| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Highwater Trail, Shelburne Trail, Wild River Road |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, September 24, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the Highwater Trailhead at the junction of Route 113 and Wild River Road. Just a few cars there. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Martins Brook on Highwater Trail was a careful rock hop. The two crossings of the new channel of Wild River on Highwater Trail both required waders, and there's no fallen tree to use anymore. Even though the section of Shelburne Trail between Highwater Trail and Wild River Road is only 0.2 miles, it has three major river crossings - the two channels of Bull Brook and then Wild River itself. The first channel of Bull Brook I used waders. The second channel could just barely be rock-hopped. Wild River itself obviously required waders, but the diagonal crossing as recommended by the WMG really wasn't that deep - I never went over my knees (Wild River discharge at the time was about 108 according to this site: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/01054200/#parameterCode=00060&period=P30D&showMedian=true). I didn't see any cairn on the far side (the road side), but the spot is fairly clear - it's just before a large downed tree, and the trail heading back along the river is visible. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
This section of Highwater Trail (between Hastings and the Shelburne Trail junction) is actually in fairly good shape. There are some blowdowns, but none need to be bushwhacked around. There's mud in a few places but the trail is actually remarkably dry considering how wet a summer it's been. The trail is marked by flagging and blazes around the two crossings of the new channel of the river. The relocations around the washouts are in good condition and are generally easy. The toughest section of trail to follow is actually Shelburne Trail between the Highwater Junction and the crossing of Wild River. There are a couple of arrows nailed to trees, but there's no flagging and just one blaze on the far side of the crossing of the second channel of Bull Brook. The arrow showing where to cross the first channel of Bull Brook is difficult to see, and there are no blazes or arrows between there and the second crossing - just one or two more blazes would fix the problem. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The river crossings would be difficult for dogs - they'd probably need to be carried across. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
Decided that the water levels had dropped sufficiently to start working on some of the trails I need in the Wild River area that require crossing that river. I started up Highwater Trail from the north end not knowing what to expect - I knew that some parts of the trail had been heavily damaged by storms. However, the northern half of the trail, up to the Shelburne junction, is actually in fairly good condition. Much of that is probably thanks to the two trail adopters I met along the way - it was great to talk with Heather, and I really appreciate her and Andreas's work on the trail. It definitely made my hike more enjoyable.
As mentioned above, both of the crossings of the new channel of Wild River on Highwater Trail require wading (though they were perfectly safe at current water levels), and there is some nice flagging around both crossings to direct you the right way. The portion of Shelburne Trail between Highwater Trail and the Wild River crossing is the toughest to follow. The reason why the former straight-across crossing of Wild River is no longer feasible isn't because the water is deeper, as I had assumed - it's because straight across from where the trail comes to the river is an almost vertical, washed-out bank that's at least 10 feet high and very unstable. Easier (and more sustainable) to do the diagonal crossing as explained in the WMG. The road walk back on Wild River Road is long but mostly flat, and took me only about an hour and a half.
If you need the trails that cross Wild River for your redlining, now might be a good time to do them - the Shelburne Trail crossing, which is the one that I did, is the furthest downstream of the Wild River crossings, and so (theoretically) the toughest. Hopefully I'll be able to get some more this week. Besides the two trail adopters, I saw just one other hiker the whole day. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-09-24 |
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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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