Home States  Connecticut  Maine  Massachusetts  New Hampshire  New York  Rhode Island  Vermont  View All Lists  NE 4,000 Footers  NE 100 Highest  NH 4,000 Footers  NH 52 With A View  NH Belknap Range  NH Ossipee 10 Explanation of Ratings Links Ossipee Mountains Notice Search Trail Conditions Trip Log About	Galehead Mountain, South Twin Mountain, North Twin Mountain Bethlehem, NH, Franconia, NH Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below. The Gale River Trail Route: Gale River Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Frost Trail, (Galehead Mountain), Frost Trail, (Galehead Hut), Frost Trail, Twinway, (South Twin Mountain), North Twin Spur, (North Twin Mountain), North Twin Spur, (South Twin Mountain), Twinway, Frost Trail, (Galehead Hut), Frost Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Gale River Trail At the end of a long weekend with lots of hiking, I was a bit fatigued. Nonetheless, I wanted to get up to the Twins for the first time in spring. The Gale River Trail was quite busy with dozens of folks departing from the hut. Other than that, the water crossings were doable and the trail was snow free. My first stop was Galehead. The views from near the summit were quite good. I followed a herd path from the summit to another potential vista, but it was fruitless without snowpack to lift me over the spruce in the way. My sore achilles were non too happy with the steep Twinway, however the views from South Twin were quite good. Though windy, the temperatures weren't too bad. Other than some snow in the col, the North Twin spur was snow free. Reaching the viewpoint, I followed a herd path to a northern vista - not too bad! Backtracking, I stopped at the hut for a late lunch break, prior to heading down the Gale River Trail. While my feet were feeling the impact of lots of hiking, it was a nice day to get out. Hike Ratings Getting To Trailhead: Easy Destination: Galehead Mountain Length: Moderate Steepness: Difficult Navigation: Easy Views: Moderate Crowds: Heavy Destination: South Twin Mountain Length: Difficult Steepness: Difficult Navigation: Easy Views: Excellent Crowds: Minimal Destination: North Twin Mountain Length: Difficult Steepness: Moderate Navigation: Easy Views: Excellent Crowds: Minimal Hike Stats Date Hiked: Monday, May 25, 2009 Hike Commenced: 9:26 AM Parking Elevation: 1,610' Destination: Galehead Mountain Ascent Commenced: 9:26 AM Summit Reached: 11:42 AM Time Elapsed: 02:16 Trailhead Elevation: 1,610' Summit Elevation: 4,024' Distance: 5.1 miles Vertical Gain: 2,609' Destination: South Twin Mountain Ascent Commenced: 11:48 AM Summit Reached: 12:43 PM Time Elapsed: 00:55 Trailhead Elevation: 4,024' Summit Elevation: 4,902' Distance: 1.3 miles Vertical Gain: 1,187' Destination: North Twin Mountain Ascent Commenced: 12:47 PM Summit Reached: 1:37 PM Time Elapsed: 00:50 Trailhead Elevation: 4,902' Summit Elevation: 4,761' Distance: 1.3 miles Vertical Gain: 321' Hike Ended: 5:39 PM Hike Time Elapsed: 08:13 Hike Distance: 14.4 miles Hike Vertical Gain: 4,754' The Gale River Trail trailhead Wildflowers on the Gale River Trail Looking south from near the summit of Galehead Mountain Looking up Twinway to South Twin Mountain Looking at Mt. Washington from the South Twin Mountain summit The North Twin Spur Trail on the way to North Twin Mountain Looking north from near the summit of North Twin Mountain Directions to trailhead: Take Route 3 South from US 302. Take a left for the Gale River camping/hiking area. Shortly after, bear left at the fork in the road. Continue down the road, then take a right at the hiker sign. The WMNF fee parking area is on the left. There is a Gale River Trail trailhead on the side of the parking area. Back to Galehead Mountain Profile Back to South Twin Mountain Profile Back to North Twin Mountain Profile
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