| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Potash Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Downes Brook Trail, Mt. Potash Trail, Forest Road 511, NH 112 |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, May 19, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Trailhead parking area can accommodate many cars (15-20? more?). Hard to judge as I was first arrival at 7AM and only 1 other car upon return. Entry road is in good shape. If you want to use FR511 for entire hike, probably room for 5-6 cars (properly arranged) without blocking gate or using Kanc shoulder. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Downes Brook water flow was reasonable, but I didn't see a clear path across on unsubmerged rocks. There is a large tree that might work sometimes, but didn't see a way to use it and keeping feet dry. So broke out the water shoes. They are great for protecting sensitive feet (neuropathy), but they lack grip. Thus I wound up sitting on a submerged rock, 20 feet from opposite shore. Missed it by that much. (Took FR511 on descent.)
All other tributaries/drainages were easy stepovers or rock hops. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There are several medium to large blowdowns between the brook and the forest road and then shortly after the forest road. The largest one is too low to crawl under and too big to go over, so had to go off trail to get around. No establish path at this point, but fairly easy, at least on the uphill side. It will take a lot of work and or equipment to clear these. Some segments obscured with leaves, but generally well defined. Summit marker (painted "x" surrounded by circle) is quite faded and could use some freshening. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Not a lot of water after Downes Brook. Also several areas of rocks and slabs that could be challenging for some. |
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 | Bugs: |
Swarming skeeters while changing shoes at the brook and some others on lower section. Temps at start in the 40s and gusting wind probably kept many away. Summit forecast said 35+ mph and that seemed about right. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found an off brand communication device (not a phone) of some sort sitting on a rock in middle of trail a short ways after the brook. Battery appeared fully discharged. Packed it out to the trailhead kiosk. |
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 | Comments: |
For those unfamiliar with this trail, a brief description of conditions. Lower section (before FR junction) is mostly easy to moderate grade on forest floor with a few rocks and roots. This continues with some steeper pitches after the FR junction, with a couple of switchbacks. The grade steepens and trail is a mix of exposed slanted slabs (some wet), heavy tree roots and rocky sections for about .3 mile to the viewpoint. From the viewpoint to the summit there are some easier grades, but over rocky terrain and some exposed ledges and slabs, but some steep pitches as well. The last .1 to the summit is over fairly steep ledge/slabs. (It looks more scarey than it is). I needed to look very carefully for blazes to follow and they generally take you over the easiest route and in the right direction. several of the ledges/slabs throughout the trail are wet, but they are generally rough surface and provide good grip, provided you have footwear with high grip soles. In some areas they can be avoided by using roots as footholds or narrow dirt sections along the edges.
And a couple of navigation issues.
While at the viewpoint, I looked back and saw a yellow blaze and thought the trail turned at this point, with the path to the viewpoint a spur path. The path I followed goes a short way to a clearing that may be a campsite, and then no more path and no blazes. I took a chance and headed uphill through the most open path I could see and met up with the well defined path and a yellow blaze. On the descent, I found out that the trail actually goes over the viewpoint ledge (to the right going uphill) and the blaze I saw is one for the descent. There is a very faint yellow blaze on the ledge, but I hadn't gone that far.
In the lower sections I got off trail briefly 2-3 times when an alternate path was more defined than the leaf covered trail. These quickly dead-ended, so it was obvious I was off trail. On the descent the trail was easier to follow. So just be vigilant on the ascent.
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 | Name: |
SpartyHikerfrom ME |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-05-19 |
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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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