Advices on North and South Kinsman?

[yvon]

What is the best way to do North and South Kinsman?
From Lafayette Campground?
Can we do Canon in the same day with those 2?
How it look, with winter conditions?
I read info in AMC book, but please give me your advices etc.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

If it's just the Kinsman's you want, I like the trail on the western side which starts on the Franconia/Eastman town line. It attains the ridge north of N. Kinsmans, and you do an out-and-back to South.

If you want to include Canon, then the most practical way is probably from Lafayette place. Do Canon first, then south along the Cannonballs to N. Kinsman, etc. Return via Fishing Jimmy - plan on a long day.

 

[DougPaul]

If it's just the Kinsman's you want, I like the trail on the western side which starts on the Franconia/Eastman town line. It attains the ridge north of N. Kinsmans, and you do an out-and-back to South.

Agree--this is a nice route.

If you want to include Canon, then the most practical way is probably from Lafayette place. Do Canon first, then south along the Cannonballs to N. Kinsman, etc. Return via Fishing Jimmy - plan on a long day.

I did it in the reverse direction--it has the advantage that if you need to cut it short, you have better escape route options (Fishin Jimmy Tr and Lonesome Lake Tr from Coppermine Col).

Doug

 

[Chip]

With an 11:30am start, I went up from Lafayette Campground through Lonesome Lake and Fishin Jimmy to North Kinsman and back out and over Cannon with Randonee gear, with some injury, skiing badly down Cannon for about a 6pm finish at the ski lodge. I am confident with an earlier start and less gear I could have gotten out to South Kinsman and back out over Cannon. This was a mid January hike with a decent amount of ice and snow on an unbroken PUD trail between North Kinsman and Cannon. I am confident you could do these 3 this way in a moderate day with a car spot.

 

[JohnL]

North and South Kinsman only; Winter:
Kinsman Trail as Kevin described. The only issue with this trail is finding the trailhead and parking. See Dave Metsky’s trip report for directions and photos of the trailhead area.
OR
From Lafayette Place take Lonesome Lake and Fishin Jimmy Trails to Kinsman Ridge Trail. Return the same way.

If you want to add Cannon in the winter, it would be a long day. I would ascend Cannon first as the very steep section at the north end of the Kinsman Ridge Trail south of Cannon might be easier negotiated via descent than by ascent. At least that’s my opinion of it the times I have done it in the winter. YMMV. Continue south on Kinsman Ridge Trail to the Kinsmans and descend via Fishin Jimmy Trail and Lonesome Lake Trail to Lafayette Place. If you have a second car you could ascend Cannon via the Kinsman Ridge Trail out of the Cannon Mtn ski area parking lot. Keep in mind that the Kinsman Ridge Trail from the Hi-Cannon Trail to Kinsman Junction may not be broken out in the winter. Not many people do all three peaks in a winter’s day.

North and South Kinsman only; Non-Winter:
Kinsman Ridge Trail starting in Kinsman Notch (Rte 112). Park in the same lot you would for Beaver Brook Trail up Mt Moosilauke. Nice views from Mt Wolf and other outlooks, nice waterfalls and cascades, Harrington Pond and the open slopes south of South Kinsman all make this a wonderful hike. You can descend via Kinsman Pond and Cascade Brook Trails to the Basin parking area. If you add Cannon, descend to Lafayette Place. You will need a car spot.
OR
Ascend the Basin , Cascade Brook and Kinsman Pond Trails to Kinsman Junction and then take the Kinsman Ridge Trail to the Kinsmans. Return the same way. If you add Cannon, take the Kinsman Ridge Trail north to Cannon and descend to Lafayette Place via Hi-Cannon Trail. You will need a car spot for the latter.

Have fun.

JohnL

 

[Tom Rankin]

This was a mid January hike with a decent amount of ice and snow on an unbroken PUD trail

There is a NEHH there, so it's not quite a PUD!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

... The only issue with this trail is finding the trailhead and parking.

Agreed - that's the tough part. I usually approach it from the south, so I keep an eye out for a little bridge and the sign indicating the town line. IIRC, that particular sign may not be particularly visible if approaching from the north, which Yvon may well be doing. What seals it is are the two stone pillars on either side of the trail start, usually with a big chain strung between them.

Also - am not sure Yvon is inquiring about a winter trip per se. Rather, I interpreted it as asking what the conditions are now, with some early snow.

 

[Gris]

Definitely

Mt. Kinsman Trail from Rt. 116. Nice gentle grade, beautiful hardwoods, good water plentiful, excellent viewpoint (Bald Knob) about half way up. And ... it was Robert Frost's haunt. Heading south from Franconia, park on the left just past the red house (McKenzie) which is just after Kinsman Lodge. If a white german shepard follows you her name is 'Simone.'

 

[bobandgeri]

We'll just add another vote for the Mt Kinsman Trail from Rte 116 - it's a tad more elevation gain and a mile longer than the approach from Lonesome Lake, but a nicer hike with a great view from Bald Peak.

To add in Cannon, best is with a second car and do a one way up Cannon, and over to the Kinsmans, then down either Fishing Jimmy or Mt Kinsman trail.