| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Owl’s Head, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Lincoln Woods Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Brook Trail, herd path, Owls Head Path |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, October 3, 2020 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
We arrived at 0700. The Lincoln Woods lot was already full with overflow roadside parking filling quickly. Multiple portapotties next to the Ranger station in full working order. When we exited at 6pm there was at least 7 miles of bumper to bumper traffic on the Kanc heading towards Lincoln. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The two major water crossings on Lincoln Brook trail were accomplished using exposed rocks. My two children were able to rock hop across. But they are die-hard hikers from Maine. So, be prepared to become comfortable crossing fast water on short pointy rocks. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
None. The bushwhacks are excluded from maintenance notes. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs. Lots of water points. |
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 | Bugs: |
Nope |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Saw. Left where found on the Franconia Brook trail just past the junction with Bondcliff trail. |
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 | Comments: |
Route:
Lincoln Woods > Franconia Brook > Lincoln Brook > Brutus bushwhack > Owl’s Head path and back the way we came.
Lincoln Woods: flat, fast, wide and crowded. No blazes. All signs up and in good condition.
Franconia Brook: easy grades, not blazed, clear corridor. Leaf litter on footbed that is quickly being trodden down. Signs up and in good condition. The major blow down blocking the trail just after the junction with Bondcliff was present in the morning, dispatched of by our return (thank you!). My redlining soul wanted to keep going down this path after the junction with Lincoln Brook. It looked soooooo inviting.... but alas. Another day.
Lincoln Brook: not blazed, carins up at water crossings. Budget additional time for the two tricky water crossings. In more normal water levels I envision these crossings to require wading. These crossings are over/ through fast moving water. Dogs and young persons prepare.
Brutus: I emphasize that a bushwhack is a bushwhack. Have land navigation skills. GPS can fail. A map and compass go a long way. However... we easily found the start of the Brutus bushwhack. Once on this “bushwhack†my boys exclaimed “Its a Maine trail!†And yes it is. They followed it much like we follow game trails on our local mountains (meaning look forward, left, right to “see†the trail).
Though narrower than maintained trails, this developed herd path leads one first moderately, then VERY STEEPLY up the slopes of Owl’s Head to meet the junction with Owl’s Head path. There are many slippery roots making it a bit, uh, interesting in parts. Of note, not long after starting the initial assent of this ‘whack, you will come to a junction of sorts. This is at a creek. There is a carin directly in the “trail.†Move left here. There is another carin in the creek bed once you move left. Then start right straight up the hillside. We had no issues following the trail. It is well trodden.
Owl’s Head path: after the junction this “bushwhack†looks like any other non-blazed, higher elevation trail in New Hampshire or Maine. It is a clear, though narrow trail corridor, all the way to the summit.
The summit is marked by a pile of rocks in the trees. But, alas, that’s how it goes.
Finally done with the 48 in New Hampshire. Can’t believe I put this trail off for 2 years. It was long, but had I known the bushwhack was simply a rougher trail by Maine standards, I would have done this much earlier. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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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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