Twinway
To South Twin Mountain · New Hampshire
Twinway is a trail on and around Franconia Ridge, climbing about 3,100 ft from the Ethan Pond Trail and Zealand Trail junction to the Frost Trail and Garfield Ridge Trail junction. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
6.4 mi
Climb from the low end
3,075 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
4 h 44 min / 4 h 5 min
High point
4,880 ft
Above treeline
2.2 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
2,146 ft/mi
Stream crossings
2 (1 ford)
Low point
2,450 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
- Pemi LoopMount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, South Twin Mountain, Mount Bond, West Bond, Mount Garfield, Mount Liberty, Mount Flume, Bondcliff, Galehead Mountain
- Zealand-Bonds Out and BackMount Bond, West Bond, Bondcliff, Mount Zealand
- Mount Bond via ZealandMount Bond
- Z-Bonds TraverseMount Bond, West Bond, Bondcliff, Mount Zealand
- Twins and GaleheadGalehead Mountain, North Twin Mountain, South Twin Mountain
- West Bond via ZealandWest Bond
- South Twin via Gale RiverSouth Twin Mountain
- Mount Zealand via Zealand TrailMount Zealand
Twinway Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Ethan Pond Trail and Zealand Trail junction (the lower end) to Frost Trail and Garfield Ridge Trail junction.
- 0.0Ethan Pond Trail and Zealand Trail junction
- 0.1Crosses a stream
- 0.2Zealand Falls Hut
- 0.2Zealand Falls
- 0.3Junction with Lend-a-Hand Trail
- 0.3Fords Whitewall Brook
- 1.2Junction with Zeacliff Outlook Loop
- 1.3Junction with Zeacliff Trail
- 1.7Junction with Zeacliff Pond Trail
- 2.7Junction with Mt Zealand path
- 3.6Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 3.8Mount Guyot
- 3.9Junction with Bondcliff Trail
- 5.7South Twin Mountain
- 5.7Junction with North Twin Spur
- 6.0Back below treeline
- 6.4Galehead Hut
- 6.4Junction with Frost Trail and Garfield Ridge Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Zealand Falls Hut
0.21 mi (total 0.21) · ↑154 ↓6 ft · 11 min / 7 min
To Zeacliff Outlook Loop junction
0.96 mi (total 1.17) · ↑1,130 ↓0 ft · 1 h 3 min / 29 min
To Zeacliff Trail junction
0.16 mi (total 1.33) · ↑17 ↓4 ft · 5 min / 5 min
To Zeacliff Pond Trail junction
0.35 mi (total 1.68) · ↑61 ↓32 ft · 13 min / 11 min
To Mt Zealand path junction
1.05 mi (total 2.73) · ↑492 ↓39 ft · 46 min / 32 min
To Mount Guyot
1.09 mi (total 3.82) · ↑552 ↓221 ft · 49 min / 40 min
To South Twin Mountain
1.86 mi (total 5.68) · ↑635 ↓330 ft · 1 h 15 min / 1 h 6 min
To Frost Trail and Garfield Ridge Trail junction
0.73 mi (total 6.41) · ↑21 ↓1,128 ft · 23 min / 56 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethan Pond Trail and Zealand Trail junction | Zealand Falls Hut | 0.21 | 0.21 | 154 / 6 ft | 11 min / 7 min |
| Zealand Falls Hut | Zeacliff Outlook Loop junction | 0.96 | 1.17 | 1,130 / 0 ft | 1 h 3 min / 29 min |
| Zeacliff Outlook Loop junction | Zeacliff Trail junction | 0.16 | 1.33 | 17 / 4 ft | 5 min / 5 min |
| Zeacliff Trail junction | Zeacliff Pond Trail junction | 0.35 | 1.68 | 61 / 32 ft | 13 min / 11 min |
| Zeacliff Pond Trail junction | Mt Zealand path junction | 1.05 | 2.73 | 492 / 39 ft | 46 min / 32 min |
| Mt Zealand path junction | Mount Guyot | 1.09 | 3.82 | 552 / 221 ft | 49 min / 40 min |
| Mount Guyot | South Twin Mountain | 1.86 | 5.68 | 635 / 330 ft | 1 h 15 min / 1 h 6 min |
| South Twin Mountain | Frost Trail and Garfield Ridge Trail junction | 0.73 | 6.41 | 21 / 1,128 ft | 23 min / 56 min |
↑ walking from Ethan Pond Trail and Zealand Trail junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Summit conditions
3 incidents recorded on this trail, 2 fatal: South Twin Mountain safety record
Recent trip reports
6 reports on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 0, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 6. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Oct 3MudWetDry
Water crossings: Low water on the crossing just beyond Zealand Hut.
Full report on NETC - Thu, Oct 1MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues
Full report on NETC - Wed, Sep 30MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues
Full report on NETC - Wed, Sep 16MudWetDry
Water crossings: No issues with water crossings
Full report on NETC - Sun, Sep 13MudWet
Water crossings: Some rockhopping, not hard
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.
64 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 64 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
28°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 28°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
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.