| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Beech Mountain, Beech Cliff, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Beech Hill Road, Beech Mountain Loop Trail, Beech Cliff Loop Trail, Canada Cliffs Trail, Valley Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 29, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Beech Hill Rd is gated about 0.1mi south of Sand Point Rd which adds about a 3/4mi road walk round-trip that's uphill. Road in is paved. Not entirely clear where to park shy of the gate but a few others parked in a pull-out with room for two cars which seemed legit and we and another car or two parked roadside which seemed fine. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
I don't think there were any that weren't bridged. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail signs were intact and I don't think there many blowdowns though there was some impressive blowdown work on the section of Valley Trail we were on. There may have still been one mid-sized blowdown you have to clamber through here too but I could be getting that memory confused with another hike. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Sure |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
I believe all trails were blazed in blue. I don't recall how frequently but I don't believe any of them were difficult to follow.
Second hike and final hike of the day on our third full day in Acadia. Our route: Road walk (Beech Hill Rd, 0.4mi each way), Beech Mtn Loop Trail clockwise --> across the street to Beech Cliff Loop Trail (in its entirety) --> south on Canada Cliffs Trail --> spur of Canada Cliff Trail west --> OAB south on Valley Trail between spur of Canada Cliffs Trail and Beech South Ridge Trail --> Valley Trail north to road --> road walk back to car.
Trails were all gentle-moderate grades. Socked in at the top of course but some cool trail work (a graded gravel path at times) on the western half of Beech Mtn Loop Trail. Trails were very wet but less running water than on our hike on St Sauveur Mtn earlier. I don't recall any snow/ice on this lower elevation hike. Any we did see would have been inconsequential though I'm sure that's since changed. Climb up to Beeech Cliff Trail was a piece of cake. Note that the loop to the north along the ridge is no longer as shown on Gaia and is shortened. They blocked off an filled in the old trail with brush. If I recall correctly, the gudidebook described the current loop correctly but the map shows the old and slightly longer loop. Without the sign, Beech Cliff Trail is not obvious leaving the ridge to descend very steeply east. Note that partway through the ridge, Gaia shows Canada Cliff Trail spliting into a western and eastern branch. The western branch seems to be abandoned (we did not note where it left the ridge but could see where it used to meet the spur of Canada Cliffs Trail. The OAB on Valley Trail as easy and scenic as you looked up at the steep eastern side of Beech Mtn.
Gaia had us at 5mi, 700-750ft of gain, 2hr30min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney and the CCC |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-01-16 |
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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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