Mount Kinsman Trail
On the way up South Kinsman Mountain, North Kinsman Mountain · New Hampshire
Mount Kinsman Trail is a trail in the Kinsman Range and around Moosilauke, climbing about 2,800 ft from Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116) to the Kinsman Ridge Trail junction.
Map length
3.4 mi
Climb from the low end
2,782 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 7 min / 1 h 43 min
High point
3,843 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,537 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
1,059 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Mount Kinsman Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116) (the lower end) to Kinsman Ridge Trail junction.
- 0.0Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116)
- 0.5Junction with Liko's Trail, Limited Liability, No Liabilty, Sugar Shack and Ten Four
- 1.2Junction with Gardners Trail
- 1.3Junction with Access Road
- 2.0Junction with Spur to flume
- 3.4Junction with Kinsman Ridge Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To No Liabilty, Sugar Shack and Ten Four junction
0.49 mi (total 0.49) · ↑288 ↓0 ft · 23 min / 15 min
To Gardners Trail junction
0.74 mi (total 1.23) · ↑311 ↓1 ft · 32 min / 22 min
To Access Road junction
0.11 mi (total 1.34) · ↑104 ↓0 ft · 7 min / 4 min
To Spur to flume junction
0.65 mi (total 1.99) · ↑600 ↓0 ft · 38 min / 20 min
To Kinsman Ridge Trail junction
1.44 mi (total 3.43) · ↑1,460 ↓0 ft · 1 h 27 min / 43 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116) | No Liabilty, Sugar Shack and Ten Four junction | 0.49 | 0.49 | 288 / 0 ft | 23 min / 15 min |
| No Liabilty, Sugar Shack and Ten Four junction | Gardners Trail junction | 0.74 | 1.23 | 311 / 1 ft | 32 min / 22 min |
| Gardners Trail junction | Access Road junction | 0.11 | 1.34 | 104 / 0 ft | 7 min / 4 min |
| Access Road junction | Spur to flume junction | 0.65 | 1.99 | 600 / 0 ft | 38 min / 20 min |
| Spur to flume junction | Kinsman Ridge Trail junction | 1.44 | 3.43 | 1,460 / 0 ft | 1 h 27 min / 43 min |
↑ walking from Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116); ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Mount Kinsman Trailhead (Route 116)
Off Easton Valley Road
Fall weekends: Had space in both reports, as late as 9 am.
Weekdays (all seasons): Full in 1 of 5 reports, as early as 7:45 am; others found space as late as 4:15 pm.
Latest report, Wed, Jun 24: Nearly empty.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions reportRecent trip reports
No reports on this trail in the last 30 days; the latest are below. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Mon, Sep 7MudWetDryFull report on NETC
- Sat, Aug 29WetDry
Water crossings: All hoppable
Full report on NETC - Sun, Aug 23WetDryFull report on NETC
- Wed, Aug 19MudDry
Water crossings: No issues; all seem quite low.
Full 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. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.