North Kinsman and South Kinsman Trail via Lonesome Lake and Appalachian Trail

This trail will bring you past Lonesome Lake in an old glacial cirque, past Kinsman Pond to the Kinsman Peaks which are the highest in the range. Kinsman is an open summit offering good views but North Kinsman is wooded with some views to the east. This hike is the quickest and easiest way to get to both peaks in one hike. Park in the Lafayette Campground. Take the Lonesome Lake Trail north and turn left in the Cascade Brook trail until you reach the Lonesome Lake Hut (Operated by the AMC). You may want to rest there, and you can grab a snack, juice, or tea for a few bucks. Continue up into the Fishing Jimmy trail. At the four way intersection you want to continue north (left would take you to the shelter, and right would take you to Cannon Mountain (another popular destination)). Soon you will reach North Kinsman. You have to step east a few feet into the view to take pictures of the White Mountains. Continue the trail to South Kinsman. Retrace to return to your car. Some people combine this hike with Cannon Mountain into a longer hike. You can also do it as a backpack if you stay at the Kinsman shelter.