| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cover Mountain, Prospect Mountain, Sanguinary Mountain, Kelsey Notch, Gadwah Notch, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Cohos Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 7, 2022 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Dropped at US Border Crossing Station off US 3 in northern NH. You are not allowed to leave a car here. Car spotted at Davis Path trailhead off US 302 in Crawford Notch. This large lot is dirt surfaced, kiosk, no privy. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Snow - Wet/Sticky, Mud - Significant, Snow - Spring Snow, Slush |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The stream that runs between Mud Pond and Nathan Pond on the Sugar Hill Trail required minor fording. Deepest depth was 6 inches. No treacherous water. Remaining crossings bridged with human made bridges or negotiable with rocks. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Numerous new blow downs from Falls in the River Trail through Round Pond Brook trail. Otherwise the Cohos Trail volunteers do an AMAZING job at maintaining these trails. I am ever so thankful for the awesome blazing and signs. Really nice trails! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs. Numerous wildlife including bears. Stay aware of surroundings. Bells on dogs may help. |
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 | Bugs: |
Black flies started up just past the Percy Peaks in Nash Stream Forest. I did not notice any otherwise. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Lost one of my favorite Crocs to the blow downs on Round Pond Trail. Maybe the moose can use it… |
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 | Comments: |
I completed a 90 mile section of the Cohos Trail starting at the NH/ Canadian border and ending at Percy Rd in Stark, NH (just before the start of the Kilkenny). I will divide the trails up as best I can. The hike started on May 2 and ended on May 7.
Section 1: Canadian border to Neil Tillotson Hut
Fourth Connecticut Lake > Sophie’s Lane > Upper Black Cat > Middle Black Cat > Lower Black Cat > R&J Chaput Trail > Idlewilde Spur > Falls in the River > Moose Alley > Bog Bridge trail
This section had snow only on Sophie’s Lane. This is a snowmobile corridor and the snow was packed firm. Bare boots fine. Remaining trails ice and snow free, or at least not worth commenting on. Ice still present in Fourth and Third Connecticut Lakes. Excellent blazing and trail signage. Yellow blazes. Excellent. I had no issues following the trail. The footbed is faint from lack of customers. Shelter in excellent condition. Bear box (many thanks!!). Privy stocked with toilet paper and peat moss. Water source behind shelter running well.
Section 2: Round Pond Brook Trail to Lake Francis State Park area
Round Pond Brook > Covell Mtn trail > Ramblewood Link > Propect Mtn trail > Danforth rd. > Minon-Young trail > River rd.
No snow at all. Mud, running water on trail. Nice views from Covell and Prospect mountains. Trails WELL blazed, well signed. Footbed also less travelled making all the blazing super helpful. Some road walks and ATV trail. But after seeing no humans since the day prior, I was pretty happy to be walking on a human invention. Lake Francis State Park closed, opens May 13 (has showers, tent platforms, fire rings, and toilets when open). Negotiated with local landowner to camp in a yard for a night. Young’s Store is directly on trail. What a gem! Nice, well stocked grocery store with a deli where you can get a quick meal.
Section 3: Lake Francis area to Panorama shelter
River rd > Lake Francis trail > Cedar Stream rd > Deadwater Loop rd > Deadwater trail > Weir rd > Haynes rd > McAllaster rd > Bear Rock rd > Heath Rd > Diamond Pond rd > Tumble Dick Mtn trail > Sugar Hill trail > Sanguinary Summit trail
The first 24 miles of this section are predominantly on a mix of ATV/ snowmobile routes and dirt roads. Diamond Pond rd is paved. I was glad to be doing this section in the rain. I bet I missed some views though. All trails (including ATV/ snowmobile routes) well blazed in yellow and signed. Coleman State Park also closed until May 13. Had nice chat with helpful Ranger in park office. Thank you for your offer to fire up the pellet stove on that cold, cold, wet day!! The exception to the excellent blazing is a turn off in Coleman State Park. You have to turn right at the start of some cabins up the road from the registration office, walk a bit into the park to see the CT signs. I must have missed the turn blazes. On state park lands the trail has been cleared for logging making it a muddy mess. I mean mess. I thought spring snow was bad… But the blazes keep you on trail. The roads were snow free, but obviously wet and muddy with the rain. Once back in the woods on Tumble Dick Mtn trail the footbed becomes soft and faint with excellent blazing and signage. The snow started at 2700 feet. Sometimes deep, sometimes shallow. It was always inconsistent. I postholed a lot. Shelter area mostly snow free with bear box and privy. Water point about 0.2 miles south on trail. Spring pipe exposed, flowing freely.
