 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, August 15, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Elected to park in the Basin parking lot on the east side of the Franconia Notch Parkway rather than hoping for a spot in the often-crowded Lafayette Place lots. Other hikers indicated the Lafayette Place lot was full at 6:30AM. Another hiker waited and grabbed a spot when someone pulled out a bit later in the morning.
On my way home I noticed that route 3 at exit 35 was closed for road work. The detour was via exit 36. It looks like one may not have road access to the Skookumchuck trailhead lot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The brook crossings are easy with low water levels. The crossing of Cascade Brook is just upstream from the former bridge crossing. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The chiseled steps in the ledges and wooden stairs on the Fishin' Jimmy Trail make the ledge areas much safer. However, one wooden stair is no longer in place. Hikers are bypassing this section of ledge by walking off trail.
Some of the bog bridges on the Basin-Cascades Trail & the Cascade Brook Trail have seen better days.
There was one cut evergreen protruding into the Fishin' Jimmy Trail that was easy to get by. There was some leaners that were easy to avoid. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for most dogs. I did observe one medium sized dog that needed assistance descending a tricky ledge on the north side of North Kinsman. |
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 | Bugs: |
None except the dragonflies at Kinsman Pond. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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