| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Spruce Hill, East Royce, ME |
|
 | Trails: |
Bickford Brook Trail, Bickford Slides Loop, Blueberry Ridge Trail, Spruce Hill Trail, East Royce Trail, Royce Connector, Royce Trail, Mad River Falls Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, March 9, 2025 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plowed parking for several cars at entrance to Cold River/Basin Recreation Area access. This is where plowing of Rt. 113 ends. Summer trailhead is a 0.3 mile walk up the road, at Brickett Place. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Ice Axe |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water levels were down following heavy rains of 3 days ago. All crossings of Bickford Brook and Mad River were easy. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of branches everywhere. Flicked off a bunch; many remain. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
|
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
Someone actually snowmobiled up Bickford Brook Trail, to almost 2000 ft. and well past the obvious Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness sign. Boo! This inconsiderate dolt enabled me to easily bareboot over their entire track, but...
I donned snowshoes for the untraveled Bickford Slides Loop and happily floated along on top of the crusty snow. Winter conditions give new meaning to the word "slide" WRT this trail. A couple of severe sidehills culminating in an icy plunge if one were to slip here made me grateful that I'd carried my whippet this day. I used it (!) as I cautiously traversed these sketchy segments. (This is why I checked "ice axe" for recommended equipment.) Bickford Brook crossing at the bottom was easy peasy.
I headed back up the illegal snowmobile track. Hitting the ridge, I hiked 0.7 mile out to the upper Blueberry Ridge Trail junction, then back to Spruce Hill Trail and down to Evans Notch. Spruce Hill Trail was lovely, the snowshoeing sublime. The final half mile or so to Evans Notch was a bit tricky to follow through open hardwoods, but GPS was spot on.
Next up was a 1.3 mile, 1650 foot climb to East Royce. Televators were much appreciated here. The area feels very isolated and wild and even more beautiful in wintertime. I finally reached the end of the trail on East Royce just short of the summit. Yes, I know that a herd path continues to that repeater thingee; however, I have been out there previously and did not feel compelled to visit it this day as it is not part of the official trail. So there.
I contemplated descending Laughing Lion Trail but ultimately decided I didn't feel like walking the road and came down Royce instead. It, too, is STEEP at the top. Holy moly! Was a bit concerned about all the water crossings, but they were all fine. Much evidence of deluges from the recent rain event, with a lot of broken ice chunks and high water marks! There are some truly lovely pools and cascades along the Mad River, even more beautiful in wintertime with incredible ice formations.
At the trailhead, it was an easy 0.3 back to my car. I loved this hike.
|
|
 | Name: |
Snowflea |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2025-03-11 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
