East B Hill Road

[wardsgirl]

Does anyone know the current condition of East B Hill Road? Is it plowed, and if so, do you know if there is a plowed parking area at the AT crossing?

Thanks,
Wardsgirl

 

[marty]

The road will be open and plowed, but it is typically a bit potholed and frost heaved near Route 26. No idea about plowing the AT parking area. My guess is that you will have room to park along the road if not.

Regards,
Marty

 

[peakbagger]

The road is open year round, but it turns into a real morass during mud season. The ruts will swallow an SUV whole some years. Be aware that in the morning it may not be too bad dependent upon the previous nights temps, but if its a sunny day, it turns into soup.

 

[roadtripper]

Don't miss Upper & Lower Dunn Falls once the snow melts, it's right there!

 

[askus3]

Dunn River Falls is worth seeing but the two river crossings the AT makes at this time of year will definitely be quite a challenge. I went in June last year and even then it was formidable.Here in the first 12 photos of the album are the AT crossing of the Ellis River.

 

[marty]

The road is open year round, but it turns into a real morass during mud season. The ruts will swallow an SUV whole some years. Be aware that in the morning it may not be too bad dependent upon the previous nights temps, but if its a sunny day, it turns into soup.

My understanding is that the road was fully paved a couple of years ago and I just confirmed this with a friend from Andover, ME. He told me that the road is not always plowed completely, though. It is pretty certain that the eastern half of the road from Andover to the AT is plowed and in good shape. The western portion near Route 26 may not be plowed and there may be major potholes and frost heaves.

Regards,
Marty

 

[askus3]

My understanding is that the road was fully paved a couple of years ago and I just confirmed this with a friend from Andover, ME.

Last year on June 5, 2006, the road was packed dirt/gravel for a distance at least greater than three miles going west from the Cataracts (the old AT crossing) on the east end including the current AT crossing at Dunn Falls. However, regardless of the surface of the road, I can not verify the winter (current) status of the road (plowed VS unplowed). I know that middle (unpaved) section of the road has no homes on it and there are no telephone lines.

 

[SherpaKroto]

I drove it twice last summer: once in late July with FunkyFreddy and once in August playing trail Angel (to 6 hikers - in my Subaru!!!) and it was newly paved. In both instances I drove the entire length from Rt 26 to Andover. I would guess that this would be the best spring in many years on that road.

 

[wardsgirl]

Actually...

The answer is "no." There is no plowed parking area on East B Hill Road at the AT crossing.

(There is a parking area, but it is not plowed. Of course, a car could be left on the side of the road, but I would not advise it, as the road is narrow... paved and narrow... without any frost heaves or potholes... but with an icy patch on the north side of East B Hill! Also, the first stream was easily crossed on an ice bridge- downstream, the Ellis River was easily crossed on an ice bridge- upstream. Thanks everyone for your answers!)

 

[TJ aka Teej]

Parking area?

Isn't that just a wide shoulder? Is there really a parking area?

 

[wardsgirl]

Yes, Teej, there is a parking area...

The guy who car-spotted us pointed out the parking area on the side of the road, about 50 feet from the AT crossing. It was hard to tell because of the snow, but it looked like it would fit about a half dozen cars.