| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bear Hill Pond (Bear Brook State Park), NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bear Hill Trail, Ferret Trail, Ledge Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, May 12, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Podunk Rd has been open since 3/30. $4/person to enter at the gate at the jct if Podunk and Campground Rds. 65 & over are free and children under some age or another are free too ;P There isn't much of a parking area for Bear Hill Trail. We parked just to the north off to the side of the gate for Hedgehog Trail. You might be able to pull your car off to the side right at the trailhead as well. Note that the trail is easily missed from the road so I'd recommend using Gaia to help you find it. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Either none, trivial, or bridged ;P |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I don't believe there were consistent markings on any of the trails but there was some yellow blaze, sometimes very old and faded, on them. All trail signs were intact as far as I recall. Note that Bear Hill Trail has been rerouted and now does not go over the summit anymore but rather parallels Podunk Rd before turning west toward Bear Hill Pond due to an "ecologically sensitive area". It is signed as such where it used to turn sharply west to the summit but is not signed where it returns to Ferret Trail. No significant blowdowns; all I recall is a widowmaker wedged between two trees on Ferret Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure but they must be leashed according to the park and are not allowed in the beach areas. |
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 | Bugs: |
Some were out but they didn't seem to bother unless we stopped even at a slow pace. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
Nice Mother's Day hike to finish up the Merrimack Valley tab with mom and dad :) Note that the start of the Bear Hill Trail is very easy to miss driving by but it was indeed precisely where Gaia said it was. We hiked the loop clockwise. Note that the trail has been rerouted and no longer goes to the summit of Bear Hill but parallels Podunk Rd before turning west toward Bear Hill Pond. The spur to Bear Hill Pond was easily found and well worth it. The trails were dry except for the occasional mostly dry mud pit and two much more wet and deep ones on Ledge Trail to the west of the summit. Cool bouldery area/minor cliff bands on the west side of the peak. My mother was quite impressed by them! With the reroute, Gaia had us at 3.5mi, about 250ft of gain. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-16 |
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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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