Section 4: Panorama Shelter to Baldhead Lean-To
Sanguinary Summit trail > Sanguinary Ridge Trail > Three Brothers trl > Wilderness Link > Dixville Bypass > Kelsey Notch trl
Oh gad the snow. This was a fight from start to finish. But, all trails, ski trails, ATV and snowmobile routes very well blazed in yellow. Excellent signs. Huntington Cascades a sight to behold. Basically the snow is present from 2700 feet and up. The Three Brothers trl (leading up to Table Rock) was a bit icy in parts. I never needed my spikes. There is a particularly gnarly section on Dixville Bypass where I was postholing to my thigh while trying to climb a super steep section. I would recommend staying on the dirt road headed towards Dixville Peak until you intersect with the windmill service road. As far as the snow depth goes, if I was on the south side, the snow is nearly gone. On the north side I postholed to my hip. Try dealing with that with a full pack… I almost quit here the snow was that bad. Baldhead Lean-to was an excellent reprieve from the wind. Shallow snow in some areas around the shelter. Privy, bear box. Water must be obtained BEFORE getting to the shelter. Wish I would have known that… There is no water point at the shelter itself. I had to melt snow for water (the only time in this 6 day trip I was grateful for snow).
Section 5: Baldhead Lean-to to Devils Rest shelter
Gadwah Notch > East Side trail > Sugarloaf Arm trl > Nash Stream Rd > Jimmy Cole Brook rd (signed as Amos Hill Rd)
The excellent blazing and trail signage persists. I am so grateful as the footbed is so faint through the notch. Snow continues above 2700 feet. I had serious snow to contend with at the 3200 foot peak of the notch. But once down in elevation the snow abated giving over to a lovely woods walk down to Nash Stream rd. Sugarloaf Arm and East Side all completely snow free. Unable to face any more snow, I elected to bypass the Trio trail leading to the Percy peaks. I used Nash Stream rd (a good dirt road) for 5 or so miles until I connected with Jimmy Cole Brook rd (as it’s labeled on my map), a snowmobile route that is also serving active logging vehicles. Devils Rest is a beautiful new shelter 0.5 miles off the CT above Christine Lake. Stocked privy, bear box. Two water points about 0.2 miles from the shelter. I learned my lesson and filled up at a small stream prior to the shelter.
Section 6: Devils Rest to Percy Rd
Rowell Link > Bald Mountain Notch trl > end on Percy Rd
All trails snow free. All well blazed in yellow and well signed. Footbed the most travelled I’d seen since Table Rock in Dixville Notch. I really was so focused on that warm bed and hot shower I kinda didn’t pay attention to the trail…
I stayed at Percy Lodge and Campground. The Lodge is open year round with a small store available to Lodge guests (includes beer and wine). No food served, but kitchen is available to you for your use. The Lodge also accepts resupply boxes. This is a beautifully remodeled Lodge with a huge history. Lovely rooms.
Fun facts:
Moose seen: 3
Hares, eagles, hawks: 1 each
Deer: 1
Bear tracks: enough to make me want my mother
Humans encountered: 8
You do the math on the remoteness of this trail. |
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 | Name: |
Remington34 |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2022-05-08 |
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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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