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The Bunnell Notch Trail runs from the York Pond Trail near the fish hatchery in Berlin to the Mount Cabot Trail near Lancaster. The upper part is muddy and poorly maintained, and sometimes in the past the trail has been considered abandoned by the Forest Service. But due to conditions on the Mount Cabot Trail, the Bunnell Notch Trail is receiving increased use in spite of its poor condition and access issues at the fish hatchery.
Note on Mount Cabot Trail: a landowner dispute along the Mount Cabot Trail W of the Forest boundary has resulted in posted signs declaring it closed and hikers who travel it have been accosted. The Forest Service has declined to confront the issue perhaps due to a national moratorium on settling access issues and considers the trail as closed, although hikers are allowed to walk on the Forest portion of the trail. The owner of the parking area at the bottom still allows hikers to park there, and many hikers still use it. Many locals believe that the landowner has no right to close the trail because of a right-of-way in his deed or because of continous public use. But hikers who wish to avoid confrontation should use either the Unknown Pond Trail or Bunnell Notch Trail (or a loop with both) to reach Mount Cabot in spite of longer distances.
Distance: From York Pond Trail to Kilkenny Ridge Trail (N), about 2.9 miles one-way
From York Pond Road to Mount Cabot, about 4.9 miles one-way
Elevation gain: From York Pond Trail to Kilkenny Ridge Trail (N) about 1500 feet, 100 feet on return
From York Pond Road to Mount Cabot about 2700 feet, 200 feet on return
Maps:
USGS Pliny Range
AMC North Country-Mahoosuc
Location: Great North Woods Region
NH 2003-2004 map F-7/8
DeLorme NHA&G 48-E3/5 - Berlin/Kilkenny
Berlin is on NH Route 16 which is NE of I-93 Exit 35
East End: York Pond Trail about .2 miles from trailhead on York Pond Road, elevation about 1680 feet
The trailhead is about 1.9 miles W of the fish hatchery gate, which is open during work hours (approximately 7:30 AM to 4 PM although official visiting hours start at 8:30). Hikers planning to stay later should either park outside or make arrangements at the hatchery office to leave it open later.
44.4969°N, 71.3594°W (WGS84)
From I-93 exit 35 N of Franconia Notch, take US Route 3 N about 13 miles to NH Route 115. Turn R on NH Route 115 and follow it about 10 miles to its end at US Route 2. Turn R on US Route 2 and follow it about 13 miles to the traffic light in Gorham. Turn L on NH Route 16 and go N 5.1 miles to NH Route 110 in Berlin, a sneaky L turn about 3 blocks after Main Street becomes one-way. Follow NH Route 110 about 7.7 miles NW to York Pond Road on the L, passing an extensive view of the mountains L just before the turn. Go W on York Pond Road, passing fish hatchery gate at 5.2 miles and reaching York Pond Trail on L at 7.1 miles, shortly before road ends at fenced raceway. Walk up the gated road .2 miles to trail junction at clearing.
West End: Mount Cabot Trail just above brook crossing, elevation about 2670 feet
See introduction for Mount Cabot Trail info
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No fishing or boating in hatchery area
About .2 miles from York Pond Road, the York Pond Trail continues ahead on an overgrown track while the Bunnell Notch Trail goes R on the better woods road. The Bunnell Notch Trail goes R at a woods road junction at .2 miles (cairn), passes a log yard, crosses the W Branch of the Upper Ammonoosuc (shrunken to brook size), and at about .7 miles turns L off the woods road on a late 2004 relocation. The trail follows a generally uphill course with minor downs, sometimes alongside the brook and sometimes on sidehill well above. The trail crosses a side brook at 1.5 miles and passes through Bunnell Notch on the N slope before descending slightly the the first junction with the Kilkenny Ridge Trail at 2.8 miles. Turn L for Terrace Mountain, Weeks Mountain, or Mount Waumbek. The two trails run together slightly downhill for .1 miles to a split. Mount Cabot is about 1.8 miles to the R on the Kilkenny Ridge Trail.
The remaining section of the Bunnell Notch Trail is excessively overgrown and muddy, and can be followed only with great care. It descends moderately .4 miles to the Mount Cabot Trail just above its principal stream crossing. Even hikers headed that direction may find it preferable to take the Kilkenny Ridge Trail to the Mount Cabot Trail and go L, which is nearly twice as far but much better walking.
Check with fish hatchery personnel for conditions, usually the gate is left open in winter and the road plowed to the trailhead.
Map Notes: USGS map incorrectly labels W part of Mount Cabot Trail as Bunnell Notch Trail
USGS map does not show Kilkenny Ridge Trail and shows Bunnell Notch Trail incorrectly near notch and elsewhere
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