| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owls Cliff, Mt. Tremont, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Sawyer River Trail, Sawyer Pond Trail, Brunel Trail, Owls Cliff Spur, herd path, Mt. Tremont Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 7, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We were the only ones at the Mount Tremont trailhead at shortly before 7am and when we returned at 5:30pm. Several (close to a dozen?) cars when we arrived at Sawyer Pond trailhead around 7:15-7:30am. Slightly less when we returned around 5:45-6pm. Maybe room for a little over a dozen cars there. A few rocks protruding from the road but it’s in great shape otherwise and I actually felt comfortable going down it at a reasonable speed. Watch for other cars though!! |
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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: |
The two brook crossings on the 1.2mi section of Sawyer River Trail we were on were your standard rock hop. The crossing of the outlet brook just past the tentsite was also rock hopped easily enough. If water was higher there are also two downed trees you could use as balance beams. The crossing of Sawyer River at the southern end of the Sawyer Pond Trail is not rock hoppable. It’s a wade. If water was VERY low there are rocks that were clearly put there to hop across on but that’s rare. We waded across next to those rocks and the water went above my knee at times (close to mid thigh maybe?). You could keep it below your knee if you stepped on those rocks but not sure how stable they are. We were afraid they’d be slippery so we walked next to them a bit deeper. Another group crossed a bit downstream so that may be slightly lower. I was surprised at how strong the current was. I had to steady myself at times. I was very happy my friend let me use his waders :) All rocks hops on Mt Tremont Trail too. There are a couple other crossings but they have bridges. Note that while water is very low on the southern half of the state right now it’s nearly average in the northern half. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I don’t recall the section of Sawyer River Trail we were on being blazed. There was a sign/arrow or two at some of the turns on/off roads though which was nice. It is generally easy to follow. A couple washed out sections which can be slightly tricky. There’s a bypass or two around some of the washed out parts which were marked in surveyors tape (orange I think). Sawyer Pond Trail wasn’t blazed west of the pond as far as I remember. Yellow blaze started showing up once south of it. It wasn’t frequent but it was placed regularly and there was also some pink surveyors tape to help guide you. The footbed could be a little obscure/overgrown at a point or two but not bad. Blowdowns also obscured the trail at times. Brunel Trail had many faded yellow blazes on it but they weren’t consistent or frequent. The trail is generally narrow and a bit obscure but followable for probably anyone to Owls Cliff. The only section we had a bit of trouble was headed up the very steep section to Tremont. We didn’t find the col hard to follow at all. I think Mount Tremont Trail was blazed in yellow. Don’t recall if Owls Cliff spur was blazed or not but it is signed and obvious. Many blowdowns throughout the day mostly on Sawyer Pond Trail south of the pond and on Brunel Trail. Afew on Mount Tremont Trail. Don’t recall any of Sawyer River Trail but there may have been a few. Many are small and could be handled with a handsaw (some downed branches obscuring the trail on middle section of Sawyer Pond Trail) and others are very large (one relatively easy stepover but very wide diameter blowdown on the lower part of Brunel Trail). There were also some mid-sized stepovers/straddles on lower Sawyer Pond Trail between the Kanc and Brunel Trail, a mid-sized spruce fell partway into the trail on Brunel but you could easily walk around. Some very old dead stuff to step over around here that sometimes obscured the trail too. There was one very awkward but not too large straddled or crawl under coming down Mt Tremont Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Surprisingly, I think there was only one that was with a group heading to Sawyer Pond from the south. It was off leash but well behaved. Sawyer River Trail would be fine for dogs and so would Sawyer Pond other than the southernmost part just because of the big river crossing. The upper part of Brunel Trail will be too steep for some. Same with the upper part of Mt Tremont Trail. Maybe not quite as steep but rockier. |
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 | Bugs: |
They were out and about and bug spray was used. They didn’t seem horrific though except at the car which were all black flies. Mosquitos most everywhere as far as I remember. Just north of the Sawyer River crossing on the southern portion of Sawyer Pond Trail there is a brushy section that looked like rock heaven. I didn’t find any on me though. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
There was some food wrappers on the way to Sawyer Pond Trail from the western end of the trail. |
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 | Comments: |
A great redline with some fellow redliners :)
Myself and one of the two others started by doing and out-and-back on the 1.2mi section of Sawyer River Trail to Hancock Notch Trail as we both needed it. Pretty easy to follow except maybe around a washed out section or two but wetter and muddier than I would’ve guessed. I took us just under and hour and it could be done quicker. Very flat and easy. The we headed to Sawyer Pond. Also pretty flat and easy. Unfortunate to see some trash on the trail although it wasn’t prolific. We took the second left to redline the loop around the tent site and shelter. Unfortunately we couldn’t find the left hand turn on the loop to return to the trail once at the shelter so we had to backtrack to where we turned left off the trail, walk back on Sawyer Pond Trail to the first part of the loop and access it that way. The trick is that it turned left BEFORE the shelter. If we’d taken a photo of the site map we would’ve figured it out. Lots of folks out camping there.
We then continued south along Sawyer Pond Trail to the Kanc. It was flat and easy. A bit obscure/overgrown here and there (mostly toward the Sawyer Pond side) but not bad. Surveyors tape in a spot or two to help. If the trail seems to disappear peak behind a blowdown and chances are that’s the way the trail goes ;) Some muddy sections through here and some blowdowns. We met up with our other redlining friend at the river crossing. He’d already done it as he’d been waiting a long time but this meant I was lucky enough to use his waders which was great! Took a quick break for lunch and headed for Brunel Trail. The lower portion of Brunel is easy, the middle section is moderate, and the upper section is STEEP. The final climb before Owls Cliff is steep before leveling out as it comes to the jct. then the ascent down to the col and the ascent iup to Tremont are both steep particularly the latter. The footing isn’t so hot either. The Brunel Trail can be a bit obscure but the only part had a little trouble finding was a piece or two on the very steep ascent up Tremont.
On the way, we took the Owls Cliff spur. A very clear view to a few great peaks. I just wish the view was a bit wider (I got this at Tremont). We also went to the true summit. We kept looking to our right for a good point to bushwhack on our way back. When we were maybe 80% of the way to the end, it there was a good spot to start bushwhacking. It clearly revealed itself as more of a herd path which was great as it otherwise would have been very scratchy. The true summit with canister is less than 100ft of trail. Very easy :)
Wonderful views from Tremont. The trail down is a bit arduous after a long day but doable. There are some nice sections more scenic sections of trail down low as it follows a brook over cascades which are nice but this isn’t my favorite trail. A PITA blowdown or two that will hopefully get taken out coming down as well. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-06-08 |
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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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