| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Fletcher Cascades, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Drakes Brook Trail, Fletcher Cascades Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 4, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Sandwich Mountain Trail parking lot was totally full at 11:15 AM. I parked along Route 49 - the shoulder is wide enough to get all four wheels off the pavement, and there are no No Parking signs there. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Just the one 0.8 miles in on Fletcher Cascades Trail, which is a relatively straightforward rock hop. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
One blowdown right at the beginning of Drakes Brook Trail - a herd path is forming through the tall grass around it. Two large blowdowns on Fletcher Cascades Trail between the river crossing and the lower cascade. They are both lying on the ground, but the trees are both very large so stepping over them can be tough. Significant erosion on the steep uppermost section of the trail - there were a few rock staircases already built in that area, and more would be useful. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I don't see why not. |
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 | Bugs: |
None. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
A gray shirt was hanging on a branch on Fletcher Cascades Trail between the water crossing and the lower cascade. I left it there. |
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 | Comments: |
I had more time after finishing my first redlining hike in Waterville Valley, so I decided to see the Fletcher Cascades. It was mostly a pretty standard trail - rocky, gradual, and damp but not too wet - until the lower cascade. When you reach it, know that there is more ahead - that's not the end of the trail, and the trail continues up the side of the brook (one couple turned around at the lower cascades today). The trail to the upper cascade is much steeper and rougher, and quite eroded in places. It's not too hard to follow, but be careful of wet rocks and roots. Soon you'll see a large rock face above you - that's the upper cascade. The cascade itself wasn't particularly impressive today since there wasn't that much water, but the huge, bulging rock face itself was quite impressive. The trail ends at the base of the rock face, and there's no clear way to get to the top. It would require some steep, difficult bushwhacking to reach the top of the falls. Since I was alone and the rocks were wet, I did not attempt it.
Saw two groups on my way in, and 4 or 5 groups on my way out. It took me about 50-55 minutes each way. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2020-10-04 |
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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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