Galehead Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Galehead Mountain |
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Galehead Mountain and AMC Galehead Hut
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,024 ft (1,227 m) |
| Prominence | 264 ft (80 m) |
| Listing | White Mountain 4000-Footers |
| Geography | |
 Galehead Mountain
Location in New Hampshire
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| Location | Grafton County, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Parent range | Twin Range |
| Topo map | USGS South Twin Mountain |
Galehead Mountain is a cool mountain in New Hampshire, a state in the northeastern United States. It's part of the Twin Range within the famous White Mountains. This mountain is special because it's one of the "4000-Footers" in New Hampshire, meaning its peak is over 4,000 feet (about 1,219 meters) high!
Galehead Mountain sits between two other mountains. To its east is South Twin Mountain, and to its west is Mount Garfield. Many hikers love to visit Galehead because of its beautiful views and the trails that lead to its top.
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Where is Galehead Mountain?
Galehead Mountain is found in Grafton County, New Hampshire. It's named "Galehead" because it's located near where the North Branch of the Gale River begins. Think of it as the "head" or source of that river!
Rivers Flowing from Galehead
Water from Galehead Mountain flows in different directions, eventually reaching the ocean.
- Water from the north side of Galehead flows into the North Branch of the Gale River.
- This river then joins the Ammonoosuc River.
- Next, it flows into the mighty Connecticut River.
- Finally, it reaches Long Island Sound in Connecticut.
Water from the southeast and west sides of Galehead flows into Twin Brook.
- Twin Brook then joins the Franconia Branch of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River.
- This water travels through the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
- It then flows into the Pemigewasset River.
- Finally, it reaches the Merrimack River and empties into the Gulf of Maine in Massachusetts.
Hiking and Trails
Reaching the top of Galehead Mountain is an exciting adventure for hikers!
The Frost Trail
The very top of Galehead Mountain is reached by a path called the Frost Trail. This trail starts from a special place called Galehead Hut.
Galehead Hut
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) runs the Galehead Hut. This hut is like a small lodge for hikers, offering a place to rest or even stay overnight. It's located in a low area, called a "col," between Galehead Mountain and South Twin Mountain.
You can get to Galehead Hut in a few ways. The most direct path from a parking area is the Gale River Trail, which comes from the northwest.
The Appalachian Trail
A very famous long-distance hiking path, the Appalachian Trail, passes near Galehead Mountain. This trail is super long, about 2,170 miles (3,492 kilometers)! It stretches all the way from Georgia to Maine.
The Appalachian Trail crosses the northern side of Galehead. It passes about 0.2 miles (0.3 kilometers) north of the summit and about 400 feet (122 meters) below it. So, if you're hiking the Appalachian Trail, you'll be very close to Galehead's peak!
