| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monadnock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Poole Road, Hinkley Trail, Birchtoft Trail, Cascade Link, Red Spot Trail, Old Ski Path, White Dot Trail, White Cross Trail, Smith Connecting Link, Cliff Walk, Noble Trail, Side Foot Trail, Ampitheatre Trail, Falcon Spring Loop, Ark/Poole Brook Spur, Harling Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I was the only car there both at 3:30 and 8:15pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I noticed that water seemed to be on the higher side but there are no major water crossings on these trails and those there were were still easily rock hopable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I do not recall any blowdowns. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in Monadnock State Park. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
I parked at some dinky little trail 0.1mi east of Hinkley Trail as parking is not allowed directly at it (no parking signs all along the sides of the road so this new trailhead really is quite convenient). I think these trails are new as they are not yet on their maps. Sure beats the $15 to park at the state park though.
Hinkley Trail is marked with yellow rectangles, Birchtoft Trail with red paint, Cascade Link yellow disks, Red Spot Trail with red spots, the Old Ski Path was unmarked and is unsigned on its eastern end on Red Spot Trail, White Dot Trail is marked with white dots and White Cross Trail with white crosses both of which would largely be hidden beneath the snow in winter as they're largely on ledge, Smith Connecting Link with yellow "S"s that again would largely be covered in winter, Cliff Walk with white diamonds and white "C"s, Noble Trail is unmarked, Side Foot Trail with white dots, and Ampitheatre Trail in yellow. Trails above tree line are often marked with cairns as well.
Third time's the charm: I finally finished up the trails on the south side of Monadnock for my penultimate SNH Redline hike. My route: Road Walk (Poole Road) --> Hinkley Trail --> Birchtoft Trail --> OAB on Cascade Link to Harling Trail --> Red Spot Trail --> Old Ski Path --> White Dot Trail to summit and back to --> White Cross Trail --> OAB on short abandoned section of Smith Connecting Link that connects White Cross and White Dot --> Smith Connecting Link --> Cliff Walk to Do Drop Trail and back to --> Noble Trail --> OAB on Side Foot Trail to Do Drop Trail --> Side foot Trail (north) --> Ampitheatre Trail --> Smith Connecting Link (north) --> White Cross Trail (north) --> White Dot Trail (south) --> Falcon Spring Loop --> Cascade Link --> Harling Trail --> Hinkley Trail --> Road Walk (Poole Rd).
I missed the 30yd spur to Ark/Poole Brook on Cascade Link on my way up so on my way out, I had to go back up Cascade Link a short ways (0.1mi) at its jct with Harling Trail. The spur path is not super obvious but if you're keeping an eye out for it, it shouldn't be hard to find. Directly opposite where the Old Ski Path comes out on White Dot Trail, I also followed a herd path into the woods that contoured below some boulders and seemed like it would eventually connect to White Cross Trail. The abandoned portion of Smith Connecting Link was cool to follow but is very wet now. Old yellow spot blazes are still evident though. Note that Smith Connecting Link is called Cliff Walk all the way to where it meets Ampitheatre Trail on Gaia.
I was glad to do this hike late in the day once the weather was quite nice (though a little chilly). I got beautiful views and really enjoyed some of these trails. The loop I made around Bald Rock was quite magnificent both in terms of the views and the trails. Above treeline, I was often in a rain jacket, with my hood up, something over my ears, and glove liners as it was quite cool and breezy. The trails did not seem as difficult to follow as some of the other ones I was on two days prior, including above treeline. There was still some flooding on the flat ledge sections of the trail where the water doesn't seem to drain terribly well. Many muddy and wet spots. Gaia had me at 9.5mi, 2900ft fo gain, 4hr37min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-08-23 |
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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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