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The Twinway runs from the junction of the Frost Trail and the Garfield Ridge Trail near the AMC Galehead Hut to the junction of the Zealand Trail and the Ethan Pond Trail near the AMC Zealand Falls Hut. It is part of the Appalachian Trail and hence in summer receives heavy overnight use by backpackers as well as hut-hoppers. The trail roughly follows the Ammonoosuc-Pemigewasset divide and while it doesn't pass over every bump there is a lot of up and down. In spite of the many waterbars and rock steps placed by trail workers, there are still plenty of eroded rocky sections and ledges to scramble.
While there are many viewpoints along the trail, the summits of South Twin and Guyot are officially alpine zones which can be dangerous in bad weather.
Distance: About 7.2 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 1800 feet Eastbound, about 3100 feet Westbound
Maps:
USGS South Twin Mountain, Crawford Notch
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map H-7
DeLorme NHA&G 43-D14/44-D2 - Franconia/Lincoln/Bethlehem
The trail is located S of US Routes 3 and 302 near Twin Mountain
West End: Junction of Frost Trail and Garfield Ridge Trail, elevation about 3780 feet
East End: Junction of Zealand and Ethan Pond Trails, elevation about 2460 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: AMC
Special regulations: No camping within 1/4 mile of huts or in alpine zones unless there is 2 feet of snow
The Twinway descends briefly from the junction of the Frost Trail and the Garfield Ridge Trail before beginning a straight and steady ascent up South Twin. While the trail climbs nearly 1200 feet in about three-quarters of a mile, careful trail work has made the walking relatively easy. The trail suddenly comes out onto a ledge and the North Twin Spur leaves L at .8 miles for North Twin; the summit of South Twin is one of the ledge outcrops a few steps to the L. All around views can be obtained from the summit ledges.
The Twinway descends quickly before beginning a long sidehill section with a more gradual descent that avoids some knolls before returning to the ridge and passing another knoll. From the col with Mount Guyot, it angles onto the E side of the ridge and ascends into scrub, at 2.8 miles reaching the junction with the Bondcliff Trail, which leads R over the SW peak of Guyot to Guyot Shelter, Mount Bond, and ultimately the Wilderness Trail. The Twinway turns sharp L and ascends a short distance over the flattish summit of Mount Guyot; while the trail is in low scrub there is an open area of the summit to the R.
The trail descends moderately to a col before a lesser ascent to the first bump on Zealand Ridge at about 4.0 miles; about 20 yards before a crest in the trail a side path leads L .1 miles to the highest point of Zealand Ridge, sometimes called Zealand Mountain. After a slight descent, the trail continues past another bump to a ledge with a view over Zeacliff Pond. There is soon a steeper descent with one log ladder to a flattish area at 5.2 miles where a spur path leads R .1 miles to Zeacliff Pond. The main trail descends slightly to a junction R with the Zeacliff Trail at 5.7 miles and then crosses a boardwalk to a short view loop at 5.8 miles.
The Twinway climbs over a rock outcrop and the view loop rejoins almost immediately. After a gradual descent along the rim of the notch, the grade steepens with many waterbars and rock steps. When a brook crossing appears the hut is nearby; the crossing of the main brook and a side brook beyond is reasonable at normal water levels but as there is a cascade below it may be wiser to find a safer crossing upstream at flood levels. At about 6.8 miles the Lend-A-Hand Trail leaves L for Mount Hale, and the AMC Zealand Falls Hut is reached at about 6.9 miles. Shortly below the hut, a side path leads R to the foot of the falls. The Twinway descends steeply for another .1 miles, then circles R around Zealand Pond to end at 7.2 miles at the intersection of the Ethan Pond Trail and Zealand Trail.
Hut open by reservation on a caretaker basis in the off-season.
Map Notes:
The side trail to Zeacliff Pond still exists although the shelter does not
The map does not show the short view loop
Ladder above Zeacliff Pond
Bog bridge at view junction
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