| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Overall, Royal Arch Hill, Royal Arch Ledge, Royal Arch Cave (attempt), NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway, North Overall Spur, bushwhack, Royal Arch Ledge Spur |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 1, 2019 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The SRKG guidebook recommends parking at the large pulloff on the east side of NH 114, 1.5 mi. north of Georges Mill Road in Springfield. This is where I parked, and it requires a 0.2 mi. walk along the highway south to the trailhead. There is also a smaller pulloff a few hundred feet from the trailhead. I'm not sure if it's legal, but it's not posted. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This route is challenging for sure. The first half has been severely impacted by logging done over the winter, which has largely obliterated the trail. Fortunately, the loggers left the trees which have blazes on them as stubs. Still, it was difficult walking across slash. There are three large clearcuts to cross. On the way down, I met two maintainers at the third clearcut in who were working on making the trail easier to find on both sides. Thank you! Past the last clearcut, there's some walking on a brand new rough logging road, then the trail bears left off it and stays a footpath the rest of the way. The footpath section is very reminiscent of a wilderness trail, being brushy but not overly difficult to follow. There are however numerous blowdowns along this entire route. I lost count. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure, but watch for ticks. |
|
 | Bugs: |
Black flies were ridiculous and I picked several ticks off my pants. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
I thought this would be a much easier hike, but some confusing turns at the start and navigating the clearcuts made it more difficult. Once off the logging road past the last clearcut, this is actually a very nice ridgecrest route through some wild forest. Limited views from the North Overall outlook and I couldn't find East Overall, even though it's described in the guidebook. It's stated as being 20 yds. past North Overall, but I saw nothing.
The SRKG just skirts the high point of Royal Arch Hill, which is a short bushwhack and is not recognized. From the summit, you have to descend down the other side of the mountain quite a bit to get to the view ledge, located at the end of a spur path (sign), which has a great view of Lake Sunapee and Mt. Sunapee. From the ledge, a well-defined herd path descends to the cave. It quickly became extremely steep - too steep for these knees - so I turned back as I didn't know how much further down it was. I followed the same route out. |
|
 | Name: |
KenM |
|
 | E-Mail: |
kmacgray@gmail.com |
|
| Date Submitted: |
2019-06-01 |
|
 | 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. |
|
