NewEnglandTrailConditions.com
NewEnglandTrailConditions.com:
MA
|
ME
|
NH
|
RI/CT
|
VT
|
Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks Mt. Cardigan, NH
Trails
Trails: West Ridge Trail, South Ridge Trail, Clark Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Thursday, May 21, 2020
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Gate is open for the season. Parking lot was maybe 70% full at 12:00 PM-better than expected given the beautiful day 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment:  
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: None 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: All in great shape. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes: Not a whole lot, but all friendly. If you bring them up South ridge, that last push on the clark trail might be a bit tricky for them 
Bugs
Bugs: I didn't think they were that bad, but got plenty of whiffs of bug spray at the trailhead so others didn't agree with me  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Probably the nicest day of the year so far, and the views at the summit were awesome-could see the presidentials and all five VT 4000 footers today. Outside of some occasional mud the trails were all dry. The hardwoods haven't budded yet, so even the lower parts of the trail were exposed to the sun.

Did a counterclockwise loop of the trails mentioned above: up south ridge, down west ridge. Compared to the west ridge, the south ridge is wilder, rougher, and quieter-just how I like it. Only saw one other person after the initial split 0.5 mi in. It is a little tougher than doing the typical out and back on west ridge, but I find that doing this loop is so much more rewarding and elevates the experience of hiking Cardigan from the west.

If you decide to go up the South Ridge trail, note that it is blazed orange below the Skyland trail, but blazed white from there to the Clark trail (a little confusing for unfamiliar hikers)

Crowds were manageable at the top, and there was no issue with social distancing for the most part.  
Name
Name: NHhiker95 
E-Mail
E-Mail:  
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2020-05-21 
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