| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Black Mountain, Sandwich Dome, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Guinea Pond Trail, Black Mountain Pond Trail, Algonquin Trail, Road walk |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, August 31, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking off Sandwich Notch Rd, just north of the Guinea Pond trailhead. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All crossings are very low. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
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 | Bugs: |
Almost none. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Up Guinea Pond Trail, left on Black Mtn Pond Trail, up and down Algonquin Trail, and a short road walk back to the car.
This route is very gradual for the first four miles or so (to Black Mountain Pond). Then it gets your attention by climbing the ledges south of Black Mountain (1000 feet in 0.8 miles). As you climb, the views from the ledges get progressively better. I enjoyed lunch from one of the ledges just below the intersection with Algonquin Trail.
From that intersection to Sandwich Dome, Algonquin Trail is a 1.7 mile ridge walk, mostly in the trees with minor ups and downs. Below the intersection with Black Mountain Pond Trail, Algonquin Trail is very steep and scrambly. It makes for a slow descent, but it is a lot of fun. (I learned after the hike that Algonquin is one of the electives on the T25 list.) After the steep bits, Algonquin trail is a more gradual descent to Sandwich Notch Rd.
Obviously, most people climb Sandwich Dome from the north. If you are looking for a bigger challenge, I definitely recommend this route. It features a beautiful Black Mountain Pond, varied terrain, and countless views. Despite the reputation for being notoriously wet in the Guinea Pond and Black Mountain Pond areas, take plenty of water. I didn't find any water flowing fast enough to put through a filter. |
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 | Name: |
Duct Tape |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-09-01 |
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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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