GOING SOUTH TO NORTH

In 2008, look for some changes in the Cohos Trail. Print this information and keep it with your maps and guidebook. Don't fail to keep this with you. To print this information, go to printer friendly page.

SLIDE BROOK TRAIL. Jefferson, just north of Route 115 This trail is closed, as it was in 2007. We will make an effort to reopen the trail this year, but the work that has to be done is extensive. A long string of bog bridges has to be developed to carry the trail over beaver flowage. We would be lucky to get the trail done this year.but we'll try.

If we do get the trail open, we will post the information on the web prominently in several places so trekkers can utilize the new pathway. It cuts off lots more than a mile of road walking.

To bypass the closed trail, northbounders must turn east (right) on Route 115 and follow it to Route 115A. Turn north (left) on Route 115A and walk a quarter mile and go under a powerline. Look on the left now and watch for a gate 100 feet to the south (left). Once you see the gate, turn toward it and pass through or around it. You are on the old B&M Railroad bed headed toward Moorhen Marsh and Cherry Pond in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. That's exactly where you want to be.

Southbounders will have come around Cherry Pond and will be headed east toward the Presidential Range in the distance, walking on the old B&M Railroad bed. The trail use to cut south just after the big trestle bridge over Slide Brook. But now the trail will continue on the railbed to Route 115A. Reach 115A and turn uphill (right) and walk a quarter mile to Route 115. Turn right, south, and walk a long half mile to the Owls Head trailhead on the left side of the highway. You are where you should be.

THE KILKENNY

During dry seasons, there is very little potential for getting water after you pass the spring on Mt. Starr King and before you get into the notches between the two prominent mountain ranges, the Pliny and the Pilots. Be sure to carry lots of water with you over the Pliny's or run the real risk of serious dehydration. The only spring you will find beyond Starr King is a small seep on the southeast flank of Mt. Weeks. Unfortunately, it dries out often.

In the Pilots, the water situation is much better. However, on the trek up Mt. Cabot, you should bring plenty of water with you for the overnight at the Mt. Cabot watchman's cabin. There is a spring near the summit of Cabot, but it is very difficult to find and a long, arduous way off the trail downhill.

SUGARLOAF ARM CAMP

This campsite was never built. However, the site is designated as a permissible spot to camp.if you can find it. To find it (no signage whatsoever), you must climb Sugarloaf Arm. Northbounders will come over the Arm and descend down the east side until you reach a snowmobile bridge over a small trickle of water. The camp site is now behind you, uphill (from whence you came) about 250 feet. Turn around and go uphill until the terrain levels a bit. The site is off the trail here about 200 feet in the woods. There is nothing there to designate it as a camp site. However, the site is very level and a good spot to set up a tent.

Southbounders. Climb the Sugarloaf Arm to the point where you cross a snowmobile bridge in the trail high on the Arm. Go uphill 250 feet beyond the bridge. The camp site will be on your right here, 200 feet into the woods. There is nothing here to tell you this is a designated campsite. However, the site itself is very level and quite suitable to pitch a tent.

Most years, there is water in the little brook beneath the bridge in every month except August. In dry years, the brook dries up completely.

MUISE BOWL AND BULLDOZER FLAT

These beautiful areas in the Gadwah region now each have a prominent sign posted so you can tell precisely where you are on the maps.

BALDHEAD LEAN-TO

There is a tarpolin in the lean-to, plus a hammer and nails. If you are caught in a freak storm that rams wind and rain into the lean-to, pull down the tarp, set it with nails and take shelter. Before you leave, pack up the tarp, stow it away, and pull the nails out and put them back in the tin can.

DIXVILLE PEAK

On the south flank of Dixville Peak, you are exposed to full sun and heat for as much as two hours on the long push up the mountain. Be sure to prepare for this possibility during hot weather.

WEATHER TOWER ROAD ON NORTH SANGUINARY RIDGE.

A dirt road has been build along some of the distance of north Sanguinary Ridge, between Mt. Sanguinary's true summit and the summit of Mud Pond Ridge. The Cohos Trail now pops out of the woods onto that trail. There is yellow blazing in the trees where it comes out of the woods, so those moving in the opposite direction can see the trail entrance off the road readily.

