| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Crawford Connector, Crawford Path, Mizpah Cutoff, Webster Cliff Trail, Mt. Clinton Trail, Dry River Cutoff, Mt. Eisenhower Trail, Dry River Trail, tentsite spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Crawford Connector trailhead was about 2/3 full when we got there just before noon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The crossing of Dry River at the bottom of Mt. Eisenhower Trail can be rock-hopped since water levels are low. All other crossings are trivial. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Lots of blowdowns, some of them quite annoying, on Mt. Clinton Trail (I was only on the upper half-mile) and Dry River Cutoff. Those weren't there last year, so they are relatively recent blowdowns. Some had herd paths to get around, but others were more difficult to bypass. Signs are all in place. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Only a few, and they weren't an issue. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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 | Comments: |
This was Day 1 of a three-day backpacking trip in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness to redline the final trails that I needed there. My chosen campsite for the first night was the wilderness campsite off of Dry River Trail just past its junction with Isolation Trail, however due to the massive, dangerous washout on Dry River Trail 3.3 miles from the bottom, I hiked up to Mizpah Hut and then down to the Dry River from there. Crawford Path was rough, rocky, and busy, mostly with hikers descending from the hut. After the hut, I entered the Dry River Wilderness, and wouldn't leave it until about 9:30 Friday morning. Mt. Clinton Trail and Dry River Cutoff both had a lot of annoying blowdowns. Many of the usual mudpits on the upper part of Dry River Cutoff were pretty dry because of the current drought, but there were still a few wet and muddy areas on the lower section of trail. There's one spot on the descent down to the brook on Dry River Cutoff where it's easy to go the wrong way - the trail turns left, but there's an old fallen tree trunk blocking it, and the trail looks like it continues straight (but that peters out pretty quickly).
The lower section of Mt. Eisenhower Trail (below the junction with Dry River Cutoff) has another mudpit, before it crosses Dry River. From there, I picked up Dry River Trail south toward the junction with Isolation Trail. The small sign marking the wilderness campsite is easy to miss for descending hikers - it's low to the ground and faces toward ascending hikers. It's just above the junction with Isolation Trail - it points toward what looks like a herd path, but is the actual path to the wilderness campsite. The campsite has several areas that can fit tents. Since it's a wilderness tentsite, it has no bear box and no privy. Isolation Brook was quite low, but it still had enough water to filter from.
The temperature overnight was cool, but not cold. I thought it felt nice. |
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 | Name: |
GN |
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 | E-Mail: |
ghnaigles@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-12 |
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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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