Mt. Wolf via Reel Brook & Kinsman Ridge Trails (White Mountain National Forest)

Mt. Wolf via Reel Brook & Kinsman Ridge Trails (White Mountain National Forest)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back

Distance: 9.57 miles

Elevation: 2,303 feet

Time: 4 hours, 16 minutes (4 hours, 5 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 With-a-View

The Hike

After my hike of Killington yesterday, I was not ready to be done with the mountains! I booked a room in Lincoln for the next night, slept in a bit, and then made my way back up I-93. My goal for the day was to knock off my penultimate 52 With-a-View peak, Mt. Wolf! I made it to the trailhead around 11:30am, which was comically late for me. The drive was nice, but the final stretch of road to the trailhead was a single-lane dirt road with really no pull-offs, so thankfully I was mostly in my lonesome. There was one other car in the parking area, I took care of a dire code yellow, ate some leftover pizza, and then got to work!

[11:37am - Reel Brook Trail]

My adventure started on the Reel Brook Trail, which overall was quite lovely. The weather was just perfect - 56 degrees with just a few clouds. Soon after getting into the woods, the Reel Brook Trail entered National Forest land on a nice, wide road grade. I had a unique pain on the top of my right foot which was new... I figured it was from flying down Killington yesterday. I passed some old blue blazes and soon left the Forest Protection Area.

[11:44am - Reel Brook Trail/Departs Forest Protection Area]

The Reel Brook Trail descended slightly and I took a short break to massage my foot and crack my toes, which I think helped a little? Soon after I crossed a very pretty stream that had very little water. I also noticed that whoever's car was at the trailhead must be a backpacker who's been out for at least a night becuase the spider webs were alive and well! I even saw a toad which was fun! I was wondering what my toads versus humans could would end up being...

I crossed another rocky stream easily at 0.89 miles and then another at 1.07. There was some drainage work done afterwards that looked nice and dry, and then the trail crossed yet another dry stream. I was slowly becoming spiderman, covered in webs, and then the road began to fizzle out in a damp area before turning onto another road just before the power cut.

[12:07pm - Reel Brook Trail/Power Cut]

Soon, the new road turns onto the power cut, which had nice views. I did throw some bug spray on here just for good measure (aka tick prevention). The power cut was medium grown-in, but not problematic, just unpleasant. Once back in the woods, the trail got a little wet again, traversing over corduroy and rocks.

The Reel Brook Trail began to parallel a stream and then passed a nice gentle cascade that landed in a cute wading pool. It would have been nice to rinse some sweat off there if it weren't for the comical abundance of water bugs! This whole area was just beautiful and peaceful.

The trail then crosses a tributary and then the Reel Brook itself in a semi-confusing area, similar to the crossings on the Carter Dome Trail (that I famously fell into last March). The trail became grassy after crossing, then another old road joined as the trail crossed the brook one last time. From here, roughly at the 2.0 mile mark, the Reel Brook Trail began to climb more moderately. It started with rocky, dry footing and then transitioned to grassy, wet footing. This was the first time my heart rate was up all hike, so that was welcomed!

To no surprise, there was another small, mostly dry crossing and then the trail became more mossy and rugged. I was now sweating, but the wonderful weather made that not-a-problem. The Reel Brook Trail passed another old road on the left at 2.30 miles and then rounded a shoulder at 2.48. The following stretch was my favorite - just beautiful woods as the trail traversed over a semi-pleateau area. There were deer tracks in the mud, plenty of hobblebush, and some moose poop. The trail began to get rugged again as it approached the Kinsman Ridge Trail.

[12:52pm - Kinsman Ridge Trail]

The Kinsman Ridge Trail junction, just above the original Kinsman Notch, smelled like a wonderful pine tree with an extremely obstructed tree view to South Kinsman - the kind of tree view where it lets you know that its there, but nothing more. I took a water break (my first of the day - oops) and continued on!

The Kinsman Ridge Trail immediately took on it's characteristic form - rugged and beautiful, as it began to climb up to Mt. Wolf. It was also fun to be on the Appalachian Trail for a second day, but in a different state! I was looking forward to my summit pizza as I passed a couple of piles of moose poop and then a blowdown with a herd path going around. The temperature was cooler now that I was up on the ridge, but I was still feeling good while moving (besides the still-present foot pain). 

