| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
None, NH |
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 | Trails: |
East Side,Lincoln Woods,Franconia Brook,Twin Brook, Garfield Ridge |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, June 25, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking. Appears about 20-25% of parking spaces are closed for staging operations for the Lincoln Woods trail repair work. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Some rocking hoping of streams though most needed to walk through. See Pemi water crossing in comment section |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Most notably a lot of pine top blow downs at upper end of the Franconia Brook trail. Appears a recent microburst or some strong wind event caused numerous pine tops strewn across the whole area. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Mostly none to light except one heavy night at camp. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Our group of two did a 2 night backing trip in the Pemi Wilderness in the Franconia Brook trail area. With access to the LW trail being closed from the LW trailhead, we decided to hike up the East Side trail with the plan to cross the E.Pemi branch. If water conditions were dicy than we adjust and hike toward the Wilderness trail and explore that area. Just prior to the East side camping area, we descended down to the Pemi river walking along the rock/sand bar scoping for a place to cross. We attempted one crossing getting about half way across before during back. We hiked further up the rock/sand bar (down stream where the Pemi and Franconia brook merge) till we found a better spot. Water was about 24" deep for most of the crossing though knew the far bank would be deeper since it was the outer bank of the river flow. The last 10 feet the water was about 36" deep in places with a strong current. We both made it safely to shore with some struggle though would not advise crossing till the water level is lower. Also advise crossing in your boots/sneakers if you attempt it. I had my crocs on(miraculously kept them on) and my partner was barefoot. Once one shore we made our way onto the LW trail a short distance before crossing the bridge and onto FB trail. We pitched camp for the 2 nights in the area where the trail crosses Hellgate Brook. On day 2 we hiked up to 13 Falls and saw no activity at the camp site at all to include the caretaker. We continued on up the Twin Brook trail to Galehead Hut where we took a 30 minute break speaking with the few folks we saw. The blueberry crumb cake the was sold at the hut was delicious. We continued onto the GRT heading west until jumping onto the Franconia Brook trail and eventually back to camp. Bugs were pretty light on the trip till we got back to camp where black flies and mosquitos were numerous requiring a head net. We discussed at camp that night on crossing the Pemi river just upstream from where it merges with the FB, figuring the water volume would be less. On Day 3 we hiked out and bushwhacked to the edge of the Pemi directly across from the East side trail camping area. After walking the dry rock bar which was probably half the width of the immediate river plain, we found a suitable route with water 12"-18" deep in most places with a few deeper pockets of water. The route also had more rocks above water and more to support a safe crossing. With boots on we crossed the river with no problem and hiked the 3 miles back to the trailhead. It should be noted there was a posting at the LW ranger station that bear canisters(they supply free) are now mandatory if camping in the Pemi Wilderness area. |
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 | Name: |
Jim S. |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-06-25 |
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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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