| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
McDaniels Hill, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Unnamed trails, Camp Susan Curtis Interpretive Nature Trail, Mt. Mac Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Mt. Mac Rd is narrow, but it well maintained and is passable by most vehicles. There is a small pull-off at the trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All unbridged crossings were easily hoppable. There were some minor muddy areas. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are generally well blazed, but don't have much signage. They are lightly used and have significant blowdowns in some areas. Some trails have no distinct footbed or trails corridor. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good hike for dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
The ticks and blackflies are out |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Today, we headed over to Stoneham to hike another new to me mountain, McDaniels Hill. We started at the trailhead near the end of Mac Mountain Road. The road is very narrow, but is well maintained and appropriate for all cars. There is a small pull-off at the trailhead, which is marked by a "private property, no motorized vehicles" sign.
After hiking on the relatively flat trail to the loop junction at the outlet of Trout Pond, we opted to turn left and loop almost all the way around the pond, past Camp Susan Curtis. This was a very pleasant stretch of trail, with abundant views across the water.
After making it 3/4 of the way around the pond, we reached a junction with a blue-blazed trail, which we assumed to be the trail up McDaniels Hill. It wasn't until we had followed this trail for over half a mile that we realized it was taking us away from the mountain and was the wrong trail. The trail we followed was not marked on the map I was using, so it leaves me something to explore in the future, along with a potential trail up Allen Mountain.
After returning to the pond, we found the correct trail, which was only a couple hundred yards past the trail that we initially followed. This trail climbed easily to a junction with a yellow-blazed trail leading to the trail network in the Five Kezar Ponds Reserve. We turned right at the junction and followed the trail to the summit ledges of McDaniel Hill.
At the summit, there were excellent views south and west, including Pleasant Mountain and the Presidential Range. From the summit, it was an easy and straightforward descent back to the trail that we started on.
Although they are generally well blazed, the trails in this area don't see much use, and many of them require care to follow. Some of the trails have no distinct footbed or trail corridor. We also only saw two signs on the trails we hiked, so it's helpful to be aware of exactly where you are at trail junctions. It's a beautiful trail network, and I plan on returning to explore the rest of it. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-07 |
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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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