I am bringing back an old post to do an update on the Mahoosuc Trail in Gorham. Quite a few years ago, the new (at the time) owner of the hydro dam cut access over the power station and there was no official trail from the RR trestle in Gorham to the east side of the Androscoggin River along the rough logging road locally called Hogan Road that starts in Shelburne. AMC did not have permission from Brookfield to reroute the trail to this point and the state had no interest in doing a relocation. There was a way to get there, just no signage initially and then some informal signage appeared at key turns but no blazes. Brookfield did put up big "AMC Trail" signs to direct hikers away from the hydro station but initially all they did was strand the hiker on the old railbed heading to Berlin. This was the case for quite few years
The start at the parking lot under the trestle still is unmarked for the hiking trail. Once over the river ,one of the large "AMC Trail" signs directs hikers up a very steep banking to get on the railroad bed. There is no indication at the railroad bed on which was to turn but its pretty obvious. (While you are there take a walk out on the trestle for a nice view up to Madison). There are no blazes but the rail bed is quite obvious. Whats is new is at the crossing of the hydro canal, there is an official AMC Mahoosuc trail sign with a arrow along with a Cross NH trail sign. (whomever installed the nice Cross NH Trail signs were not thinking as they screwed them tightly to small trees with tamper proof screws. If will not be long before the tree starts to grow over the sign). Then the trail takes a hard right into the woods and comes to a junction where the Cross NH Trail (a bike path) goes straight up to Hogan road while the AMC signed Mahoosuc Trail sign is routed along the bank of the canal through the woods. Eventually it pops out onto Hogan road at some large power lines. Eventually the signed trailhead on Hogan Road is reached (there is no parking at this point but there used to be some at the hydro station.
One thing to note is when coming back at the end of the hike, the turn off the road is not obvious, there is AMC sign but its easy to think its just pointing down the road. Just bear left at the big power lines and the trail in the woods becomes obvious,
The rest of the trail up to Mt Hayes was well marked and in good condition. I cut a few trees leaning over the trail bed. Coming down I took the Mascot Pond trail spur. The pond is quite low these days. Mascot Pond thankfully is still a hidden gem. Any where else in NH it would be covered with campsites and overuse but it looks as usual unscathed. The only thing it needs is the beavers to move back in to clear some of the brush.
