 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, May 16, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Park at the lot at Hastings. Do not block the gate by the bridge on Evans Notch Rd. Wild River Rd is closed indefinitely until it can be repaired from storm damage. Do not block the gate here either. |
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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: |
Water levels were high.
Always check the river gage "Wild River at Gilead" at USGS. Levels are typically 1-3 ft high with spikes at storms as high as 16 ft. A 2017 storm created a new channel of Wild River isolating part of the trail onto a newly created island and adding two new water crossings. In subsequent storms the channel has changed to take a larger portion of the river water and is now the main path of the Wild River. These two crossings, on and off the island, are only able to be safely waded at low water levels (gage < 1.5 ft). It is never rock hoppable, so expect to get wet.
At moderate or high water levels either turn around or bushwhack around the crossings. A bushwhack route has been marked with orange flagging that roughly follows the edge of the river. It is a fairly easy bushwhack with the most difficult part being some sidehill at the northern end. All Trails and Gaia have both been update to show the new channel, new island, and the flagged bushwhack route.
If you do make it to the island portion look for pink flagging to mark the trail at the southern end. Big storms change the path here so often that blazing is quickly outdated. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
I am the trail maintainer between Hastings and Shelburne. This section of trail is in good shape with only a single easy stepover blowdown about 2.6 miles in. I am unsure of the condition of the island as the water levels made it inaccessible. As far as south of Shelburne parts of the trail are completely eroded into the river and it is straight up bushwhack without any markings and steep sidehill to contend with. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
This section of trail is dog friendly. There is one stream crossing near the beginning they may need a helping hand and a washed out gully several miles in that may require an assist. Take care anywhere near the edge of the Wild River at moderate and high water levels. The crossings on to the island will require swimming or being carried even at low water levels. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not bad if moving. Though a combination of Permethrin, Picaridan, and Deet helped. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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