 |
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms |
|
|
|
| Home | Trail Descriptions | Articles | Links | Seasonal Tips | Forum |
The Walden Trail runs along the E ridge of Mount Passaconaway. It can be used in conjunction with the Kelley Trail, Old Mast Road, or Wonalancet Range Trail to ascend Mount Passaconaway from the Ferncroft parking area near Wonalancet, but it is much rougher than the Diceys Mill Trail although not substantially longer. It is also one segment in an East-West traverse of the Sandwich Range from Mount Chocorua to Sandwich Mountain or Mount Tripyramid.
The East Loop is a .2-mile connector between the Walden Trail and the Diceys Mill Trail at about the 3400-foot elevation on Mount Passaconaway, allowing either a loop over the summit or a bypass of it.
Distance: From Old Mast Road to Mount Passaconaway, about 2.5 miles one-way
Elevation gain: About 2100 feet, about 400 feet on return
Maps:
USGS Mount Chocorua, Mount Tripyramid
AMC Franconia-Pemigewasset or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map I-7/8
DeLorme NHA&G 40-B5 to 40-A4 (not shown on map) - Albany/Waterville Valley
The trail is located in the SE corner of Waterville Valley and usually approached from NH Route 113-A near Wonalancet
East End: The 4-way junction with the Old Mast Road, Square Ledge Trail, and Lawrence Trail, elevation about 2380 feet
West End: Diceys Mill Trail near summit of Mount Passaconaway, elevation about 4020 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: Wonalancet Out Door Club
Special regulations: Sandwich Range Wilderness
From the 4-way junction, the Walden Trail begins a steep ascent to the top of a small knoll, descends slightly, and then climbs steeply again to a short path R to a view N. The grade begins to level off, and the trail passes a side path leading L 100 yards to a view S. Soon a large boulder to the R of the trail is the traditional summit of this peak, locally known as Wonalancet Hedgehog. Peakbaggers should bring a 10-foot ladder to aid in the ascent. The trail descends .1 miles past more large boulders to the junction with the Wonalancet Range Trail at .9 miles.
The Walden Trail descends moderately to a col, where it turns L and follows the brook downstream 100 yards before it again climbs very steeply uphill. The trail levels off again and at 1.5 miles crosses another knoll known unofficially as Nanamocomuck, the high point is probably among blowdowns off the trail. There is a moderate descent of less than 200 feet to a minor col before the trail begins to climb again, passing the upper junction with the Square Ledge Trail at 1.9 miles.
The Walden Trail alternately climbs and circles R, passing an E viewpoint and then a trail marked VIEW which leads R down .3 miles to a N viewpoint at the top of the now-closed Downes Brook Slide Trail. The slide is rough and dangerous, if you try to follow the old trail you will discover why it was closed! The Walden Trail ends at the Diceys Mill Trail at 2.5 miles, where a short path L leads uphill to a scrubby area where views are best with several feet of snow, and the summit can be found somewhere.
Parking lot plowed in winter.
Map Notes:
Upper junction with Square Ledge Trail and East Loop farther apart than shown on USGS map.
East Loop does not descend at E end.
| Start a discussion about this page | e-mail Content Manager |