| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Pierce, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Mt. Clinton Trail, Dry River Trail, Saco River Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, August 3, 2025 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
My memory escapes me right now regarding this? |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Trail criss-crosses "dry" river the whole way down, keep an eye out for where the trail crosses the river. All crossings rock-hoppable though. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
See notes, below. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
|
|
 | Bugs: |
As expected, fairly constant (you're in backcountry after all) but mostly those annoying gnats and not too many mosquitos or other biting things. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
|
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
A few pretty significant blowdowns on the Mt. Clinton trail within the first mile coming down from Mitzpah hut (including a 2-for-1 special you have to climb over and duck under at the same time, I did not succeed and hit my head coming through it pretty hard lol). That first mile or so had the most, after that, they were more manageable. Noticed lots of blowdowns already cut, great work to the trail crews out there!!
This trail can be a lot of fun if you're prepared for what you're getting into, otherwise I'd imagine it's an easy way to get lost in the woods and regret all your life choices. After a day on the ridge I camped at Naumann tentsite near Mitzpah and came out through Dry River the next morning.
Mt. Clinton trail: There's a sign for it by the hut, after that (as with most (all?) wilderness area trails), it's not waymarked. It starts out fairly easy to follow, but quickly becomes less of a clear path and has some significant blowdowns and overgrowth. I wore long pants and sleeves and was very grateful for that. Lots of climbing over, under, and through things, and a few steep sections with lots of mud and leaves and loose rocks. A few narrow sections with dropoffs (FYI if you're afraid of heights). TL;DR: standard wilderness area stuff. The trail gets harder to follow as you approach the Dry River junction and crosses the river in multiple places, so watch your map and keep an eye out or else it's easy to lose it. More or less you are following the river the whole way down.
Dry River: At the large crossing for Dry River, there was a series of cairns, which were super helpful. After the crossing, a sign marks the cutoff for Mt. Clinton trail vs. continuing on Dry River up to Isolation / Eisenhower. I thought Dry River was easier to follow than Mt. Clinton, with less constant "obstacle courses" along the way, but larger "obstacle" sections. A couple of notable washouts that were nonetheless okay to navigate around (I've heard a few reports of a massive one, I think it's past the junction to the Mt. Clinton trail). Definitely many narrow trail sections with exposure, loose rocks and scree, etc. — this is not the trail for you if you don't feel surefooted or are afraid of heights. Plenty of sections where the trail "disappears" for a bit and you need to find it, basic backcountry navigation skills are needed. After the suspension bridge (between the bridge and Rt. 302), navigation gets easier but still not waymarked so be aware.
On both trails, numerous times I had to stop, check the map, test multiple options before I found the trail. Plenty of opportunity to get lost out here, take caution if you're not familiar navigating without trail signs / blazes. Saw very few people the whole day — only 4 other people / groups — and it was a lovely day despite the increasing haze / wildfire smoke. Felt very remote, which was a treat.
Took the Saco River Trail 2.5 miles back to my car at Willey House. HOLY COW the bugs were bad on the first mile or so (around 1:30pm). Mosquitos out for blood and those annoying gnats that only want to fly directly into your eyeballs. (Why?!) I half-ran for about a mile because I felt like I was swimming through bug swarms, but it did get better after that. The path between the junctions for Dry River and Webster Cliff was fairly overgrown in many sections, with lots of (slippery) leaves on the trail and little clear footpath (blazes were well-placed though). |
|
 | Name: |
Loon |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2025-08-04 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
