| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Cabot, The Bulge, The Horn, NH |
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 | Trails: |
York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, Kilkenny Ridge Trail, Horn Spur, Unknown Pond Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 15, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Berlin Fish Hatchery told us that the York Pond gate would be open 7:30am-10pm, but you should call them at 603-449-3412 to make sure, so that your car doesn't get trapped.
The end of York Pond Road is a dirt road, but it is in pretty good shape, so even low clearance vehicles should have no trouble.
We had no trouble parking right at the York Pond Trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All rock-hoppable, sometimes on slippery rocks. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Some of the muddy sections on Unknown Pond Trail had nicely spaced stepping stones, but some had mud too deep for even waterproof hiking boots and were causing people to walk on the edges widening the muddy section. It would be nice if stepping stones (or bog bridges) could be added to them as well.
It's been a long time since I saw a trail with so many blowdowns as the section of Kilkenny Ridge Trail between Cabot Cabin and The Horn! There are big ones causing herd paths to form in dozens of places. Sometimes these even made it hard to see where the trail went.
Each of the trails was a little overgrown in places, with plants growing in from the sides.
There were many small pieces of broken glass on the ground near the steps at Cabot Cabin (maybe from a broken window?) We tried to carry out some of the pieces.
Signage is clear. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
OK for dogs. |
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 | Bugs: |
Plenty of mosquitoes at the trailhead, especially in the late afternoon upon our return. There were some bugs along the trail too, but they weren't a problem when we were moving, and even when we stopped for a break they didn't bother us much. The exception to this was at Unknown Pond, where mosquitoes were swarming. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
The last inch of one of my old hiking poles seems to have broken off somewhere along the trail (I didn't notice it when it happened). Of course I don't need it back, but I'm sorry for the litter. |
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 | Comments: |
York Pond Trail, Bunnell Notch Trail, and Kilkenny Ridge Trail were mostly dry, but Unknown Pond Trail had significant mud in several places.
An alltrails review from earlier this month claimed that there were 120 piles of moose poop along this loop, but we think that was an exaggeration - we counted only 118!
Expect the section between Cabot Cabin and The Horn to be slow-going because of all the blowdowns.
At The Horn, to get to the very top, we found it easiest to go around the big rock to the left (through the diagonally sloped gap in the rock, or atop the higher rock to its left) to climb it from the back side, instead of trying to jump over the diagonally sloped gap onto the steep rock above. |
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 | Name: |
mathbp |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-17 |
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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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