Wikipedia lead image (see Wikipedia article for licensing)
The Cannon Balls — Summits 48.9 Miles WSW of Chapman Inn
Grafton County, New Hampshire · USGS Franconia Quadrangle · GNIS 872784
48.9 miles west-southwest of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Franconia topographic quadrangle, The Cannon Balls is a summit recorded in Grafton County, New Hampshire by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Wikidata short description: “mountain in United States of America”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Franconia 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places The Cannon Balls in Grafton County, New Hampshire (FIPS 33/009), classified as a summit in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 872784). Last revised by the Board on Geographic Names on 11/13/2020.
Coordinates & physical setting
The Cannon Balls sits at 44.14994° N, 71.71023° W (DMS 44°09′00″ N, 71°42′37″ W).
Other summits in Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County, NH contains 93 summits catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting The Cannon Balls itself. The ones closest to The Cannon Balls:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Mountain | Franconia | 4,081 ft | 0.7 mi |
| Bald Mountain | Franconia | — | 2.3 mi |
| Mount Lincoln | Franconia | — | 3.3 mi |
| Little Haystack Mountain | Franconia | — | 3.3 mi |
| Mount Lafayette | Franconia | — | 3.3 mi |
| Mount Liberty | Lincoln | 4,459 ft | 4.1 mi |
| Bickford Mountain | Franconia | — | 4.2 mi |
| Big Bickford Mountain | Franconia | — | 4.3 mi |
| Scarface Mountain | Franconia | — | 4.5 mi |
| Mount Flume | Lincoln | 4,328 ft | 5 mi |
Features on the USGS Franconia Quadrangle
The Franconia 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 39 catalogued natural features alongside The Cannon Balls. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Mountain | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Lonesome Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Bridalveil Falls | Waterfalls | Grafton County, NH | 1 mi |
| Walker Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Old Man of the Mountain (historical) | Cliffs | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Franconia Notch | Gaps | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Dry Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 1.8 mi |
| Profile Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 1.9 mi |
| Echo Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 2 mi |
| Artists Bluff | Cliffs | Grafton County, NH | 2.2 mi |
Historical record
The Cannon Balls is a mountain ridge located in Grafton County, New Hampshire. It is part of the Kinsman Range of the White Mountains. The ridge has three peaks with elevations of, from west to east, 3,693, 3,660, and 3,769 feet. The ridge takes its name from adjacent Cannon Mountain, on which a series of boulders, when viewed from the foot of the mountain, resemble an antique artillery cannon. The Cannon Balls are flanked to the northeast by Cannon Mountain, and to the southwest by Kinsman Mountain. Read the full Wikipedia entry →
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 48.9 miles west-southwest (bearing WSW) of The Cannon Balls. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 84 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Accessible May through November in most years. At this latitude (44.150°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 48.9 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at The Cannon Balls track the nearby Cannon Mountain summit (0.7 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to The Cannon Balls
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Mountain | Summits | Grafton County, NH | 0.7 mi |
| Lonesome Lake | Lakes | Grafton County, NH | 0.8 mi |
| Bridalveil Falls | Waterfalls | Grafton County, NH | 1 mi |
| Walker Brook | Streams | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
| Old Man of the Mountain (historical) | Cliffs | Grafton County, NH | 1.5 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Cannon Balls located?
The Cannon Balls is in Grafton County, New Hampshire, approximately 48.9 miles west-southwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Franconia topographic quadrangle.
How far is The Cannon Balls from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 84 minutes, 48.9 miles west-southwest (bearing WSW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is The Cannon Balls?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies The Cannon Balls as a summit, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 872784 on the Franconia quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit The Cannon Balls?
Accessible May through November in most years.
How many other summits are in Grafton County, New Hampshire?
GNIS lists 92 other summits in Grafton County, New Hampshire.
Wikidata: Q7721203.