| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl's Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Black Pond Trail, herd paths, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 2, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lincoln Woods lot was full before 6:00AM. Parked alongside route 112 (Kancamagus Highway) right in front of sign for no parking in the next 1/4 mile.
Lincoln Woods is a fee lot with bathroom facilities. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Water levels are low. Easy to cross on rocks. One rocking rock in the Liberty Brook crossing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Maintained trails are in good condition. Some downed trees in the wilderness area that are easy to get by. There are some eroded trail sections on the Lincoln Brook Trail and the Owl's Head Path. Nothing that is difficult to get by. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs. Lots of water down low. Some dogs may not like the loose rocks on the slide section of the Owl's Head Path. Many dogs out today. |
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 | Bugs: |
No bothersome bugs. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Lincoln Woods Trail is flat and easy although the railroad ties can be a bother.
Black Pond Trail was mostly dry. Nice to stop at the pond with its yellow water lilies.
Black Pond herd path is in excellent condition with dry surfaces most of the way. Easy to follow even without any blazes. Bear right on the herd path after crossing a mud area just beyond the end of the Black Pond Trail. Mud spot just before reaching the Lincoln Brook Trail was not as wet as usual.
Lincoln Brook Trail has its usual muddy sections with some rocks and railroad ties to step on. Often the wet/muddy surfaces were underlain by a hard substrate. I managed to get by without stepping in any boot sucking mud. The Owl's Head Path is just after passing over a short stretch of small light-colored broken rocks. There was a small rock pile at the start of the Owl's Head Path.
The Owl's Head slide was dry today with some loose rocks. Parts of the slide section have some rough rock surfaces. Better to ascend this trail rather than descending. The herd path above the slide is well worn and easy to follow even though there are no blazes. The summit has a small rock pile on a tree root (no signage).
Used the Brutus Bushwhack for descent. Brutus bushwhack herd path was dry and starts across from a large boulder with a small pile of small rocks on top. There is only one spot that may fool descending hikers when the trail turns right on small rocks at a small waterway (dry today). At this spot there appears to be a trail heading straight across the dry brook bed that is not the Brutus bushwhack.
Met many hikers today including Little Feet with her family and I walked for miles with Bob and his nephew Dan. Met some hikers that were camping overnight.
The best views are from the slide towards the east face of the Franconia Range including Lincoln slide. Also a restricted view of Bondcliff and Bond on a short spur off the Owl's Head Path on the ridge. |
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 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
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 | E-Mail: |
waumbek@roadrunner.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-08-02 |
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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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