| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Mack (attempt), Mt. Shannon, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Road walks, Round Pond Trail, Mack Ridge Trail, Yellow Trail, Blue Trail, Red Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, April 4, 2021 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking available in the Hidden Valley parking area - just one car when I arrived, and four others when I got back. The restrooms at the parking area are closed. The dirt Griswold Road, leading to the parking area, is slightly muddy in spots but generally in pretty good condition, while Places Mill Road is much bumpier (but still definitely drivable). |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow/Ice - Monorail (Stable), Mud - Significant, Leaves - Significant/Slippery, Snow/Ice - Small Patches |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing on Red Trail, right next to the junction with Blue Trail south of Goat Pasture Hill, was the only tough one on this hike. That crossing had high water levels and required some large steps between oddly shaped rocks. Luckily, the maintainers (I assume the Griswold Scout Reservation) have hung a cord across the river at this place. The cord is thin but strong, and definitely helped me keep my balance for some of the large steps. If not for the cord, I probably would've had to get my feet wet. There was one other major crossing that was bridged, and a bunch of minor crossings that were easy. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns. A couple of them required detours around - I think one of them was on the slopes of Mt. Mack and the other was on Mack Ridge Trail South. Some other minor blowdowns that were not obstacles to travel. Several areas of the trails were wet and muddy, with standing and running water, particularly on the sections going around Mt. Shannon. As for signage, it was mostly good, but don't rely on the signs completely - bring a map and know which way you're going and where the next turn is. There also seems to be a new trail (that's not on the Southern New Hampshire Hiking Guide map) in the area north of Mt. Shannon - more on that below. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
I don't see why not. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not yet. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
I think I saw a glove or a hat here and there. Don't remember exactly where. |
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 | Comments: |
This was a fun redlining hike in the Griswold Scout Reservation area of the Belknaps. From the parking area, I walked along the road at the shore of Lake Eileen until reaching the junction of the Orange/Yellow Trail (this junction is signed). I headed up that way. The trail immediately encountered a large slash pile, and it's not immediately clear where the trail goes - go left around the logged area and you should find the trail again. The trail soon crossed another dirt road - it continued up toward Mt. Shannon, but I turned left onto the dirt road. A little bit further on, the dirt road forks - there's an arrow on a tree pointing to go right (but no other sign), and that's the way I went. Eventually I crossed the Old Stage Road and continued straight on the dirt road, starting to climb. The place where red-blazed Round Pond Trail diverges left off the dirt road is well signed. This trail climbed steadily but not too steeply, and is well-blazed and easy to follow. Didn't see any snow or ice at all until almost reaching Round Pond, and even then there were only a couple of very short stretches of monorail in the shaded areas - barely even worth mentioning. Carried spikes but never even considered using them - the icy sections were way too short.
Upon reaching Round Pond, the short stretch of trail around the pond that I used was quite muddy and wet. Waterproof boots are definitely needed. The junction with orange-blazed Mack Ridge Trail is not signed, but it's at a place with a ring of tree-stump seats around a campfire. Look away from the pond, and you should see an old road with orange blazes - that's the trail. The first section of it was also very wet and muddy, with bypasses in some places (which seem to indicate that it's wet and muddy for more than just the spring). Past the junction with Round Pond-Mt. Mack Trail, it gets somewhat drier. The rest of Mack Ridge Trail was scenic in places with some great views. It's well blazed, but the path isn't always completely clear, so follow the blazes carefully. The steep, bouldery section going down was gravelly in places and had a lot of slippery fallen leaves, so watch your footing carefully in that section.
At the bottom of that section, I crossed Old Stage Road again and continued straight, back toward Hidden Valley. This section was generally gradual, but lesser-used, and would've been difficult to follow in places without the blazes. At the junction with Yellow Trail, I turned left to ascend Mt. Shannon. This section was gravelly and a little eroded in places, but the footing generally wasn't too bad. The view south from the ledges near the summit of Shannon is amazing. I had lunch there, and enjoyed the cool breeze.
I then followed the trail going north from Mt. Shannon. This trail is labeled on my map as Blue Trail, but is mostly blazed in yellow (with some yellow-and-blue blazes mixed in). At the bottom of the hill, right near a pond on the left, was a junction with a trail that wasn't on my map. The sign said that it was a shortcut to Old Stage Road. To continue on the Blue Trail at this junction, turn right. I soon crossed on bridges two channels of a river (both of which were flowing well) and then reached another junction, with the Old Stage Road Link leading to Mt. Anna. (These trails all need better names.) I turned right here to continue on Blue Trail. This section followed an old road and was very wet and muddy, with running water. My map says this section is only 0.2 miles long, but it felt like at least 0.3 until the junction with Red Trail.
At this junction, a left would go over Goat Pasture Hill. I, however, took a right and immediately faced by far the most difficult river crossing of the day (see notes above about it). The remainder of Red Trail back to Hidden Valley is a gradual, meandering footpath through the woods - this section also has a somewhat indistinct footbed, so follow the red blazes carefully. Upon reaching the Sunset Lake boat launch at Hidden Valley, I followed the main road (avoiding all the branching roads) to get back to the road I drove in on. From there, it's just a short walk back to the parking area.
This was an enjoyable hike on uncrowded trails (I saw maybe a dozen people the entire day), and practically no ice or snow. Definitely a place to return to. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2021-04-04 |
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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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