Town
Where to Stay in Twin Mountain
Twin Mountain is a village in the town of Carroll, at the junction of Route 3 and Route 302, with the Ammonoosuc River running through it. It is a small service village with a few motels, a general store and a church, between Bretton Woods to the east and the Franconia Notch approach to the southwest. The AMC's Zealand Falls Hut is reached by the Zealand Trail, which follows an old logging railroad grade for most of its 2.8 miles from the end of Zealand Road, off Route 302 a few miles east of the village. The hut sits beside Zealand Falls, with Zeacliff and the Pemigewasset Wilderness beyond, and it is one of the few AMC huts open year-round.
Why Stay in Twin Mountain
- •The Zealand Trail follows an old logging railroad grade, nearly flat, for most of the 2.8 miles to Zealand Falls Hut.
- •Twin Mountain is a staging point for Pemigewasset Wilderness trips that start at Lincoln Woods and finish at Zealand, or the reverse.
- •Bretton Woods' ski area is about 10 minutes east on Route 302.
- •Crawford Notch is 20 minutes east on Route 302, putting Arethusa Falls, the AMC Highland Center, and the Notchland Inn all within easy reach.
What Makes This Area Interesting
- •Zealand Falls: the cascades beside the hut, at the end of a mostly flat 2.8-mile trail.
- •Bretton Woods: about 10 minutes east on Route 302, with the Omni Mount Washington Resort and a ski area that bills itself as New Hampshire's largest.
- •Crawford Notch State Park: 20 minutes east on Route 302, with Silver Cascade, Arethusa Falls, and the Webster Cliffs trail.
- •The Pemigewasset Wilderness: from Zealand, the Twinway climbs past Zeacliff toward the peaks of the Pemi Loop.
Explore Nearby Towns
Frequently Asked
Summer and early fall, when the hut serves dinner and breakfast. The hut stays open in winter as a self-service hut, but Zealand Road is closed, adding about 3 miles each way. Foliage in the Zealand Valley usually peaks in late September to early October.
About 2.5 hours, up I-93 to Route 3 and then north to Twin Mountain. From New York City, about 5.5 hours.
Easier than most AMC hut approaches: 2.8 miles each way, mostly on a flat old railroad grade, with a short, steep climb at the end. Round trip takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours.