| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
North Hancock, South Hancock, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Hancock Notch, Cedar Brook Hancock Loop |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, July 27, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
There was plenty of room at the hairpin turn view area lot at 8am, and still that way late afternoon. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings were easy, due to general lack of rainfall. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Other than the usual old step-over blowdowns, things are in generally good shape. As always noted, the large amounts of loose rock going up to the north peak and coming down the south peak continue to move gradually downhill from so many feet passing over them, leading to increased erosion. Tree/shrub growth along the 1.4 mile ridge between peaks encroaches on the trail, a nuisance when wet. The bog bridges here and there on the ridge are holding up well. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
We saw none, but a good trail dog would be able to handle all of the route. There are ample water opportunities down low, but none really once the steeper part of the walk up to the trail split begins. |
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 | Bugs: |
None, really, even without repellent and hardly any breeze. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Another nice OTHH outing. A number of hiking pairs were out there. Around 3pm, on the lower part of the loop trail, we encountered two groups of very young (pre-teen) hikers, most in sneakers, each with an adult leader, planning to do the loop. None of the kids had a pack, and just a liter water bottle. It seemed to us that they would be cutting it close, in terms of daylight remaining, if they did indeed do the whole loop. They weren't equipped to spend the night in the woods, and there already had been a period of very light rain, with localized downpours elsewhere, such as at the parking lot (big puddles there).
As we approached the parking lot, we could hear a lot of loud motorbike traffic in the vicinity of the hairpin turn on the Kanc. On arrival at the road, what we saw was a group of bikers, wearing full crash suits, and especially beefy knee pads, tearing around the turn at high speed one at a time, leaning far over into the turn and off to the side of the bike, with those knee pads actually dragging on the pavement. I guess they must have been "training" for some sort of bike event elsewhere. We waited for a break, then hustled across the road. |
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 | Name: |
Pappy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-07-29 |
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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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