| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Red Hill - Southeast Peak, NH |
|
 | Trails: |
Sheridan Woods Trail, snowmobile trails, Scenic Trail |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, May 10, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area is marked by a kiosk and has room for (I didn't pay it any attention) but maybe 10 cars. I used School House (somewhat narrow gravel road in good shape) from 109 to access Sheridan Road, which is newly paved except for a short stretch where it connects to School House. The view on 109 a short ways north of School House at the top of a hill looking towards the Sandwich Ranges is special. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
|
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Nothing problematic. Like the lower Cabin and the Red Hill trails Sheridan Woods (and the snowmobile trails I was on) is an old logging road, but it's in better shape, with no significant erosion or mud stretches. There is a plastic pipe used as a small culvert in one place that is broken and that small spot is wet & soft. Scenic Trail has a faint footbed often covered in leaves but it's well marked in diamonds despite a sign at its upper point saying unmaintained. It had a couple easy stepover old blowdowns and is a trail, not an old road most of its length. The snowmobile trail over to Cabin Trail is just Sheridan Woods extended, in good condition. I was on another snowmobile trail that branched off at the Scenic & Sheridan junction and followed that a ways and then did the short climb up to Sheridan past Scenic and it was in good shape. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great place for a dog although there's not a lot of water as is typical of Red Hill. |
|
 | Bugs: |
A few small pockets of annoying black flies down low. |
|
 | Lost and Found: |
None |
|
|
|
|
 | Comments: |
This is a great place for pleasant walking in solitude. The trails, like the other Red Hill trails, dry out early but are in better shape, a nice alternative to the 4K trails. We saw a bear (and perhaps a cub it stayed hidden once glanced) that sat and watched us part way up Sheridan. A deer took off a short ways further up. There is a bit of a nostalgic feeling for trails seemingly forgotten except perhaps for snowmobiles. The parking Kiosk has a spot for (I assume) trail guides which is filled with needles. There are many numbered posts along Sheridan and upper Scenic which (I assume) were linked to that trail guide. There are numerous benches for hikers to sit on along the way. At the Scenic Trail viewpoint, and at the Sheridan on the (for lack of a better term) the SE bump, there were now decayed panorama displays, and even an old picnic table at the SE bump. The views from those two places have largely grown in, but with leaf off I could make out the landscape below for a nice ridge hike feeling The same for a look north to the lakes a short way from the bump. |
|
 | Name: |
Plus One |
|
 | E-Mail: |
|
|
| Date Submitted: |
2024-05-10 |
|
 | Link: |
 https:// |
|
|
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. |
|