Walk this ridgeline lane for more than a quarter mile. There a wind tower at the head of the lane. Northbounders will reach a hard turn downhill. Follow around the turn and watch on your right for two yellow-topped stakes. That's the trail leaving the road and going off to the Panorama lean-to.

NOTE: We may very well relocate this section of trail this year. If we do, we will blaze and sign the changes so they are easily seen. The new trail will follow the Tillotson property boundary (bright red blazes) for at least a mile. We will put some yellow blazing in among the red so people understand they are moving on the CT.

This new section will get the hiker on the ridge for a much longer distance. The way will be much drier and the views should be more extensive. It will be a great improvement in the route over the ridge.

MUD POND ACCESS

On some older maps and the old guidebook, there is incorrect information about the access to Mud Pond once the trail comes off the High Route onto the Spruce Trail north of the pond itself. In the old info, the indicated the pond could be reached by making a 50 foot jog to the left and then follow a trail to the right. This way actually takes the hiker below Mud Pond and up onto the flank of Van Dyke Mt. and Sugar Hill.

To reach Mud Pond's north spillway pipe and dam (nice place for lunch), come down off the High Route onto the broad Spruce Trail. Turn left (southwest) and walk 700 to 800 feet on the old gravel lane (no traffic). Pick up the access to the pond on the right and descend gradually to a little earthen dam with a spill pipe in it. This is a great spot for lunch and a fine spot to watch wildlife. If you camp here, you are sure to be rewarded sometime during the evening or early morning with wildlife sightings. Moose, black bear, loon and barred owl are common in the area.

SHORT CUT TO COLEMAN STATE PARK

Many people take the shortcut (green line on the maps) to cut off the long loop trek around Nathan Pond. We recommend this unless the weather has been very dry. The route south of Nathan Pond is notoriously low and wet and the lane north of the pond sports some of the heaviest grasses and weed growth on the CT. Although the trek to Nathan Pond is worth the effort (in my opinion), it is not when conditions are anything less than perfect.

SUGAR HILL TRAIL

There is a snowmobile trail spur up to the summit of Sugar Hill now. You can find the spur near the height of land in Tumble Dick Notch. The route up is a short steep trek. The views are wonderful of very remote country.

FINDING THE CT IN COLEMAN STATE PARK

Trekkers report having some trouble finding the south entrance to the CT in the campground at Coleman State Park in Stewartstown. Here's how to find it. South of the main building in the park is a loop lane with camp sites arrayed along the route. Walk that loop to its bottom. There is a very large yellow birch tree (if I remember correctly) at the very base of the loop. Just behind it is a yellow blaze and an obvious woods lane southbound into the forest. That's the CT. You will find blazing aplenty in there (and watch for the tight dogleg turn to the left as you go south).

NORTH OUT OF COLEMAN STATE PARK

The Haynes Hill Trail just beyond the southern lip of Coleman State Park cuts right off the CSP main road. This trail is a snowmobile trail. In its lower reaches it is wet and it was logged a year or two ago. Trekkers report it is in very tough condition in the summer. Bypass this trail by walking half a mile downhill on the main road to the park until you reach the lowest section of the way. Turn right downhill at the first well-built lane you come to. That will put you on the route toward Bear Rock Road.

CLARKSVILLE BOG

The route by Clarksville Bog is closed (gated) and the new bypass well blazed and signed. You can find a description of the bypass elsewhere on this website, if need be.

HEIGHT OF LAND ON BEN YOUNG HILL

Existing trail reaches the height of land on Ben Young Hill, trail is well kept by Pete and Lainie Castine. This section of trail will be moved this summer and jog to the east to run along the property boundary. Also, we hope to open the Dead Water Trail downhill off the height of land. Once we get that trail open, the Cohos Trail will reach the heights and the fine views there, then cut due east and drop fairly quickly but not steeply off Ben Young Hill down to an old log yard high on the mountain that has a commanding view to the east southeast along the Deadwater Valley. Here the trail picks up a former logging road that has become an access way to several new camps. Drop downhill to the Dead Water Road. Once you reach the Dead Water Road, turn left, north, and walk less than a mile out to Cedar Stream Road.