There was a stretch of slabs that turned into calf-steep climbing and then I saw the littlest tree view back to South Kinsman. I noticed the trail itself really wasn't too steep, just super rugged - kind of like Fishin' Jimmy. I did noticed that I would possibly need to apply my emergency chafing ointment (read as: diaper rash ointment) at the top, though...

The trail entered a PUD-dy, scrambly area, climbed some sunny slabs and then traversed through a beautiful plateau area. I caught a nice framed peek-a-view over to Liberty and Flume with the top of Mt. Pemigewasset in the foreground down below. The Kinsman Ridge Trail then descended back into dense, mossy woods before arriving near the comically named Failing Water Pond.

[1:33pm - Kinsman Ridge Trail/Failing Water Pond]

It was medium-difficult to find a nice view from Failing Water Pond, but I was able to wiggle my way down to catch the Kinsmans just barely peeking over the trees - overall it was a very beautiful area. From here, the Kinsman Ridge Trail climbs again to another short plateau before another descent. This was followed by a surprisingly long-feeling stretch of boards and one three-step ladder. 

The trail continued to descend to a low point, and there was a very obstructed view of Flume from a rock. A bit further up, there was a better peek-a-view of Lincoln and Lafayette. After, a rockier climb began, and I saw my first two people of the day! Two lovely women who didn't notice me until we were right at each other. I made it 4.62 miles and 2 hours, 15 minutes without seeing anyone - nice!

The climb continued to be super rugged, but I would not call it steep. After rounding a shoulder, there were some standing tree views to the Kinsmans and beyond, which was nothing impressive, but nice to know there were other mountains around. Soon enough, I made it to the outlook/summit spur!

[1:59pm - Kinsman Ridge Trail/Mt. Wolf Outlook Spur]

[2:02pm - Mt. Wolf Summit]

The outlook/summit spur was marked by an "Outlook" sign, which led to a short footpath to the summit area. There were two other hikers there finishing up their lunches. We joked about the lack of view together before I went back to the top of the shoulder to eat my pizza. The "view" was similar to Black Mountain in Jackson - you could tell there used to be a nice view! At least the trail was lovely!

[2:05pm - Kinsman Ridge Trail]

I started to eat my pizza, but soon heard the guys coming down, so in a feeble attempt to be antisocial, I ate the pizza while hiking. Now that I was descending, I was feeling the pain in my foot more. Wasn't too sure what was happening! I eventually caught up to the two women from before. They were in the middle of a conversation initially about goat cheese, and a little further down I overheard one say to the other "I'm so glad you're here, you really made this hike special" which made my heart melt! I eventually made my way back to the Reel Brook Trail junction pretty easily, with the only problem being my foot!

[2:54pm - Reel Brook Trail]

Once back on the Reel Brook Trail, I found myself grateful for being able to be out in the woods with no cell service. Ever since my birthday I had been a bit of a mental disaster, so the peace and quiet of the woods was really needed. The lovely plateau was still lovely, and the foot REALLY hated the steeper, upper part of the descent. Once I crossed Reel Brook it got better, but oof, it was hurting!

[3:25pm - Reel Brook Trail/Power Cut]

I brought out the PeakFinder app at the power cut and learned that Cole Hill was the main hill visible. The understory continued to be unproblamtic but still unpleasant, and the trail was very well blazed once back in the woods, onto the logging road, and then when it turns right off of the logging road. 

I passed a recent little pile of bear poop, my nipples were chafing, and I saw some kind of jumping mouse. My foot pain really flared up in the last mile, and I probably shouldn't have hiked on it feeling like this, but I love completing a goal!

[3:48pm - Reel Brook Trail/Forest Protection Area]

[3:53pm - End of Hike]

I was incredibly grateful to see the Forest Protection Area sign, which meant I only had like 5 more minutes of pain thank goodness. I felt some more relief at the National Forest land boundary, and the most back at the car. The other car was still in the parking lot. A mystery! I didn't change my clothes at the car as the hotel was not too far away. I hit up McDonalds first, ate some more leftover pizza, went to Price Chopper for some snacks, and hobbled my way into the shower and into bed! I had one more day of hiking ahead of me, so I needed to rest the foot!

Step-by-Step

- Start hike on Reel Brook Trail.

- At terminus, turn right onto Kinsman Ridge Trail.

- At jct., turn right onto Mt. Wolf outlook spur.

- At summit, turn around and retrace steps to car.

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