| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
East Hitchcock, Mount Hancock, South Hancock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, bushwhack, Hancock Loop Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Saturday, June 27, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lot was unsurprisingly full when we arrived at 10:00, but there is a wide dirt area on the side of the road. The lot was about half full at 4:00 when we returned, but there were even more cars along the road. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All were easily rock hopped |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There is considerable mud, but a lot of that is on Cedar Brook trail after the junction with Hancock Loop trail. The trails are otherwise in great shape! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
There were a handful of dogs out hiking today, most of these trails are very gradual and would be easy for dogs, but inexperienced dogs might struggle on the steep sections of Hancock Loop trail. |
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 | Bugs: |
Not too bad, there were a lot of flies buzzing around but I didn't notice them biting at all. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The standard route for the Hancocks was in great shape and are very easy to follow. The steep ascent and descent on the loop are loose and gravelly, but with careful footing it is very manageable.
East Hitchcock related notes:
I was unable to find a herd path for East Hitchcock. However, the forest is not too difficult to navigate for much of the walk up from Cedar Brook trail. My approach was to go past the height of land (~3120ft) and down to about 2950ft, as I had read in past reports that there was a herd path there last year, I was hoping that the same would be true for this year.
From this point of entry into the woods, I would be taking a more direct route up the steeper part of the east side of the mountain. Here, there are some rocky steep sections and there were heavily moss covered logs and rocks which covered holes in the ground and make the terrain unpredictable. The foliage in the section up to about 3270ft is relatively open, and the biggest challenge was finding a hole-free route up the steep and rocky terrain, but after that it was much denser and required a lot more maneuvering and creative route finding. One silver lining of this sub-optimal route was that I managed to pop out in a shrubby clearing with nice views over to the Hancocks, which added a nice view to the otherwise wooded summit.
My route down from the summit was much better, as I took a route more to the south and finished closer to the height of land at around 3025ft. This route avoided most of the rocky terrain with unpredictable holes, was more gradual, and made for a smoother experience overall. The biggest challenge was navigating areas with a lot of Spruce and Hemlock saplings, as these areas were dense and it was hard to see the terrain I was stepping on.
Today was a great day for a hike, and I was happy to get some grid progress and add a 5th month for the Hancocks! |
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 | Name: |
EMC_Squared |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-06-27 |
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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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