CEDAR STREAM ROAD

The forest on the side of this lane was logged last year, so the route is now exposed to the sun for nearly four miles. If it's hot, this road walk can be quite uncomfortable. Luckily, Lake Francis is right over your shoulder. The water is fine.

THE TURN ONTO BOG BRANCH AND INTO THE LAKE FRANCIS TRAIL

This turn will finally get a big. permanent post and sign and blaze so people can't miss this turn off the Cedar Stream Road. This has been a perennial problem for us, but we can resolve it in 2008.

THE ROUTE FROM LAKE FRANCIS CAMPGROUND TO BEAR LEDGE CAMPGROUND

Follow the following link to info elsewhere on this site about how to reach Young's Store and Bear Ledge Campground, as well as the summit of Mt. Prospect. Go to Guide Book Changes.

This is an alternate route north, but it ends on the wonderful summit of Prospect at this time. Hopefully, it will become a thru-trail this year and open a new thru-loop out to Ramblewood and Mt. Covill summit.

MT. COVILL TRAIL AND ROUND POND BROOK TRAIL

We hope to begin work on the Mt. Covill Trail and Round Pond Brook Trail this year. These routes would open up all new and fine terrain to Cohos trekkers, including a new summit with stunning views and a pathway in beautiful open hardwoods. If we are able to get these routes open, we will post the information prominently on this website.

FIRST CONNECTICUT LAKE TRAIL

This three-mile trail will definitely open this year, as soon as humanly possible. It will eliminate a good deal of road walking. It will offer a quiet woods walk, views over narrow meadows, several views from spur trails across First Connecticut Lake, and a terminus at the Magalloway bridge over the Connecticut River.

THE ROUTE 5 SNOWMOBILE TRAIL TO THE BORDER

From Deer Mountain Campground, northbounders should keep right at virtually all turns all the way north along the route around Moose Flowage and up to Third Connecticut Lake and the border. In short, stay in the vicinity of the river. Do not branch left anywhere and wander into the uplands to the west.

Southbounders should stay left at virtually all turns and junctions on the way south from the border to Deer Mountain Campground. (One left may take you a few feet into a sandpit. Just backtrack and head south). Do not turn right anywhere along the route and move into the uplands in the west. Stay in the river valley.

2007 TRAIL CHANGES

NORTH OF WEIRS TREE FARM

Northbounders:

You have reached the Weir Tree Farm with it's stunning view. Drop downhill on the old lane quickly to a sharp left turn. Follow this woods way on the level until you reach a new gate* a quarter mile from the turn. The way into Clarksville bog is temporarily closed. Turn right on the wide grassy way here and drop downhill, level out, then slowly work your way uphill to a junction with a trail that cuts hard left. Take that left and stay on the level over a drainage area then enter a farm field. Cross straight across the field rising easily until you see a gate. Go to the gate and pass around it. You are on the traveled portion of the Ferguson Road now headed to Clarksville Pond Road.

* Hopefully this section of the trail will re-open this summer so stay tuned.

Southbounders:

Running southbound from Clarksville Pond Road down the Ferguson Road you reach a gate at the head of a hay field. Cross straight through the field and pick up a snowmobile trail on the far side. Don't take the old route of the CT that used to drift to the right and down a shallow grade. This is being worked on this summer for safety reasons so stay straight onto the snowmobile trail...Once onto the snowmobile trail, cross a drainage area and reach a junction. Take a hard right turn onto the wide grassy way and drop downhill a bit to a flat, cross that and rise uphill to where another gate appears on your right. Turn left away from the gate and walk a quarter mile to the point where the old lane turns uphill steeply to the right into the Weirs Tree Farm.

FROM THE RIVER ROAD IN PITTSBURG TO YOUNG'S STORE

This is a new link to Young's Store in Pittsburg for supplies...Several landowners have recently granted the Cohos Trail permission to cross property on an existing snowmobile trail that runs from the River road to Young's Store on Route 3, a critical resupply outlet for trekkers. This trail has been cleared and signs have been posted at the River Road end as well as the Young's store end on July 10th. Approx. 1/2 mile.

