owl's head bushwack- need help

[debsep]

I need info on how to avoid the stream crossings on the lincoln brook trail on the way to owl's head. thanks!

 

[Clown]

Hi, if you are coming from Lincoln Woods, just go straight to Franconia Falls via the Wilderness Trail, or I think that's what it's called, or used to be called. Right after you go by Franconia Falls, you will see a sign that says 'End of Trail", but it's only the end of the official trail. There is a somewhat popular bushwack that pretty much follows the Lincoln Brook until it meets up with the Lincoln Brook Trail. It seems to follow one or more herd paths. I have only done the bushwack from the Lincoln Brook trail to Franconia Falls, not the other way around, but it was not hard, and long as you follow the river, you should be alright.

 

[debsep]

thank you! I really appreciate the info!

 

[arghman]

Clown has pretty much summed it up. It is slightly more confusing going northward, IMHO, as you're heading in a direction where streams can diverge rather than converging. See earlier trip report, particularly the boldface note.

edit: this bushwhack allows you to avoid the Franconia Brook and the downstream Lincoln Brook crossing. You still have to cross Liberty Brook and then Lincoln Brook further upstream (as well as a moderately small tributary just south of Liberty Brook), these shouldn't be too bad; consider taking off socks/shoes and crossing barefoot if you think it looks iffy.

 

[Tom Rankin]

thank you! I really appreciate the info!

I have a friend (offboard) who wants to do Owl's head this coming weekend. Do you want a partner? He's a very experienced hiker, (done 113 of the 115), but doesn't want to go alone all that way...

Pm or post here if interested...

 

[MichaelJ]

Why Franconia Falls? In the northward direction, why not do the traditional Black Pond bushwhack. Take the Black Pond Trail to its end at Black Pond. Go past the big pile of brush and you should pick up a faint trail. Regardless, just follow magnetic north, or ever so slightly west thereof (the solution of looking at a topo map or on Topozone.com is left as an exercise for the hiker), and you will hit the Lincoln Brook Trail just west of where it recrosses to the south side of the brook. If you're a little to the right, you'll hit the brook; just turn left and you should be able to pick up the fishermen's path and come right out at the Trail where it crosses.

Easy bushwhack, open woods, and as long as you don't go too far west, you can't really get lost since the trail and brook are both ahead of you.

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

Why bushwhack?

Here's a thread about the Owl's Head bushwhacks.

I don't know when you're planning to hike Owl's Head, but unless we get some rain between now and then you should be able to rock hop your way there. I hiked to Owl's Head today, 2nd time in 2 weeks, and the stream crossings are fairly easy right now. I used poles for balance and only the soles of my boots got wet.

The Black Pond and Franconia Brook bushwhacks only get you around 2 of about 6 crossings. Granted they're the two most difficult....right now though, they're not too bad.

The cairn at the base of the slide is gone.

To find the slide....The Owl's Head slide continues onto the Lincoln Brook Trail; so...follow the Lincoln Brook Trail, after you've made all the appropriate crossings of the Lincoln Brook look for a section of trail that appears to be "paved" with gravel and rocks. This rocky section extends for about 100 feet before it turns right and begins to climb. Follow it to the slide. The herdpath up the slide becomes pretty obvious within about 50 feet.

The sign and cairn are also gone from what was, until recently, thought to be the summit. There is a herdpath developing quickly which extends .2 miles north to the real summit. The herdpath along the ridgetop is difficult to follow in places, but not real difficult.

 

[RoySwkr]

I need info on how to avoid the stream crossings on the lincoln brook trail on the way to owl's head. thanks!

If you use Route "C" you never have to cross Lincoln Brook
http://hikenh.netfirms.com/XOwlsHTr.htm

 

[MichaelJ]

But you do have to deal with a flooded area mentioned by someone's trip reports - beaver activity washing out the Franconia Brook Trail - unless it's been "dealt with" yet.

OH isn't bad. Really. I've done it twice. I'll do it again. Go. Enjoy.

If the crossings look good, stick to the trail. You'll make better time.

 

[forestgnome]

I've hiked Franconia Brook Trail many times and I've never had any trouble at all hoping the crossings. However, I don't think I've been there during melt or after a rain storm.