| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Warner Hill, Tully Mountain, Day Mountain, MA |
|
 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, bushwhack, Kay Wood Lean-to Spur, Depot Street, Main St (Rt 8), High St, Park, Ave |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 3, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the plowed parking on Pittsfield Rd (Washington Mountain Rd on Gaia where it intersects unplowed Beach Rd). One or two other cars here but room for at least a few others, probably more. I don't think the roadside parking mentioned in the guidebook on Grange Hall Rd was plowed/accessible, and I don't recall the lot it says is on Blotz Rd either. Parking on Gulf Rd (closed to the west where it meets Rt 8) where I ended my hike and plenty of parking in Dalton obviously. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I think the only one of significance was Cady Brook, which was easily rock hopable. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The AT was blazed in white and I think was easy to follow through most of this section. The exception was the slightly awkward descent off the north side of Day Mtn where I lost it for a bit and it wasn't terribly clear. It could probably use more blaze through here but I think it may have been a lbit cliffy and didn't have as many trees which could explain the lack of blaze. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen but a fine portion of the AT for dogs with easy grades and water sources. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
This was a redline of Section 7 and the first mile of Section 8 of the AT in the guidebook. Both Warner Hill and and Tully Mtn are NE 2000 footers so I made sure to hit the highpoints along the way. The highpoint of Warner Hill is a viewpoint just off trail that is obvious and mentioned in the guidebook. The highpoint of Tully is just off trail. Two close by bumps that were contenders in my book. I think there may have been a snow covered cairn at one but no register. Day Mtn had some easy cliff bands on the north side the trail curves through but no real views. I crossed the tracks just before the train came through in Dalton! The spur to Kay Wood Lean-to is marked but seemed a little obscure. Despite heading over a few mountains, this hike was very easy and had very little elevation gain. Grades were usually quite easy. The smallest of the mountains, Day Mtn, actually had the most significant climb.
Note that Gaia shows another trail splitting from the AT about 0.8mi south of Blotz Rd. This other trail IS the AT and the trail it shows as the AT isn't actually there. It's also possible this is a reroute, but I saw no signs of an old trail from the north end of where the two paths meet on Gaia (I also didn't look for very long). Gaia calls what's actually the AT "Unverified DCR Track". While there were small sections of trail where snowshoes might have been nice, at the time, there was not enough depth for them in my opinion. A good portion of it had seen traffic, anyway. It seems like a lot of folk hike an OAB to Warner Hill from Blotz Rd. I got a Lyft back to my car after walking partway down Park Ave from Gulf Rd. Gaia had me at 12.75mi, 850ft of gain (but 1700ft of loss!), and 6hr22min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-01-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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