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New Hampshire

Grafton County

South Twin Mountain – Bondcliff Summit loop from Franconia Branch

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

New Hampshire

Grafton County

South Twin Mountain – Bondcliff Summit loop from Franconia Branch

Hard

3.4

(29)

hikers

South Twin Mountain – Bondcliff Summit loop from Franconia Branch

11:13

29.9km

1,220m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

Last updated: August 20, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 12.4 km for 3.99 km

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

8.00 km

Galehead Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Galehead Hut is one of the more remote Appalachian Mountain Club huts in the White Mountains, perched at 3,800 feet between Mount Garfield and South Twin. Accessible via several trails—including the Garfield Ridge Trail and Twinway—it’s a popular overnight option for hikers tackling long routes like the Pemi Loop or Appalachian Trail section hikes. The hut offers meals, filtered water, composting toilets, and bunk accommodations during the full-service season (typically June through mid-September), and transitions to self-service in the shoulder seasons.

From the hut, it’s a short, steep climb to the summit of Galehead Mountain, a wooded 4,000-footer, and a longer, tougher ascent to South Twin, which offers some of the best views in the area. While it’s a solid place to rest or refill on water mid-hike, Galehead is also a great base for exploring more remote corners of the Pemigewasset Wilderness without the crowds found on Franconia Ridge.

Tip by

9.19 km

South Twin Mountain

Highlight • Summit

South Twin Mountain lies at an altitude of almost 4,900 feet and is therefore the higher peak of the Twin Mountain Range. The hike to the summit offers a challenging yet rewarding hiking experience that ends at the summit with panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness, including the iconic Franconia Range and Pemigewasset Wilderness.

Tip by

12.2 km

Mount Guyot

Highlight • Summit

Mount Guyot, sitting at 4,580 feet, has a flat, bald summit with awesome 360-degree views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness, the Bonds, Zealand Mountain, and the Presidential Range. It is part of the Bonds Traverse or the Appalachian Trail. Reaching Mount Guyot requires navigating rugged trails and significant elevation gain, but its alpine zone and stunning vistas make the hike up worthwhile.

Tip by

14.3 km

Mount Bond

Highlight • Summit

Mount Bond (4,698 ft) sits near the heart of the Pemigewasset Wilderness and offers expansive views in nearly every direction. As the middle summit between West Bond and Bondcliff, it's often overshadowed by its neighbors, but don’t let that fool you. The summit is open and exposed, with a dramatic view back toward Franconia Ridge and deep into the Pemi.

Tip by

16.0 km

Bondcliff Summit

Highlight • Summit

Bondcliff, standing at 4,261 feet, topped with a sharp, flat summit with a cliff, has breathtaking views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness and local peaks like Mount Bond and West Bond. Accessible via the Bondcliff Trail from Lincoln Woods Trailhead, this challenging hike is often part of the "Bonds Traverse." The final stretch enters an alpine zone, rewarding hikers with stunning panoramic vistas, especially on clear days.

Tip by

16.0 km

Bondcliff Scramble

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

The Bondcliff Trail features a challenging rock scramble that may feel unsafe or uncomfortable for some hikers. If this hike exceeds your limits, consider an alternative. The trail remains rocky as it climbs, steepens, and transitions to a moss-lined path before entering the alpine zone. Hands may need to be free and used for the scramble. The final ascent offers stunning views, leading to the flat summit rock and the iconic cliff ahead.

Tip by

25.4 km

Boncliff Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, and Lincoln Woods Trail Junction

Highlight • Trail

25.4 km

Franconia Brook Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

Keep your feet dry while crossing the scenic Franconia Brook before it joins with the East Branch Pemigewasset River. This is a great spot to stop for a photo or filter some water.

Tip by

29.9 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

15.1 km

14.6 km

271 m

Surfaces

22.2 km

6.29 km

1.40 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,460 m)

Lowest point (430 m)

Weather

Today

Tuesday 1 September

21°C

11°C

27 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

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South Twin Mountain – Bondcliff Summit loop from Franconia Branch

Galehead Hut

South Twin Mountain

Mount Guyot

Mount Bond

Bondcliff Summit

Bondcliff Scramble

Boncliff Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, and Lincoln Woods Trail Junction

Franconia Brook Bridge

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