Mt Bond from Bondcliff
Bond - 4698'
At the center of Pemigawasset Wilderness, Mt Bond offers some of the best views in the Whites. This comes at the cost of being 10 miles from the road, but the feeling of being surrounded by wilderness is worth it. Bond is the highest peak in the southern end of the Twin Range; the others being Guyot, West Bond and Bondcliff. It's summit is broad and generally open with some trees.
Being in the center of the Pemi it is a long approach from any direction. From the north you can do an overnight by staying at Zealand Falls Hut. The Guyot Campsite is one of the best (and only) camping locations near the summit of Bond. Many use it to cut the long roundtrip to the Bonds in half. Other peaks close by are Zealand Mountain, North and South Twin.
Routes
- Wilderness Trail to Bondcliff - Travel 5 flat miles on the Lincoln Woods and Wilderness trails to the Bondcliff trail junction. Slowly climb, then much more steeply until reaching treeline near the summit of Bondcliff. The trail dips below treeline and climbs up to Mt Bond. Total distance is 10.3 miles and climbs roughly 3600'.
- Zealand to Twinway to Bondcliff - From the Zealand trailhead travel mostly on flat trails to the Zealand Falls Hut. The Twinway climbs steeply from there to Zeacliff with it's wonderful views, then up past Zealand eventually hitting the junction with the Bondcliff trail at 7 miles, near Mt Guyot. Follow the Bondcliff trail over the summit of Mt Guyot and passes the side trails to the Guyot Campsite and to West Bond before hitting the summit of Mt Bond. Total distance is 8.2 miles and gains 3500'. In winter the road to Zealand is closed and it adds roughly three miles each way.
Trailheads
- Lincoln Woods - This main entrypoint for the Pemi is on Rt 112, the Kanc. It is approx 5 miles east of I-93, on the left just after crossing the Pemigewasset River. A WMNF parking pass is needed, and they are sold at the ranger station. There are bathroom facilities.
- Zealand - One of the northern approaches, the Zealand parking is at the end of the Zealand Road, which is gated in winter. The road starts at the Zealand Campground, on NH Rt 302, approx 5 miles east of the junction with Rt 3 in Twin Mountain. A WMNF parking pass is required.
Additional Photos
- Bonds from Osceola in early winter
- Panoramic from Bondcliff
- Winter view of Bond ridge from Lafayette
- Bond and West Bond from Guyot
- View from summit to the south
- West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliff
