NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Plymouth Mountain, Pikes Peak, East Cliffs, NH
Trails
Trails: Plymouth Mountain Trail, Sutherland Trail, Pikes Peak Spur, East Cliffs Spur, Newfound Lake View Spur
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking is still a bit of a conundrum here. I parked at the junction of Pike Hill Road and unsigned Wade Hill Road, just west of the Hebron / Plymouth town line, which is also a snowmobile trail junction. There is room here for a couple of cars. A nice pulloff exists directly across from here, but it is posted no parking by the landowner. Make sure to not block their driveway here either. There are also two small pulloffs about 0.1 mi. further up the road where a private driveway turns left. Each should fit one car each without blocking the road and are not posted against parking. At 0.7 mi. from NH 3A, where Pike Hill Road officially turns Class VI, there's a grassy pulloff on the left. I've used this in winter. From here it's a 0.6 mi. uphill walk to reach the trail. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The crossing of George's Brook is easily hopped. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Crews from Camp Mowglis have been bringing Plymouth Mountain Trail back to life in recent years, and it's in generally good shape. Still lots of wet / mud in the lower third, but much drier as you ascend. The stretch around the brook crossing could use some cutting back. The various mud pits could benefit from bog bridges or stepping stones. Only a few stepover blowdowns. Sutherland Trail was fine for the short stretch I used. It's now marked with bright yellow plastic blazes. Pikes Peak Spur was also good, and there is new signage at its junction with Sutherland. The herd path to the East Cliffs is marked by cairns in ledgy areas, and is mostly easy to follow once back in the woods. There are a couple large blowdowns along it. The Newfound Lake Spur was in good shape, marked by cairns in its upper half. The actual view ledges are just inside posted private property, so visit at your own risk. The summit of Plymouth could use signage pointing to the two main trails, as various paths head off in different directions. The signage at the bottom of Plymouth Mountain Trail could be improved. It's high up in the trees and small, with red lettering on a green background - tough to see. The trail itself is marked with the small black and white Camp Mowglis "wolf" signs. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Sure. 
Bugs
Bugs: Mosquitoes were still pretty awful here. 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found: None. 
 
Comments
Comments: Kind of a grand tour of Plymouth, as I wanted to check conditions on Plymouth Mountain Trail. As noted above, the trail is pretty wet and muddy down lower, but dry higher up. Once you get above the muck, this is a pretty pleasant and mostly gentle route. I was up on the summit in no time.

No views at the summit, so I visited all the viewpoints that I know of. The Newfound Lake Spur is great, I didn't go far enough down last time. The East Cliffs are also nice, with great views toward the Whites, Sandwich Range and Lakes Region. It feels like the trees are creeping up at Pikes Peak, but there are still excellent views to the Whites.

I considered bushwhacking to the southwest peak on the way down, but it had gotten later in the day and some showers had moved in. The skies really opened up right as I got back to the car.

Aside from the relentless mosquitoes, it was a great day exploring this mountain.  
Name
Name: KenM 
E-Mail
E-Mail: kmacgray@gmail.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2019-07-16 
Link
Link: https:// 
Bookmark and Share 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.

Copyright 2009-2024, All Rights Reserved