| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Garnet Hill, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Bearclaw Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, January 1, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking situation for the eastern end of Bearclaw Trail on Peckett Cross Rd (the way I came up is as follows): I recommend parking at the jct of Peckett Cross Rd and Lovers Lane. There was a plowed space there that could easily fit three cars. If coming in a group and conscientiously parking, probably five or six. Room for another one or two to pull off by the stop sign currently but that could change with more snow. Though the road is wide enough at the start of the trail/road to park on the side of it and have cars still be able to get by you, I wouldn’t recommend it as you can’t actually get off the road. Distance from road jct to start of trail is no more than 0.1mi. These roads were mostly free of snow/ice and easily passable by any vehicle.
Parking for trail from north at jct of Meadow Lane and Garnet Hill Rd: landowners I met said that despite the sign saying that Garnet Hill Rd is private, feel free to go up it and park in the little turn around/cul-de-sac at the jct of the roads. Didn’t go up there to know what it looks like but he made it sound doable. That said, Garnet Hill Rd, from its jct with Blake Rd, had snow/ice/slush on it and was steep. I probably couldn’t have gotten the needed traction with my old FWD car. AWD or very good tired probably needed.
Parking for northeast approach from Blake Road (Garnet Hill Trail): despite no trespassing signs, the landowner assured me that it’s fine to use the trail and that he’s been meaning to take the signs down. That said, I didn’t see a good place to park there. You can’t pull of the road. So could only pull to side. Probably enough room for cars to get by but not sure if people would appreciate it.
I believe there’s a standard parking lot from the western approach at Sugar Hill Town Forest. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Wet/Sticky |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There is no trailhead on the road nor is there one once in the woods for the eastern end of Bearclaw Trail (I believe there are signs for other trails that are not visible from the road but a short distance into the woods). Bearclaw Trail was marked by a variety of colors of surveyors tape. Very easy to follow because it was tracked. No blowdowns. It is well signed at its jct with Garnet Hill Trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Saw 3! All the people out today had their dog(s) with them! All were unleashed and some ran up to me but were clearly friendly. Normally I’m not a fan of that but given that these are “neighborhood trails†that the landowners are kind enough to welcome hikers to, I can surely understand. |
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 | Bugs: |
I don’t think they were snowfleas but I saw something that sort of looked like ‘em! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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|
 | Comments: |
Day 62, Peak 51. 1st hike of the day. Nice to be out again after a week plus of not hiking! Starting temps in the mid 30s. No real rain; maybe just a little mist. Very cloudy and much windier than I thought was predicted.
I tried the other two approaches listed in the “parking†section above first (other than Sugar Hill Town Forest) as they were shorter but due to the private property signs, I opted not to. Upon meeting one of three landowners out there though, he assured me that hikers are welcome to use any of the trails so long as they find a way to park (again, see notes above). So
I wound up coming up from the west along Bear Claw Trail. These trails are shown on Gaia for me and all but the one from the end of Garnet Hill Rd and perhaps some of the ones in the town forest are named.
Coming from where I parked, described above, the trail begins as a road and enters the woods on the left side of the road by two rock pillar-esque thingies. The road immediatleynslots; on the right it continues to a cabin, then a footpath on the left which sis the trail. Ascend moderately north for about 0.2mi, then swing left, and soon attain the ridge which the trail gently follows. At the jct with Garnet Hill Trail from Blake Rd, there is a cleared view and log bench. This is 1.1mi from the trail’s start. Another 1/3-1/2mi to the summit of Garnwt Hill. Here, the trail swings to the south of the summit. I took a right off into the woods and began looking for the high point. Several contenders but I eventually came to the small cairn (mostly covered with snow) and beer bottles that seems to be the high point…in talking to landowner, it’s also the point at which three properties converge. Returned the same way.
Only a few inches of wet snow. I could see old snowshoe tracks but certainly not worth bringing them today. Down low, there was mild slush, which became a bit icy a bit further up so you could’ve used microspikes (one of the three people I saw did) but I chose not to; certainly not required and I figured they’d ball up. 3.25-3.5mi round trip with 500-600ft of gain. Took me 1hr45min. In summer and approaching from Garnet Hill Rd, I have to think that would be faster than bushwhacking from Lovers Lane to the south even if the way I took today would take longer than the standard bushwhack.
303 more days and 314 more peaks to go… |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
|
 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-01-01 |
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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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