Mount Wolf
Who wouldn’t get a little excited with a name such as Mount Wolf? It is claimed that wolves occupied New England until the 1900’s, perhaps they made dens and roamed free along the desolate mountainside of which the Appalachian Trail now slices through.
Located in a lonely stretch of land where the Appalachian Trail and Kinsman Ridge Trail coincide, Mount Wolf has several knobs which encompass the mass of mountain. Up until 2010 the peak was even listed on the 52WAV (With A View) list, 52 lesser-travelled peaks around New Hampshire which feature fine views, but was removed in favor of Mount Roberts of the Ossipee Mountains adjacent to Lake Winnipesaukee.
Departing NH 112, Kinsman Ridge Trail north
I began my mid-morning trek departing the large Beaver Brook parking area on the eastern side of Mt Moosilauke, just slightly northwest of Lost River. There is a small fee to use this USFS parking area so I made sure the National Park Pass was obvious in my front window, the price of this pass covers not only National Park entrance fees but also generally all parking at any White Mountain National Forest trailhead.
The Kinsman Ridge Trail was originally laid out and cut from 1917-1919, spanning from Beaver Brook on NH 112 to the Mt Cannon Tramway Parking area on the northeastern side of Mount Cannon, a distance of nearly 16-miles.
Immediately upon departing the USFS parking area at 1,870’, the trail crosses NH 112 and proceeds generally northwesterly into the steep terrain. Aided by several switchbacks the path begins very rocky with rough footing, ascending North Kinsman Notch Peak which tops out around 2,740’.
Lovely stretch of trail
Hiking northwesterly of the notch’s cliff face, the Kinsman Ridge Trail passes the old remnants of the Dilly Trail which stretched at one time down to NH 112, later connecting with the Lost River Reservation nature trails at the base of the cliffs, on SPNHF (Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests) land. For a short period during the 1960’s the trail was listed as abandoned but was back in action among the AMC Mountain Guidebook of ‘72. Most recently the trail spanned 0.2-miles down to the Dilly Cliffs but was abandoned “indefinitely” due to forest fire October 2017.
As it was the first of November the trail had its share of fall foliage littering the trail but I found the trek overall more dry and enjoyable than other accounts had portrayed, the solid footway made for some quick and efficient traveling. Even aided by a long boardwalk upon cresting the initial climb, it felt as if I stepped away from civilization and straight into proper moose territory.
Perhaps hikers frowned at the constant ascending and descending of the trail, that it certainly does as the path meanders over no less than six minor humps on its way to the main attraction of the day.
Hikers, however, are rewarded with several lovely viewpoints while traversing the ridge, cycling through dense forest to short bare rock scrambles to fine stone stair-work. All around, the forest is blanketed in a thick green layer of moss and lichen, my kind of mystical forest getaway.
One of several view points along the KRT
Reaching a junction at the 3.0-mile mark the Gordon Pond Trail swings gradually downhill shortly leading to a spur trail to Gordon Pond, a short fork of the Gordon Pond Trail makes up a section of the old KRT.
Rerouted by the early 1980’s due to landowner disputes, the ridge trail now follows the Mount Wolf ridgeline and tops its summit as opposed to traversing its southeastern face as it did for many years.
The KRT/AT swings from Wolf’s western to eastern peaks before continuing generally north to the Eliza Brook Shelter shortly after a junction with the Reel Brook Trail.
My journey along the Kinsman Ridge Trail ended at the white sign with green lettering which read: “Outlook ->”, onto a short spur trail which would guide me the final ~70’ up to Mount Wolf’s east/southeasterly lookout; featuring a unique view out to Lincoln where I felt remarkably close to the southern Franconia Ridge, getting glimpses of 4,328’ Mount Flume’s west-face slide like never before.
Southern Franconia Ridge views
While opting for the taller summits of the area, this minor peak is likely more frequented by AT thru-hikers than locals, it’s views are likely and unfortunately forgotten when coming off bigger vistas such as South Kinsman (4,358’) to the north or Mt Moosilauke (4,802’) just south.
After soaking in the views and thanking the forces of nature for allowing a high cloud ceiling for my trek out to Mount Wolf, I made the return trek down to the lightly trampled paths. I laughed with joy over the coming miles, unable to get enough of the moss-covered boulders which lined the path.
Through lichen laden fir to open hardwood, I was constantly reliving long jaunts along the Kilkenny Ridge further north. Stopping to gain lookouts sporadically atop bouldery outcrops which lay trailside, I took time poking around the various Blue Ridge Mountain humps to see what this eastern side of Moosilauke had to offer, such a stunning tract of forest!
Kinsman Ridge Trail; Gordon Pond Trail junction
On the return, I thought of descending the Dilly Trail but declined as it was growing later into the day; having done more research on what this little spur holds I somewhat regret not taking the less travelled path, but have concluded I will return when the time is right. Perhaps a winter trek out to the Dilly Cliffs to get a glimpse of an ice-encrusted Beaver Brook ravine?
While this section may not be a most satisfying hike for all, I found this stretch of Kinsman Ridge Trail/Appalachian Trail to be just what the doctor ordered for the day: quiet, remote, moss-covered, a truly amazing green and lush forest - with that view out to Mt Flume - the cherry on top!
Overall stats for the day:
8.57-miles
3hr 32minutes
4,029’ elevation gain
Mount Wolf - 3,480’
