| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Branch Penobscot River (Grand Pitch) , ME |
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 | Trails: |
Bowlin Pond Road, International Appalachian Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, June 27, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I took the risk and drive down Bowlin Pond Rd to the camps which are private. Tried calling them but it said online they were closed and being sold (not true) so couldn’t get ahold of anyone. They were very kind (I think the building you’ll want to try is on the right; I was lucky enough to just run into someone) and said that I could park just before the yellow gate by the bridge. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Suspension bridge across the Penobscot and I think smaller bridges across most or all the other stream crossings. There may have been one or two that were unbridged and if so they were rock hopable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
The IAT more or less follows a road here so it’s easy to follow. Occasional little IAT/SIA markers and stakes at jcts. Small, easy stepover just a few minutes south of the suspension bridge, small leaner with some limbs to duck under 20min later, a similar leaner 15min later, quickly followed by a small easy stepover, and a couple others 5min after, and a few more stepovers of various sizes but none too difficult to get over between there and the Telos Rd; nothing that really NEEDS to get taken care of. On the north side of the suspension bridge, there was a small, easy stepover not terribly far from the bridge, then a large delimbed stepover 35min from Little Messer Pond Trail (I think it’s signed as K-Comp Trail though Gaia calls it the former), mid-sized spruce down across the trail forcing you to go around just a few minutes after, a couple of leaders/widow makers just a few mins later, immediately followed by two blowdowns, one low, one mid-height, that you’ve got to straddle, then immediately a small leaner, and then immediately a large stepover still 25-30min before K-Comp Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine trail for dogs but I’d be very careful about bringing them through Bowlin Camps. I’d be sure to check in with them before doing so. |
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 | Bugs: |
Probably awful. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
From the gate at Bowlin Camps, I walked the road to the camp (maybe 1/3mi). Continue on the main road through the camps, then eventually take a right to cross the suspension bridge. From here I did an OAB along the IAT south to the old Telos Rd and where the IAT turns west toward Little Spring Brook Mtn, then an OAB to the north to Pond Pitch and Little Messer Pond Trail (NOT the road mentioned in the guidebook; this intersects the IAT about 1/2mi further south). I think the trail was basically an old road and was pretty easy, with some minor changes in elevation. Gaia had me at 14.2mi, 675ft of gain, 5hr51min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-08-02 |
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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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