| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Pine Knob, Mt. Easter, Sharon Mountain, Lookout Point, Overlook Mountain, Red Mountain, Mohawk Mountain, CT |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, Mohawk Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, March 30, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ample parking just north of the intersection of Route 4 and Route 7 in Cornwall Bridge, CT. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Many small crossings, but all were either easy rock / log hops or bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails were generally in excellent shape, bearing in mind that the Mohawk Trail footway is often MUCH more difficult to follow than the heavily-traveled Appalachian Trail. Even though the actual footway was much less evident and less compacted on the Mohawk Trail, abundant blue blazes generally made the navigation straightforward. There was one large group of blowdowns a few minutes north of the Breadloaf Mountain spur on the AT. It seems that almost all major blowdowns on the Mohawk Trail have already been cleared- many thanks to the trail maintainers! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Except for the section of the Mohawk Trail on either side of Lookout Point, all trails would be suitable. Saw several on the AT near Sharon Mountain. |
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 | Bugs: |
There were a few gnats and small flies around as the temperatures warmed up. They weren't really bothering me, and I could eat in peace without repellent. In another couple of weeks, this will be a much more annoying situation. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Challenging and diverse 36-mile loop linking the current Appalachian Trail and the former route (the Mohawk Trail, now blazed in blue), in northwest CT. No extended ascents- as the peak elevation stays below 1,650'- but a litany of shorter climbs to gradually sap your energy. The vast majority of the trail (including almost all of the rocky sections) was dry. Lower areas had stretches of mud and standing water, but this was the exception rather than the norm. The only snow to be seen was the machine-made portion, while traversing the top of the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area. This was nicely compacted, and trail runners fortunately did not result in postholing. The Mohawk Trail, especially that first section attacking the slope to Lookout Point, is a major wake-up call after cruising through the well-established and much easier AT corridor. That northern 1.5 miles of the Mohawk Trail brings precipitous, rocky slopes (sometimes covered in leaf litter), narrow trail on steep sidehills, and indistinct footway. Thankfully, the Mohawk Trail got much easier (and faster) further south, and sections over Red Mountain and Mohawk Mountain had seen much more foot traffic. I encountered a few hikers on the 12-13 mile section of the AT included in this route. On the entire Mohawk Trail, I saw zero hikers, but did see a barred owl, lots of woodpeckers, and 2 deer. Came prepared with a headlamp and extra battery, but was thrilled to finish this hike in daylight! Full details on Unnecessary Climb. |
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 | Name: |
Jason |
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 | E-Mail: |
kurlando7@hotmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-03-31 |
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 | Link: |
 https://unnecessaryclimb.wordpress.com/at-mohawk-trail-loop/ |
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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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