| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Center Pond, Little Wassataquik Lake, Wassataquoik Lake, Six Ponds, Deep Pond, Russell Pond, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Wassataquoik Lake Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 29, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
$20 day pass or $50 season pass for out-of-state residents to access BSP. No day-use fee for Maine residents. The road should be suitable for all cars. Just lots of potholes to be wary of. The gate opens at 6am for day-use. Long drive in to this trailhead. I think I arrived around 7:30am. Only room for around a half dozen cars or so before you'd have to ask to park as Nesowadnehunk but not a very popular trailhead. One other when I arrived and maybe anoter one or two when I retunred just past 8:30pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
If memory serves correctly, the crossing of Little Nesowadnehunk Stream 1mi in (which, I believe was actually two crossings just very close together) was actually very difficult to get across with dry feet in only trail runners. Not close to dangerous or anything, just not much to hop across on. With waterproof boots or a simple wade, you'd be fine. At very high water, you could have an issue. I'm sure it's probably easy even with trail runners now but keep in mind water was also low at the time I did this (just maybe not drought level low). |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I have many pictures of trail signs so I think those were intact with the exception of Center Pond Lean-To sign which was at the base of the post in the ground and needs to be put back up (would be covered by snow in winter). Many bog bridges should be replaced (more on that below...). Small duck-under with branchers over trail 5min in, small-mid sized spruce 5-10min later that's mostly delimbed and fairly easy to get over, trivial mid-sized stepover birch a couple mins later, small snapped tree to duck under 5-10min later, small blowodwn with some limbs in the trail around Wassataquoik Lake Lean-To, a series of 3 stepovers and a duck under, all on the mid-larger side but all trimmed and easy to get around somehwere in the vicinity of the Wassataquoik Island Lean-To, and I think a few other small, easy stepovers that I'm forgetting about. I think that the trail (and all trails in BSP) are blazed in blue as are spurs. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Dogs are not allowed in BSP. |
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 | Bugs: |
They were probably pretty bad this time of year. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None but if anyone finds an small-mid sized hoop earring on the eastern portion of Freezeout Trail (forgot to include on that report), please let me know. |
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 | Comments: |
A nice long hike on a nice long trail. The thing about the less travelled trails in BSP is that, with a few notable exceptions, they are still well travelled enough to usually be easy to follow and aren't in awful shape. While not terribly muddy overall, I think there'd been some overnight rain or rain the day before, and, without sun much of the day, you got soaked quickly. What's worse, the bog bridges over the horrible mud were absolutely trecherous. I think for the first time in the 9yrs I've been hiking extensively, I slid off and went greater than knee deep in mud. It was not a good time. While luckily not sinking, I was worried I wasn't going to be able to pull myself out. But somehow, lacking any semblance of grace I'm sure, I managed. Too bad nobody was around to laugh at what I'm sure was quite a spectacle but maybe there was a moose quietly snickering in the woods.
I noted an unknown path diverging right just shy of 2mi in. Anyone know of it? Note that Gaia has Center Pond Lean-To in the incorrect location (but the trail in the right location...?). Spurs to Little Wassataquoik, the lookout just to the south, Green Falls, etc. were all easy to find and some, quite scenic. Though not needed, I went to Deep Pond on my way back as well. I look forward to getting back on this trail and exploring this area more when working on NE2Ks. Gaia had me at 29.6mi, roughly 2050ft of gain, 12hr58min. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-18 |
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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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