Region
Highlights
- A short trail up from the Galehead Hut leads you to this viewless, somewhat joyless summit
- Worth stopping by the Galehead Hut, the most remote hut in the AMC's hut system. BYO lunch, although baked goods and soup are available during the day
- Combine with a steep climb up to South Twin for exceptional views into the Pemigewasset Wilderness
Routes
/-71.5733995925902,44.1849999354928,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
27 summits • 12.0 mi • 2,455 ft gain • 7 hr 36 min
/-71.5733995925902,44.1849999354928,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
17 summits • 9.9 mi • 2,344 ft gain • 5 hr 54 min
/-71.5733995925902,44.1849999354928,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 14.1 mi • 3,917 ft gain • 8 hr 15 min
/-71.5733995925902,44.1849999354928,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 14.2 mi • 4,208 ft gain • 9 hr 26 min
/-71.5733995925902,44.1849999354928,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 19.2 mi • 5,488 ft gain • 8 hr 59 min
/-71.5733995925902,44.1849999354928,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 24.2 mi • 8,336 ft gain • 14 hr 19 min
Latest summits
"Went up Galehead trail a day after heavy rain. Lots of mud and water everywhere. Had to take boots/socks off to cross the West Branch. Still high on our descent, but easing slightly. Galehead hut area is one of my favorites." — Alohabuffy • Aug 9, 2023
"Pemi Loop. 20 hrs, 2 minutes. 4 of us. Flume was the first peak, Bondcliff the last. We also threw in Galehead and West Bond for 10 peaks total. Got some blisters out of this hike. Glad to have finally done one. " — newenglandwarrior • Jul 1, 2022
"A traverse for Galehead and the Twins with Molly and Denise. We headed up Gale River Tr to do Galehead first. Then slogged it out with the ascent of South Twin. Then headed over to North Twin and down the North Twin Tr. Beautiful day on the Twins. We skipped 2nd and 1st crossing. I picked up a Calendar Day. " — newenglandwarrior • Nov 20, 2021
"Great day with plenty of sun. Sitting on the Galehead Hut steps soaking in it, nothing better. Finally hit Garfield Ridge East Peak on the HH list. Outlook has fantastic views of the Pemi Wilderness." — Alohabuffy • Nov 14, 2021
"Molly needed the Twins for winter. So we hiked up Gale River Tr and reached South Twin. We then went over and hit the summit of North Twin. We came back over South Twin and we tagged Galehead as a bonus peak for her Grid. " — newenglandwarrior • Mar 7, 2021
"Hiked Galehead with Molly and Sarah. We parked at the Beaver Brook picnic area, did the xc ski trail to Gale River Rd to the Gale River Tr. It was a cold day and it became a quick hike. " — newenglandwarrior • Feb 13, 2021

"Solo. 18/48. 39 at the trailhead, high of 70 today with lots of sunshine but it’s hazy.
There were some other cars in the Gale River Trail lot this morning, including another solo hiker man that started out shortly before I did. I lost count of all of the people I saw today- maybe 20? Only 5 I saw on the trail, the rest were around the hut, summit, or junctions to go elsewhere. The majority of them had heavy backpacking packs, so I imagine they were doing multi day treks.
The first 2 miles of the hike were nice and flat, sometimes dirt, sometimes stream bed type hiking, which was near to the stream- nice to listen to. The third mile was kinda lazy side-hilling with a little bit of elevation, some roots and rocks. Following that the uphill in earnest began, but it really wasn’t bad- a rocky push followed by an easy uphill or even almost flat, rinse repeat a few times and before I knew it I was already at the hut. The trail has been well-loved with a lot of natural stone steps, always nice to see!
I’ve never seen a hut here in NH before so I was pretty surprised at how large they are. The hut is closed up due to covid but there were a couple of people milling around or s..." — kellieirene • Sep 16, 2020
"Started out frosty, -11 at the trailhead, but quickly warmed up in the brilliant sun. The season doesn't matter, just hanging out at the hut, soaking up the sunshine, it is a very special place. Galehead completed our second round of NH 4ks. Great day." — Alohabuffy • Feb 9, 2020
"Did an out and back with Snickers on Galehead. We bumped into Rich Gambele and Arlette Laan just below the summit of Galehead. They were working on a winter Diretissma. They had 10 more peaks to go after this one and were planning on also grabbing Owls Head today. Socked in at the view point but a good day for this hike. Only 2 more peaks left for my 7th loop of the NH48. " — newenglandwarrior • Jan 15, 2020

"3 days in WMNF. First two days included a nice overnight backpack of the eastern Pemigewasset Wilderness. On day one I hiked up Lincoln Woods and over to the Bonds, then continued on to summit the rest of the high peaks on the Eastern side- Zealand, the Twins, Galehead and Garfield, before setting up camp along the ridgeline above the Franconia Brook Trail. " — wacbravo • Sep 7, 2019