North Twin Mountain

North Twin Mountain forms the north end of the Twin Range of the White Mountains.
The summit of North Twin is reached by the North Twin Trail, which ascends from the village of Twin Mountain via the Little River Valley.
Three stream crossings may be impassible in high waters.
The summit offers an open ledge with views to the west.
The North Twin Trail continues south along the crest of the Twin Range about one mile to the taller summit of South Twin Mountain.

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Routes

North Twin Trail

48 summits • 17.2 mi • 5,047 ft gain • 8 hr 10 min

North Twin Mountain 10.7 mi route

1 summit • 10.7 mi • 3,875 ft gain • 6 hr 57 min

Latest summits

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"Well, we'll start with the Little River. It was more like a medium sized river as there was little chance to rock hop the third crossing without getting a little wet. Fortunately we didn't slip, we saw three hikers turn around there. With temps in the 30s all day, we hoped for a little sun, but not much at all. Climbing up North Twin, you entered the mist around 4000'. Also snow on the ground and in the trees, gradually increasing to almost 3" on So Twin.. Finally on the way back, we got sun at the west outlook on No Twin. But the trail from Little River to the North summit was a virtual stream. The trail to So Twin was a muddy/slushy mess. Socked in on the top of So Twin, so nothing to look at but ourselves." — Alohabuffy • Oct 26, 2019

"13 & 14 of 48. Solo. Started out around 0715 from the end of Haystack Road. I was the only person in the lot. The drive to the trailhead showed grey sad looking cloudy skies that I hoped wouldn’t stick around. It was about 50°. It had rained a whole bunch yesterday, so the trail was soaked. The first portion of the trail is hard packed dirt, roots and rocks. I had read about a “bushwhack” to avoid two of the water crossings, and I didn’t even realize I had wandered onto it until about two miles in when I was facing a water crossing and thinking huh? Bushwhack my tush, blatant herd path is more like it. In hindsight I suppose maybe it should’ve been clear to me due to the narrow and poorly thought out path, but since there aren’t any good trail markings in this state, it just didn’t occur to me! I wonder how anyone finds their way around after a fresh snow short of using a map and compass considering there are no plastic reflective discs marking the trails here. Anyway. I’m facing this water crossing, when it starts to rain. Crap. Was this predicted? I realized I hadn’t even checked. I decided not to burn the miles and continued on after bagging up my phone & throwing on..." — kellieirene • Sep 12, 2019

"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

"I started my day at 3:30am and was on the trail by 6:40am. I was back at the parking lot at 4:40pm , 10 LONG hours of hiking in the beautiful white mountains. Started up north twin and then over to South. I skipped Galehead as the effort did not equal the reward, I’ll get it another time. I made my way over to Mt. Guyot which is not an official NH48 but probably will be after the next AMC Guidebook comes out. Long walk over to Zealand and to the amazing views from Zeacliff lookout. Mt Washington was glorious from afar and exposed in clear blue skies. Down to Zealand hut for coffee and Lemon poopy seed cake. An exhausting hike over to Hale capped the summits for the day. The last trail I took was fire wardens trail and it is abandoned and overgrown. It was the only way to complete this as a loop hike so I opted to take the risk, and it payed off. At the end of the day 10 hours, 19+ miles, and five 4000 footers." — JoshuaRyan • Aug 20, 2019

"Enjoying a weekend exploring the Whites. Started on trail Friday morning via shuttle (left a car at Zealand parking area). Hiked up to Garfield and the made our way back over the ridge where we spent the night at Galehead Hut before moving on the next day through the Twins and the Bonds. Woke up the next morning and started up the steep climb for the Twins, then over to the Guyot and the Bonds (amazing!) and out through Zealand. We were trying to beat a storm so we passed on Hale - made it to the car with thunder in the distance and a crack of lightening and downpour just as we shut the door! An incredible hike through some very beautiful woods." — deb-and-rob • Aug 12, 2017

"Great weekend in the White mountains! Hit North Twin and South Twin, and made our way to Galehead. Galehead was my friends #48 to finish the NH 4000 footers. From there we hiked to Garfield campsite, next morning hiked to Garfield summit and down and out The Gailriver tail." — blackwolf_03278 • Jul 29, 2017

"The original forecast said that it would be clear all day with a possibility for a passing storm in the late afternoon. When I started at 6:30am it was overcast and drizzly, I was hoping that it wouldn't last. The first couple miles are really flat with almost no gain at all. There were three water crossings, two of which I was able to rock hop and one that I was able to use a down tree a little ways up from the marked crossing. The next 2.3 miles were all up hill. I put my shell on right before emerging from treeline because it was a little windy and still overcast and drizzling. The rest of the way to the summit was pretty uneventful and I didn't linger since there were no views to be had. I continued from here on to South Twin, which is where my trip report will continue...." — LGH-Tom • Jun 28, 2017

