Region
Highlights
- 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.
Routes
/-71.5582541,44.20264,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
48 summits • 17.2 mi • 5,047 ft gain • 8 hr 10 min
/-71.5582541,44.20264,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
2 summits • 10.7 mi • 3,875 ft gain • 6 hr 9 min
/-71.5582541,44.20264,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 19.2 mi • 5,488 ft gain • 8 hr 59 min
Latest summits
"Had a great time on this hike. Started out be going through Franconia Notch where it was almost fog like. Very cloudy to begin. Parked at Seven Dwarfs for winter trailhead access. Adds an extra 1.5 miles each way. Little River was semi-raging and we had to go about a tenth of a mile beyond the third water crossing to find a safe ice bridge. North Twin trail is steep at the top, some unconsolidated snow made climbing difficult in spikes. Switched to snowshoes and it was much better. Once we emerged onto the rocks though, we were treated to a fantastic undercast with bright blue skies. It is one of the most astonishingly beautiful things to see. An ocean of clouds at your feet. There was Mt Wash, only its upper seen above the clouds. Not cold really, about 30 deg. As we made it to South Twin, the clouds were starting to dissipate. And a strong cold wind arrived too. South Twin has the best views in the Whites!" — Alohabuffy • Jan 10, 2021

"North Twin Tr and North Twin Spur over North Twin and South Twin summits, and back. The weather report looked great--partly cloudy, temperatures in the 50's-70's, with a SLIGHT chance of precipitation. (Pretty normal for the White Mountains) The parking lot at the North Twin trailhead is small and fills early, but parking is allowed on one side of Haystack Rd. That's where we easily found a spot, bathed in sunscreen and bug repellant, and started our ascent at 8:15am. The trail is clearly marked and well maintained, with some steep, rocky sections, no scrambles, and only a few downed trees. The three water crossings were the tricky part, and from what I understand, we were hiking after somewhat of a summer drought, so... There is an alternative "well-beaten path" the AMC guide mentions, which follows along the left side of the stream and avoids the first two crossings altogether. We opted to take the three crossings on the way up, get a feel for how everything connected, and take the alternative trail on the way back down. Most of the way up, it became clear we would be taking in our first summit enveloped in a cloud. "Not to worry. It'll pass or burn off. Mountain weather, you kno..." — gooner • Aug 22, 2020
"We broke camp at Guyot and headed up to the viewpoint for sunrise. We then went over and did the Twins before heading down past Galehead Hut and making camp at 13 Falls Campsite. We hiked out the next day." — newenglandwarrior • Aug 11, 2020
"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