Kinsman Ridge Trail

The Kinsman Ridge Trail is a one-way route from Cannon Mountain Tramway parking to Beaver Brook Trailhead at Kinsman Notch. It crosses Cannon, the Cannon Balls, North and South Kinsman, Harrington Pond, Eliza Brook and Mount Wolf. Plan for about 15.8 miles and a 12-hour day, with roughly 6,200 to 6,360 feet of climbing. This is a demanding mountain traverse for hikers comfortable with rough footing and a long day on trail. If you mainly want Cannon, the northern section also makes a much shorter summit out-and-back; that is a different hike and does not cover the Cannon Balls or Kinsmans.

Published lengths vary: the detailed mapped line measures about 14.2 miles, a recorded full-route trace gives 15.8, and a public hiking guide lists 17. The 15.8-mile figure is used here for the complete one-way route; leave room for the longer estimates and time to stop at the summits.

Begin at the Tramway lot and climb steeply toward Cannon's summit, gaining about 2,000 feet. The first stretch is rocky and can feel like a lot of uphill before the route opens up. A side path around 1.5 miles reaches a view down into Franconia Notch and across to Franconia Ridge. It is a worthwhile pause before committing to the long ridge crossing.

From Cannon, the trail continues across the three Cannon Balls and then the North and South Kinsman summits. Expect uneven, rocky mountain tread and repeated climbs and descents. Most of the route stays under trees; the mapped line has only a brief above-treeline stretch near Cannon. The summits of the Kinsmans and Mount Wolf provide additional views, but the route does not stay open for long. The ridge rises and drops repeatedly rather than following a continuous open skyline. Several junctions lead toward Lonesome Lake, Hi-Cannon, Kinsman Pond and Fishin' Jimmy; those are connectors to other hikes, not legs of this through route.

Beyond the Kinsmans, the route passes Harrington Pond and the Eliza Brook shelter, then continues over Mount Wolf before dropping to Kinsman Notch. The route includes several stream crossings; five are mapped, with four marked as fords, including repeated crossings of Eliza Brook. Water level can change how difficult those crossings feel, so expect slower going after rain or during high water.

This is point to point, with the north access at Cannon Mountain Tramway parking and the south end at Beaver Brook Trailhead on Lost River Road at Kinsman Notch. Set up a second car or arrange a shuttle before starting; no shuttle schedule was confirmed. No on-route food or potable water was verified, so carry what you need for the full day. Route-wide dog rules could not be established across the different management areas; check before bringing a pet.