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This trail leads from the Kancamagus Highway through Mad River Notch to Livermore Road in Waterville Valley, passing the two Greeley Ponds. The area around the ponds is a designated Scenic Area with no camping or fires allowed. The North section of the trail is also frequently used to ascend Mount Osceola and its East Peak.
A ski touring trail of the same name follows the hiking trail at the South end, weaves on and off the hiking trail near the ponds, and has a separate route at the North end leading to a trailhead .2 miles W of the hiking trailhead. Hikers should avoid using the separate ski trail in summer as it is not improved for hiking and may be muddy, and in the winter because footprints in ski tracks annoy skiers. The hiking trail is marked with yellow paint blazes while the ski trail is marked with blue plastic diamonds.
Distance: To Livermore Road, about 5.1 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 400 feet ascent to Mad River Notch, then 700 feet descent to Livermore Road
Maps:
USGS Mount Osceola, Mount Tripyramid, and Waterville Valley
AMC Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map I-7
DeLorme NHA&G 44-J1/40-A1 - Lincoln/Livermore/Waterville Valley
Lincoln is on the Kancamagus Highway (NH Route 112) E of Exit 32 of I-93.
Waterville Valley is reached via NH Route 49 from Exit 28 of I-93, or (summer and early fall only) via the scenic partly gravel Tripoli Road from Exit 31 of I-93.
North Trailhead: (N) NH Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway) about 4.7 miles E of Lincoln Woods Visitor Center, elevation about 1940 feet
WMNF fee site
44.0316°N, 71.5169°W (WGS84)
Take I-93 Exit 32 at Lincoln and go E on NH Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway) about 10.4 miles to sign and parking lot on R
South End: Livermore Road, which may be gated at parking lot near Tripoli Road .3 miles SW, elevation about 1580 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No fires or camping near highway or in Greeley Ponds Scenic Area
No dogs on the ski trail, this would prevent hikers bringing dogs during the ski season on the S end of the trail but not the N approach to Mad River Notch
North portion of trail, from NH-112 to Mad River Notch: From the parking lot, the trail begins a long traverse, crossing several small brooks mostly with narrow log bridges. Mad River Notch and the junction with the Mount Osceola Trail is about 1.2 miles from the highway at about 2300 feet elevation.
South portion of trail, from Livermore Trail parking to Mad River Notch: If the Livermore Road is gated, walk .3 miles from the parking lot to the former Depot Camp clearing, otherwise park at the clearing. Just across a culvert, turn L at the beginning of the Greeley Ponds Trail. The trail here is an old woods road which parallels the Mad River, with wide bridges for skiing. The Scaur Trail branches off R at .7 miles from the clearing, then Goodrich Rock Trail L at 1.0 miles followed by Timber Camp Trail also to the L. At 1.2 miles the river is crossed on a bridge, and at 1.4 miles the Flume Path branches R with the Kancamagus Brook Ski Trail branching R at a clearing .1 miles beyond.
The marked ski trail soon diverges R to avoid a narrow bridge on the hiking trail and rejoins in .1 mile. The trail begins to ascend more steeply and about 2.8 miles from the Livermore Road the hiking trail suddenly turns L off the wide road used by the ski trail and crosses the brook; there is no longer a bridge here. The trail ascends in the woods on the far side of the brook and reaches the shore of Lower Greeley Pond at 3.0 miles, elevation about 2180 feet.
The trail continues on narrow sidehill above the pond for .2 miles. At the N end of the pond the ski trail rejoins, having followed a route on the pond shore. The ski trail soon diverges R for over .1 mile, rejoins briefly, then diverges again when Upper Greeley Pond is reached at 3.5 miles, following a route on the E shore while the hiking trail is on narrow sidehill on the W shore. At the N end of the upper pond the routes rejoin, diverge briefly then rejoin and pass a large boulder, then the ski trail leaves L for the last time. The hiking trail soon reaches Mad River Notch and the junction with the Mount Osceola Trail about 3.9 miles from the clearing.
Parking lot plowed in winter. Those hiking to the ponds should bring snowshoes to wear if they start sinking into the ski tracks. Also no dogs allowed on ski trail portion.
Waterville Valley has been trying to add the S part of this trail to their fee network for years, and have apparently obtained other trails such as Tripoli Road, so don't be surprised if they get this one.
Map Notes: The 1967 USGS 7.5' map shows the old junction with the Mount Osceola Trail, and a shelter near Greeley Pond that has been removed. A new 1995 USGS map corrects these errors and shows the Scenic Area boundary.
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