Northbounders:

To reach this link trail, northbounding hikers will be heading north either from Lake Francis Campground or from the junction of Carr Ridge Road with the River Road. Hikers may pick up a northbound snowmobile trail that parallels the River road or simply stick with the road .7 (seven tenths) of a mile until you see a wide grassy lane on both sides of the road. This spur is signed with the CT signs and 'TO YOUNG'S STORE'. There are very large stones placed on the left beside the new link at the entrance. These stones are landmarks.

Hike west on the level for a very short distance then drop abruptly downhill to a good bridge across Perry Brook. Rebound more gradually and continue moving uphill until the rear of Young's Store comes into view well above you. Continue on until you appear to pass the store and pick up the path up to the store parking lot.

Southbounders:

To reach this link, southbounding hikers will leave Route 3 and turn south down the River Road, or pick up the parallel snowmobile path just to the east of the lane. Descend about half a mile or so and watch for a wide path open to the west. Turn right onto this lane. There are large stones on the left side of the lane at the entrance. These are landmarks. Also, look for the CT sign and the sign stating 'To Young's Store'...

Hike west on the level for a very short distance then drop abruptly downhill to a good bridge across Perry Brook. Rebound more gradually and continue moving uphill until the rear of Young's Store comes into view well above you. Continue on until you appear to pass the store and pick up the path to the store parking lot. Watch for CT signs.

PERCY LOOP TRAIL

The Percy Loop Trail is in very good condition with blowdowns cut-out etc...

SUGARLOAF ARM

This wide winter snowmobile trail is in fine shape. The only note here necessary is to say that the view of Sugarloaf Mt from the top of the Arm has closed in. Sugarloaf is no longer visible.

SUGARLOAF MT. TRAIL

This trail is in quite good condition for a fairly steep old fire tower jeep road. The way has softened nicely. Above the site of the old fire warden camp, near the height of land on Sugarloaf's long northern ridge, there is a large blowdown that needs to be taken out. Skirt it the best you can.

DEVIL'S JACUZZI

Many people miss this little spur trail off the East Side Trail above Nash Stream. Here's how to find it: Walk upstream from the Nash Stream Bridge at Mile 8 on the Nash Stream Road. Follow the river on good trail and then turn uphill and go over a rise. The trail levels out, crosses a bog bridge or two and rises very gradually for a few hundred feet before dropping downhill in two jogs to bring you very close to Nash Stream. The stream is on your left as you go north and it chatters loudly. You are in spruce and fir now, along a dark corridor. Watch on your left in here for a huge glacial erratic stone standing twenty feet off the trail At the top of the rock, the top has been fractured so it looks like the stone is wearing a cap.( A couple of new signs mark the spur now). That is the entrance to the little spur trail that shimmies through some tight spots between boulders before dropping down to a small rock shelf in the stream. Directly below the shelf is a rectangular pool that froths with bubbles. Underwater there is actually a natural stone bench. You are at Devil's Jacuzzi now.

GADWAH NOTCH TRAIL JUST ABOVE BULLDOZER FLAT

This section of trail, a bit above the fine view of the big Northwest Peaks Range, can be wet if we've had a moist summer. This section of trail is slated for some ditching to help dry it out. Some ditch work was done in early July but is heavily traveled by moose. Still muddy in sections. Bob Paradis has been in and taken out blowdowns all the way to the Baldhead Lean-to.

LINK TO THE BALSAMS WILDERNESS SKI AREA

Well down the slopes of Dixville Peak as you trek north, the wide old service road eventually makes a S turn uphill to the right and then downhill to the left. In the left turn, the Cohos Trail cuts right and uphill. The old signage in there is reported to be in tough shape and has to be replaced. Be sure not to follow the old service road into the valley. Be sure to watch for the link trail in the tight left turn, and climb out uphill going northbound toward the ski area summit about a quarter of a mile away... this section of trail and the signage is scheduled to be worked on for National Trails Day, June 2nd...so hopefully these problems will be fixed.
A new sign pointing to the right direction was put up in early June 2007 - many thanks to the Richardson brothers

LINK TRAIL TO TABLE ROCK

About 500 feet north and below the ski lift towers on the wide ski trail, the Cohos Trail link out to Table Rock (a mile away) cuts right at a shallow angle. The junction is not well marked but will get better signage soon (scheduled for June 2, 2007) Watch for the trail drifting to the right and take it. The trail stays with the ridgeline and does not descend into the valley as the ski trails do.
These signs were also replaced in early June

