| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Wonalancet Falls, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Brook Path |
|
 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, December 21, 2024 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parking area at the western trailhead was partially plowed - a high-clearance vehicle with winter tires would do fine, but a smaller, lower vehicle without good winter tires could definitely struggle to get in and out. I was the only person there today. The road leading to the eastern trailhead is totally unplowed, and there wasn't really any place to park nearby along Route 113A. |
|
 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular |
|
 | Recommended Equipment: |
Light Traction |
|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All bridged. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No blowdowns. Just one wet area that was easy to get around. Signs are in place at the western trailhead on Route 113A and at the junction with the snowmobile trail. |
|
 | Dog-Related Notes: |
They'd do fine. |
|
 | Bugs: |
None! Go winter! |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
I was in the area, so I decided to check out an old, underappreciated favorite - the Brook Path, which leads along the Wonalancet River starting and ending at Route 113A. There were a couple sets of footprints starting at the western trailhead. The snow consisted of maybe an inch or two of powder, then a crusty, partially supportive layer of maybe 6", on top of a solid base. The trail was mostly very easy, though there were a few areas close to the brook where I needed to be careful about traction. I admit that these sections would've been quite a bit easier if I had worn spikes, but I was stubborn and wore just bare boots the whole way. Snowshoes would not have been worth it. Snow cover was complete, except for evidence of water having previously flowed across the trail in one small spot, but the water drained well and didn't leave much ice. Ice generally wasn't much of an issue anywhere.
The footprints I was following stopped at the bridge over the Wonalancet River about 0.9 miles in - those people must have turned around there. In the section just past the bridge, I occasionally sank in a few inches with my steps, but never more than that, and it wasn't annoying. When I reached Wonalancet Falls, the upper and middle falls were easy to see while staying on the trail, but the trail leading to the lower section had a short, steep descending pitch that I wasn't overly comfortable with in just bare boots (it would've been easy in spikes). So I did a short and straightforward bushwhack around it to reach the viewpoint for the lower falls (which is the largest). The water was flowing very well despite the well-below-freezing temperatures. I turned around here, since the falls was my main objective, and retraced my steps back to my car.
I didn't see anybody else the whole time. |
|
 | Name: |
GN |
|
 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-12-21 |
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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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