| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt Garfield, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Mt Garfield Trail, Garfield Ridge Trail, Spruce Brook Bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, April 28, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the Gale River Loop winter gate. Three other cars when we arrived at 8. Five other cars when we left. Space for about 10. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Snow/Ice - Monorail (Unstable), Snow - Spring Snow, Snow/Ice - Postholes, Slush, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The Spruce and Thompson Brooks were running high and fast due to the heavy weekend rains. We chose the safer bushwhacks across the two old snowmobile bridges. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Thanks to whomever took care of the big blowdowns recently. There were four smaller blowdowns, but easy to step over or around. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw one very friendly Rottweiler on the road walk. None seen on the trail, but it’s a fairly moderate trail, so an active adult dog should be able to handle easily. |
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 | Bugs: |
No black flies yet, but a few insects the first couple miles of the trail. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This hike had a little bit of every season. Easy 1.2 mile road walk to start, since Gale River Loop still closed. Dry trail for the first 2 miles or so, then wet, stream-like conditions mixed with the occasional rotting monorail until about 3500 feet (about 4 miles in). Snowshoes on after that…one person in our group put on spikes, but ended up postholing a lot. Snowshoes definitely helped with the last steep ascent to the summit—this is on the north side of the mountain, so snow and some icy spots that are likely to linger for a while this spring.
Summit was bare, but some nice rocks you can use to remove your snowshoes and bare boot to the old fire tower foundation at the summit. Trail definitely wetter, slushier coming back down. I kept snowshoes on til about 3500 then bare booted. Some in the group kept spikes on, but there were lots of sections in the middle that went from monorail to rocks to stream bed, so bring your rock spikes!
For the bushwhack (which is about a 1/4 mile in total), the section on the east side of Thompson Brook was easy to follow (there was even a stealth campsite we passed). After reaching the snowmobile path, you cross one bridge, then the trail, then the second bridge (over Spruce Brook). The second part of the bushwhack up the west side of Spruce Brook is a bit harder to follow, but just stay on the ridge above the river and you will run back into the trail. |
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 | Name: |
RaurLaur |
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 | E-Mail: |
Laur730@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-04-29 |
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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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