| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Kearsarge, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Trail, Rollins Trail, Connector Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, August 1, 2013 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking for 7-8 cars at the trailhead parking area off of Kearsarge Valley Road. |
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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: |
Water crossings are not an issue. However, note that one water crossing early on (when trail shares snowmobile corridor) is bridged by a series of small logs across a metal culvert -- some of these logs have rotted through -- but the hiking trail diverts away from the log bridge briefly and down to the stream to cross by stepping stones. This diversion is blazed. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail needs brushing in some sections: of encroaching softwood branches north of where trail turns off of snowmobile corridor, and of raspberry canes in the open areas where trail runs along the shoulder of Black Mountain. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
We encountered a few black flies and deer flies at lower elevations. A stiff breeze up top kept them away. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
We took the Lincoln Trail up to the summit, and then the Rollins Trail to the parking area, and then the short connector trail back to the Lincoln Trail.
The Lincoln Trail is the longest approach up to Mt. Kearsarge (4.6 miles one way, versus 1.6 for the Barlow Trail and 1.1 for the Winslow Trail). It is also the roughest approach -- some sections are overgrown, others boggy with deep boot-sucking mud -- and because of this, much of the trail is reminiscent of wilderness areas in the Whites. Probably because of this, it's the approach where you're least likely to encounter anyone else or anything else but wildlife (we saw moose and plenty of grouse).
The first section of the trail runs through a number of massive glacial erratics. Along the snowmobile corridor, later, are scads of ripe blackberries. Near the junction with the Rollins Trail is a beautiful birch glade. And, the last section of the trail has a fun, rough scramble over scree and boulders similar to something on trails further north.
This would make a wonderful snowshoe route, too.
NOTE: The Lincoln Trail is part of the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway; together with the Barlow Trail, it forms Section 11 of the Greenway.
This is by far our favorite approach to Mt. Kearsarge.
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 | Name: |
Pancks and Tesco Heaney |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2013-08-02 |
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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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