| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Cloudland Falls, Swiftwater Falls, Stairs Falls, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Falling Waters Trail, Cloudland Spur, bushwhack/closed Falling Waters Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
At 8:20 am we scored the last parking place at Lafayette Place campground hiker parking |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Easily rock hop-able, Surprisingly no ice on the trail or on the rocks! |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
No more done on the old trail.
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
why not if they are good hiking dogs |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Nobody asked us if we wanted a new Falling Waters Trail. No public comment or public hearings were held.
I hope it really cuts down the the rescues but that shouldn't be a reason to close a beautiful hiking trail. All our trails in the White Mountains are heavily eroded so is that really a reason to close a trail? If it is we are in for a lot of future trail closings. It is a nice trail and will speed things up for trail runners and people that probably shouldn't be going above treeline.
The cut granite steps are out of place in the forest and the granite step's sharp square edges look like they'd knock your teeth out and bash your head if on tripped or slipped and fell. The wide trail is graded gently and wide but there was one place where they left a bunch of small trees in the path and even though the grades are gentle where are the water bars? Where it leaves the old path there is plenty of orange plastic snow fence and signs pointing the way for the new way and posting trail closed. The trail is heavily brushed in for as far as you can see at each interseciton. Herd path already formed just above the closure.
We hiked up the new trail and took the Cloudland spur. the granite staircase is very steep down to meet the old trail and again I wouldn't want to slip on it. Plastic orange snowfence and closed signs and the old trail is brushed in as far as you can see block hiking trail following downstream. The blue blazes have been replaced with yellow blazes but from here no new trail work has been down it is the same old wet and rocky trail they closed below. Once at Cloudland falls there is plenty more plastic orange snowfence and closed trail signs blocking the way and a new End of Trail sign has been posted on a tree. Watch out, the rocks are all still wet and slippery here. Above the fence it looked like it has been pulled down on one corner where someone decided to hike up the old trail. On our return we bushwhacked around the brushed in old trail and happily continued down old trail and enjoyed the cascades and waterfalls. All brook crossings were easy since water was low and there was no ice. We met some UNH people at the secret place. They had come in on the lower part of the closed trail. Brook crossing was easy and we bushwhacked above the brushed in trail in open woods and herd path is forming well. We noted that many of the groups of people headed up the trail after 10 am looked like friends headed to Starbucks instead of prepared hikers ready for the dusting of snow up on the Ridge. Stick season is here and I am looking forward to winter. It is what it is. Volunteer with your local hiking club and do trailwork! |
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 | Name: |
Nordic_Gal |
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 | E-Mail: |
amybike@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-10-19 |
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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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