| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Smith Pond, Halfmile Pond, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Unnamed trails |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 20, 2018 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Small parking area along Smith Pond Road in Enfield. Room for six smartly parked vehicles. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
No issues. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
All trails generously blazed and signed for at junctions for the various destinations. None of the trails have actual names that I know of, but there are some references to "Smith Pond Trail" on old signage. The last stretch to Smith Pond could use some brushing. The footbed on the trail to Halfmile Pond is vague in places, but the corridor is well blazed. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Nope. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
I checked out some of the trails in the fairly 995 acre Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area, protected by the fine folks at Upper Valley Land Trust. I visited Smith Pond, the nearby dam there, and did the out and back to beautiful, remote-feeling Halfmile Pond.
Smith Pond and the dam are an easy mile and a half walk. The route to Halfmile Pond starts out along an old logging road and doesn't look like it's going to be too exciting, but then quickly becomes an interesting footpath. More ups and downs here than I was expecting to provide a good workout. There's a nice outlook ledge a little less than halfway, looking down to Smith Pond and out to Mt. Cardigan. The pond itself is very peaceful and reportedly has good fishing according to a local I spoke with.
Very quiet on these trails today, I only saw a half dozen people or so, including one bow hunter, so wear your orange. I'll be back to check out the approaches from Mascoma Lake. |
|
 | Name: |
KenM |
|
 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2018-10-20 |
|
 | 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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