SANGUINARY SUMMIT TRAIL

In it's mid-section, this trail can be wet in moist summers. We will be doing a good deal of work on this trail this summer, but be aware that you may encounter some rather unpleasant going if it has been wet.
*Follow yellow ribbons where yellow blazes are not visible on the high route from the southern intersection of high and low routes northward up to the lean-to. No sense in repainting this section if it is going to be rerouted. (To clarify this ~ there is a new service road that will be built possibly this fall or this winter - making it senseless to reroute the trail at this time... we have opted to keep the trail as it is right now and when the new road and windmill have been installed, then we will know where to put the new trail - So follow the yellow ribbons, yellow-topped stakes or yellow blazing on the current trail.) EH Roy has been in there and has done extensive work in June and July, 2007. Should be easy to follow with new blazing etc...

PANORAMA LEAN-TO

Please sweep the lean-to clean after you use it. Thank you. And please do not build a fire ring and build an open fire. We have to disassemble a ring each year and are getting a bit tired of doing so.
There was no fire ring this year (yeah!) and the log book that was tucked up in the rafters became part of a mouse's nest so many of the entries have been obliterated... We will salvage what we can and print them in the future...
The view at Panorama Lean-to is closing in somewhat - we will look into the possible clearing of the area - also there is a new journal inside of a coffee can in the shelter and some other odds and ends...

LEAVING COLEMAN STATE PARK

Just as you leave Coleman State Park, there is an old broken down stone dam on your right. A snowmobile trail runs downhill near the road. You may take that trail. However, logging was done in the region a year or two ago, and we haven't been in to have a look at the condition of the wide trail. To be safe, simply walk down the road into the valley and pick up the first substantial road on your right. Take that road and you are back on the route of the CT. We are currently looking into rerouting this section so stay tuned to new developements in 2007-2008.

REMINDERS:

1. The White Mountain National Forest Trails have no CT signs whatsoever. Blazing may be white, light blue, yellow or other colors. Some of these trails are well maintained by other organizations, such as the Randolph Mountain Club, the Appalachian Mountain Club and, of course, by the Forest Service. To get a complete picture of the White Mountain National Forest trails, see the guidebooks that the Randolph Mountain Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club make available to the public

2. The Trails in Northern Clarksville and Pittsburg... The trails in this region do not carry CT signs yet, nor yellow blazing. Ownership transactions on vast acreage, land use planning, conservation easement work and other legal requirements make it necessary for the Cohos Trail Association to bide its time in this region. It is likely that formal CT plans in this region will not go forward until late 2007, when the State's land use plan is completed and accepted.

The CT uses many existing ways in this region, so moving along the route is not difficult if you have the new CT maps in hand. There are two gaps in the trail in this region, as stated above.

3. For Southbounders: The guidebook is written as if one is northbound on the CT. Southbounders must reverse ALL turns to make the trek. Now, if you walk the trail backwards....

4. Fire Nonstarters: In Coos County and elsewhere around the state, to build a fire out of doors, you must have permission from the landowner and a written permit from the town fire warden. That sums up the TCTA fire policy pretty well. We at TCTA cannot and do not condone the building of campfires.

5. No Phoning Home: If you reach the Canadian border without some arrangement to get out of the area, you are in a pickle. You cannot use phones at the U.S. Customs Station. Your cell phone has long since been out of reach of a cell tower. There is no phone at Deer Mountain Campground four miles to the south. The nearest phone is a Young's Store at Happy Corner in Pittsburg, so plan accordingly.

6. Check the Cohos Trail website frequently for new updates as they happen. Print this out just before you walk out the door and have a safe and pleasant experience!

It is extremely probable that we will be putting in our first hiker hostel this spring on Prospect Mountain in Pittsburg. It will most likely be able to sleep 15 to 20 people in triple bunks down stairs and 3 people upstairs. There will be a lounging area and small basic kitchen upstairs. It will also have electricity and heat. If anyone would be interested in using this type facility, or have any questions please contact Pete and Lainie Castine at 603-538-6777. You can also email us at The Cohos Trail for more information. Donations in the form of money, materials and labor would be greatly appreciated.