| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Garfield Falls, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Woods road, Garfield Falls Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Oof. What a road. As the guidebook mentions, the road, on the whole, is in better shape that the road that leads to Mt Magalloway but there’s a newer washout not too far from the end of the road that would wreck a car going to fast. A low clearance vehicle would not make it. You need mid clearance at least. I almost didn’t do it in my CR-V but made it okay moving across it at a snails pace. An older Subaru Outback also made it although he said his friends doubted him. Just a couple other cars in the lot. Room for close to a half dozen maybe. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None but be careful worth children and dogs around the 40ft drop to the falls! Definitely dangerous. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Based upon what the WMG says, it seems that the southern part of the trail is also part of Garfield Falls Path (not a herd path) but is clearly less used. It has some signs of very nice old trail work (some wooden steps/ladder for instance) but is sort of falling into disrepair with lots of old blowdowns obstructing the trail and forcing herd paths around them and many dilapidating bog bridges. The northern part of the trail that is usually accessed as an out-and-back to the falls was in fine shape with no obstructions. Note that the trail is not signed or blazed but the northern part is obvious and easy to follow. The southern part can be obscure at times but is certainly followable to someone with some experience. See comments sections below on a note about its start/finding it. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
This would be a fine trail for them assuming that they don’t go flying off the ledges. |
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 | Bugs: |
I don’t recall specifics but sure they were out. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None but you may soon find some car parts in that washout along the road 😂 |
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 | Comments: |
This was my fifth hike of the day Tuesday and my third of the day in the Connecticut Lakes Region; a nice area. Impressive falls but be careful near the steep drops and watch children and pets closely.
I did the loop as described in the WMG. From the bottom of the road there is only one path that continues into the woods (it is overgrown and cuts through the brush briefly before entering the woods; watch out for ticks!) whereas the WMG seems to imply that there are two. This path DOES lead down to the stream (the guidebook says to avoid that path) but THIS path turns left in 35 yards away from the stream as the guidebook describes the other path doing...but there was no other path. So I found the guidebook to be misleading here. Not sure if my comparison between reality and the guidebook makes sense but here’s what you do: from the end of the road follow the path that leads through the brush and enters the woods (only path there) and then watch very carefully to your left to a turn you need take to access the falls. If you miss the turn then the path will lead you down to the stream. Once you make that turn, the path is a little obscure but followable. One more obscure turn down to the right that could be a little easy to miss. Lots of blowdowns. The trail could use a little TLC. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-06-26 |
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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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