| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Winthrop, NH |
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 | Trails: |
US 2, bushwhack |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
I parked at the abandoned Shelburne Rest Area on Rt 2 just east of Timberlane Campground. I wouldn't see any issue with parking right on the shoulder of Rt 2, either. Lots of room and no one was there. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Leaves - Significant/Slippery |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
N/A |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
So long as you're careful to avoid the cliffs, I think this would be a fine whack for a dog. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not too bad. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
Found a real old beer can in the woods. Sort of surprised to find it in a seemingly random spot. Not a place a snowmobile or anything would go. |
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 | Comments: |
From the rest area on Rt 2, I walked west on Rt 2 for a tenth or so of a mile to maybe 50yds west of Timberlane Campground to where I saw a good opening in the woods, and I thought I'd avoided the cliff band. The cliff band is pretty obvious from the road, and was not difficult to walk around. I then whacked up in mostly open, but sometimes very steep woods. I basically went whatever way the woods and grade tugged me, which was south, then southeast, until I hit the ridge above the major cliff band close to the road. There's another cliff band or two higher up along the ridge, but it isn't hard to see/avoid, and could probably be scrambled up easily enough. I generally stayed just to the east of the top of the main ridge. As you approach the summit area, there are a few high points/false summits. Stay to the right (west) past the first one or two to make your life easier. The highest one wasn't hard to see when you get there. The register was easy to find. Three sign-ins in 2024, then no one since then!
I wasn't anticipating a terribly pleasant descent given how steep and leaf-covered it was, but I picked my way down very nicely, seeming to find an even better line than my ascent (though I basically followed the same line). I found myself on top of one cliff band higher up, which I neglected to notice/avoid, but picked my way down without too much trouble.
FYI I scouted out the parking situation on Winthrop Drive, but the end of the road that gets you the elevation is private, and there are houses more or less up until that point, so not a terribly viable way to approach. Looks like you could come in from the south along some trail shown on Gaia diverging from Rattle River Trail, though. Looks like that would be a much more gentle approach. Gaia had me at 1.4mi, 750ft of gain, 1hr17min. |
|
 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-05-28 |
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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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