The Northeast Cannon Ball, at 3,769 feet, is the highest of three rounded humps along the Kinsman Ridge Trail between Cannon Mountain and North Kinsman in New Hampshire's Kinsman Range. Their name derives from the view of them from Cannon Mountain, where the three humps appear as spherical forms lined up in a row. The northeast peak is the final entry on the New England Hundred Highest list, its 3,769-foot elevation making it the lowest summit on that roster.
The summit is wooded and viewless, but a tall trailside rock just short of the top offers a good look across to Cannon Mountain with the Franconia Ridge arrayed behind it. A cairn marks the highpoint; no sign is posted.
The standard approach begins at Lafayette Campground in Franconia Notch, climbing via Lonesome Lake and its AMC hut before joining the Kinsman Ridge Trail for the final push. The round trip runs roughly 5 miles with around 2,000 feet of gain. The Cannon Balls are sheltered by significant approaches on all sides, and the steep, rocky cols between the three humps add some scrambling to any traverse. The trail can be muddy well into May; late spring through fall offers the most reliable footing.