"Awesome day with awesome friends and awesome weather! We started at the hale fire warden bushwhack and headed to north twin in thick cloud cover. When we reached the summit the clouds parted so we enjoyed a few moments in sun before heading to south twin in a near white out fog. We headed to the galehead hut next for lunch in the sun and bagged galehead and then headed out to our second car on the road after the long boring hike down. Couldn't have bee" — shay-shay • Apr 3, 2017

"Doug and I set up a car spot just in case. We did not know what the trail would be like after a recent snow storm. We made our way up past the Fire Warden's Tr then found ourselves breaking trail for the rest of the day. 3rd crossing was not an issue. Usual long hike to reach the summit. We were socked in the clouds on the summit." — newenglandwarrior • Apr 2, 2017

"Beautiful day for a beautiful mountain! I really loved the trail up (avoided most water crossings by taking a well-trodden herd path for the first 2 miles. The last 2.4 miles were steadily steep, but nothing tricky. The near-summit views (just before & just after) were spectacular. Especially loved seeing nearly the entire "Pemi-Loop" from the 2nd viewpoint. " — PJSelmer • Sep 12, 2016

"A great hike on a wonderful day, amazing views just before & just after the summit. North Twin Trail is quite easy along Little River (1.9 mi) if you skip the first two water crossings by staying on a well traveled herd trail. The final water crossing wasn't hard due to a very dry summer. The remaining 2.4 miles are moderately steep and rather eroded. As a whole, a beautiful trail with rewarding views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness." — VonSelmer • Sep 12, 2016

"Went with Kali in the rain. Seven 4000 footers in a three day backpack. Zealand, Guyot (not on the 4000 footer list) West Bond, Bond, Bondcliff, South Twin, North Twin and Galehead. Spent 1 night at Guyot Campsite in lean-to and second night at Galehead Hut." — Hufflepuff • Aug 2, 2016

"I've always said that the hardest thing to do when hiking is finding the trailhead. In the winter the trailheads are moved since some of the forest roads are closed. We had good directions but decided to follow footsteps which led us to a mile warm-up hike on some random hill. Finally found the trailhead and headed up to the peaks. The plan was to do more, but early meandering chewed up some time and effort. Beautiful day - a bit chilly going up North Twin, but otherwise comfortable temps and little to no wind. http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3192027 " — markst-john • Mar 5, 2016

"Another gorgeous day in the mountains. We were anticipating icier areas so we used crampons the whole way, though I suppose microspikes would have done the trick. The elevation took a bit out of me as we went up, up, up, and up North Twin, but the views were magnificent and more than worth it! We then bounced over to South Twin to bag the second peak of the day. Then we made our way back to North and down. Ending the last few miles of our day with our headlights on. " — matt-beard • Mar 5, 2016

"A hike over N Twin to S Twin. This hike when there is snow on the ground is always tough for me. Concerned about the river crossing, but I chose this hike so I could do Hale as a backup just in case. There was a firm crossing just above the 3rd crossing. " — newenglandwarrior • Jan 17, 2016

"First peak of my Black Friday semi-Pemi loop over N & S Twin, W. Bond, Zealand and Hale. Ran up the flats on North Twin trail, took the herd path to bypass the crossings, which were very difficult, and continued up to the summit in 2:15. Great views and a nice, light undercast in the eastern Pemi basin. " — npweeks • Nov 27, 2015

"First time hiking N. Twin. All alone once I passed the three Canadians on the way up. Snow, ice, some wind, and zero views at the summit, but it's okay: just another reason to go back!" — npweeks • Oct 10, 2015

"Ascended North Twin on our way out from two nights at Galehead hut. Nice view down to the hut and over to Franconia Ridge and the summit of Cannon mt. Red lined the North Twin trail." — Nimblefoot • Sep 5, 2015

"3 day/3 night backpacking trip. Hit hale, zealand, west bond, bushwacked off one of west bond's slides to Bear Pond in Redrock Ravine, hiked out of Redrock Ravine via Twinway Slide, and hit south and north twin before completing the loop back to the car." — ATrane21 • Jul 5, 2015

"Hiked the Twins with Nick. Originally went up the river crossing bypass, but after the path had narrowed down to a single pair of ski tracks, doubled back to do all 3 of the river crossings. Steady grade up. Found a lost pack cover. Great views from the summit. Sunny and slightly windy. " — newenglandwarrior • Mar 29, 2015