| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Jewell Link |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 21, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
My original plan was to do a short loop using Jewell Trail from its trailhead to meet up with the upper end of Jewell Link. However, when I reached the Ammonoosuc Ravine/Jewell trailhead just after 10 AM, it was completely full - literally every parking spot was taken, I checked - and lines of cars were parked along Base Station Road. I've never seen that parking area even half full, never mind completely full; not sure what's going on today. So instead I drove up to the Cog Railway base station and parked there. It was also quite crowded, but I found a spot. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Jewell Link now uses the Cog Railway Trail bridge over the Ammonoosuc River. A couple of very small drainages have log bridges. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No blowdowns. A few wet and muddy sections. Trail is well-signed. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
No issues. |
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 | Bugs: |
I put on bug spray with DEET before heading up. They didn't bother me too much. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
The purpose of this hike was to redline Jewell Link, since it was one of the trails I'd recently realized I'd forgotten (probably because it isn't included in the Redlining Spreadsheet). It's a very short trail, but I'm posting a report on it because the current approach to it is different from what's described in the 31st edition of the WMG. Hikers no longer have to ford the Ammonoosuc River. Instead, it crosses the Ammonoosuc River on the Cog Railway Trail bridge (there's a sign for Jewell Trail here), and then very shortly turns left to go under the railroad tracks (there's a sign here too). You have to duck to get under the tracks - it wasn't too hard for me (I'm 5'5"), but taller people might find it more challenging. The trail then climbs fairly steeply in the open through a section that would be very muddy and slippery in wet conditions. This section also has some nice purple flowers next to the trail. It then enters the woods, passes a junction with the old route (there's a sign here for descending hikers telling them to turn left to get back to the Cog Railway), and then ascends gradually through some wet and muddy areas to the junction with Jewell Trail. From my parking spot to the junction with Jewell Trail was between 4 and 5 tenths of a mile.
Saw only one other hiker on Jewell Link, but lots of people were at the Cog Railway base station. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-06-21 |
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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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