| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Stairs Mountain, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Stairs Mountain Spur, Davis Path, Stairs Col Trail, Rocky Branch Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, September 12, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Just a few other vehicles at the trailhead of Rocky Branch Trail at the end of Jericho Road. Jericho Road is in good condition for any vehicle. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
The large crossing of Rocky Branch 1.8 miles from the end of Jericho Road can be rock-hopped since water levels are very low. The crossing of Lower Stairs Brook on Rocky Branch Trail is an easy rock hop. The minor crossings on Stairs Col Trail are all dry right now. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns on Stairs Col Trail, but nothing terrible. Signs are all in place. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Just a few buzzing around, and they weren't an issue. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Nothing. |
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|
 | Comments: |
This was Day 3 of a three-day backpacking trip in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness (Day 1 is here: https://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=78374, and Day 2 is here: https://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=78377). I enjoyed the sunrise from the wilderness campsite at the summit of Stairs Mountain. The descent of Stairs Mountain on Davis Path, heading toward Stairs Col, is steep in places, with some rough ledges to descend. Turning onto Stairs Col Trail, it first climbs slightly to the high point in Stairs Col and then starts the descent, easily at first, but soon becomes steep. The steep section had some sloping ledges, but honestly wasn't as bad as I feared - footing was reasonable in many places, and there were some sections of rock steps as well. The crossing of the headwaters of Lower Stairs Brook was completely dry, and all of the minor brooks that Stairs Col Trail crosses on its way down were dry as well. Once the trail's descent eased, it was clearly following old logging roads, and they had mostly good footing. Stairs Col Trail turned out to be a surprisingly pleasant and quick trail - there are many sections where one could trail run down the trail if they were so inclined. Thanks to the good footing, the trail took less time than I expected - I needed only an hour and 22 minutes to get from the summit of Stairs all the way to the junction with Rocky Branch Trail. Rocky Branch was an easy four-mile walk out.
This three-day trip was my penultimate redlining trip. It completed my redlining of Chapter 1 of the WMG and of all the Wilderness areas in the White Mountains, and was the final overnight trip for my redlining. I must give Debra a major shout-out, since I could not have done this trip without her. The only trail section I still need to redline is the portion of Franconia Ridge Trail between Liberty Spring Trail and Little Haystack, and that will be in the next couple of weeks. It's hard for me to believe that I'm actually so close to finishing! |
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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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