · 4 min / 7 min
To The Cannonballs West
0.84 mi (total 10.69) · ↑241 ↓300 ft · 32 min / 34 min
To The Cannon Balls
0.63 mi (total 11.32) · ↑269 ↓398 ft · 27 min / 31 min
To The Cannon Balls East
0.36 mi (total 11.68) · ↑262 ↓64 ft · 19 min / 13 min
To Lonesome Lake Trail junction
0.22 mi (total 11.90) · ↑4 ↓327 ft · 7 min / 16 min
To Hi-Cannon Trail junction
0.31 mi (total 12.21) · ↑500 ↓33 ft · 25 min / 10 min
To Mount Cannon
0.34 mi (total 12.55) · ↑156 ↓4 ft · 15 min / 10 min
To Rim Trail junction
0.11 mi (total 12.66) · ↑0 ↓43 ft · 4 min / 5 min
To Cannon Mountain - East Peak
0.30 mi (total 12.96) · ↑65 ↓221 ft · 11 min / 16 min
To Cannon Mountain Tramway Parking
1.27 mi (total 14.23) · ↑3 ↓1,864 ft · 38 min / 1 h 34 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Brook Trailhead | Dilly Trail junction | 0.59 | 0.59 | 753 / 2 ft | 40 min / 18 min |
| Dilly Trail junction | Gordon Pond Trail junction | 2.35 | 2.94 | 689 / 637 ft | 1 h 31 min / 1 h 29 min |
| Gordon Pond Trail junction | Mount Wolf | 1.09 | 4.03 | 819 / 78 ft | 57 min / 35 min |
| Mount Wolf | Appalachian Trail and Reel Brook Trail junction | 1.67 | 5.70 | 100 / 916 ft | 53 min / 1 h 17 min |
| Appalachian Trail and Reel Brook Trail junction | Eliza Brook Campsite Shelter | 0.83 | 6.53 | 83 / 307 ft | 28 min / 34 min |
| Eliza Brook Campsite Shelter | Appalachian Trail junction | 1.85 | 8.38 | 1,909 / 3 ft | 1 h 53 min / 56 min |
| Appalachian Trail junction | South Kinsman Mountain | 0.19 | 8.57 | 53 / 14 ft | 7 min / 6 min |
| South Kinsman Mountain | North Kinsman Mountain | 0.81 | 9.38 | 241 / 329 ft | 32 min / 34 min |
| North Kinsman Mountain | Mount Kinsman Trail junction | 0.33 | 9.71 | 0 / 405 ft | 10 min / 22 min |
| Mount Kinsman Trail junction | Fishin' Jimmy Trail and Kinsman Pond Trail junction | 0.14 | 9.85 | 0 / 101 ft | 4 min / 7 min |
| Fishin' Jimmy Trail and Kinsman Pond Trail junction | The Cannonballs West | 0.84 | 10.69 | 241 / 300 ft | 32 min / 34 min |
| The Cannonballs West | The Cannon Balls | 0.63 | 11.32 | 269 / 398 ft | 27 min / 31 min |
| The Cannon Balls | The Cannon Balls East | 0.36 | 11.68 | 262 / 64 ft | 19 min / 13 min |
| The Cannon Balls East | Lonesome Lake Trail junction | 0.22 | 11.90 | 4 / 327 ft | 7 min / 16 min |
| Lonesome Lake Trail junction | Hi-Cannon Trail junction | 0.31 | 12.21 | 500 / 33 ft | 25 min / 10 min |
| Hi-Cannon Trail junction | Mount Cannon | 0.34 | 12.55 | 156 / 4 ft | 15 min / 10 min |
| Mount Cannon | Rim Trail junction | 0.11 | 12.66 | 0 / 43 ft | 4 min / 5 min |
| Rim Trail junction | Cannon Mountain - East Peak | 0.30 | 12.96 | 65 / 221 ft | 11 min / 16 min |
| Cannon Mountain - East Peak | Cannon Mountain Tramway Parking | 1.27 | 14.23 | 3 / 1,864 ft | 38 min / 1 h 34 min |
↑ walking from Beaver Brook Trailhead; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Cannon Mountain Tramway Parking
Trailhead
Weekends (all seasons): Full in 1 of 5 reports.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in all 8 reports.
Latest report, Sat, Oct 3: Overflowing.
Beaver Brook Trailhead
0.1 mi walk to the start of the trail
Off Lost River Road · Parking fee · About 25 spaces
Weekends (all seasons): Had space in the one report.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in both reports.
Latest report, Tue, Sep 22: Plenty of room.
Summit conditions
7 incidents recorded on this trail, 1 fatal: Mount Cannon safety record
Recent trip reports
3 reports on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 0, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 3. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Oct 3MudWetLeaves
Water crossings: All doable
Full report on NETC - Sat, Sep 26MudWetDry
Water crossings: Bridges spanning major water crossings, easily passable.
Full report on NETC - Sat, Sep 19MudWetDry
Water crossings: The only somewhat significant water crossings are spanned by bridges
Full report on NETC - Wed, Sep 9MudWetDry
Water crossings: Not an issue at all today.
Full report on NETC - Mon, Sep 7MudWetDryFull report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
30°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 30°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
59 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 59 mph and up to a 77% chance of rain. A shell blocks both.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Above-treeline areas from canopy height by Meta and WRI (CC BY 4.0). Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.