Trails Used

Bickford Brook, Spruce Hill, East Royce, Royce Connector, Royce Tr.

Trail Conditions

Notes

Fun loop in Evans Notch. Hazy views today. The steep section of Royce is severely eroded with rough footing. Several holes to catch a foot in.

Parking

Parked at Brickett Place (fee) plenty of spots. There were still spaces available when I went through the East Royce parking lot.

Water Crossings

The lowest crossings on Royce Tr could be difficult at high water. Easy rock hops today

Wildlife

Plenty of mosquitos, DEET was useful in the morning.

Trails Used

Boulder Loop Trail, Bushwhack, Logging Roads

Trail Conditions

Notes

Took the southern leg of the boulder loop to the junction with the view spur and headed up on the obvious ridge from there. We skirted around the western edge of the knob and then saw some evidence of trail maintenance as we were ascending from the minor col between Spruce and the know, towards spruce. Followed that path for a bit and found the giant boulder summit with brand new jar. From here, we headed north, aiming for the western side of the col. From the col, we contoured north, beneath some impressive cliffs, until we were west of the peak and some young growth started forcing us to ascend. This was steep but decent footing and woods were never awful. Found the summit/jar easily. In the spirit of adventure and to add some intel for future whackers, we decided to descend towards the logging road network to the west. The woods weren't great getting off the summit. Some awkward topography and sticky trees. It got better as we reached the minor drainage WNW of the peak. Since I was already ascending/descending the west side of the summit cone, I had eyed two different logging roads as descent options. There's a tributary that merges with Deer Brook quite close to the Kank - there's one road on the east of that tributary and one road on the west of it (which is shown on google maps). My plan was to intersect the eastern road around 1600 and if it looked good, follow it south. If it looked bad, I'd follow it north and cross the tributary and get to the more established western road. When we reached the eastern road, it looked lovely so we followed it SW, but it quickly deteriorated after a landing and became pretty thick regrowth. So we fought through on/off thick stuff all the way to where this road makes a hairpin turn heading north, at which point we ducked into the woods again, whacking down to the road on the east side of the Swift River. This whack was easy and we followed the road back to the car. I think it was about 3:30 total. Probably would have been quicker to just climb back over spruce to the boulder loop.

Parking

Parked at covered bridge lot

Wildlife

briefly buggy in a few spots, but not bad

Also on this trip

Trails Used

Mahican-Mohawk Trail, Indian Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

The intended route- taking the Mahican-Mohawk Trail toward the west from Mohawk Trail State Forest headquarters, making the side trip to Todd Mountain, following the Mahican-Mohawk Trail out to the Spruce Hill Vista, and then retracing my steps before taking the shorter Indian Trail back to the parking lot- was about 34 miles. I ended up covering 36 due to creative (read: incorrect) navigation. Still, this was an interesting and diverse hike, with very few other hikers seen, even on a Saturday. Much of the trail was completely dry. There were sections of unavoidable mud on the forest road walks between the Cold River crossing and Savoy Campground. Parts of the Blackburnian Loop and North Pond Loop had muddy areas as well- but it's April. There were even a couple of small patches of remaining, refrozen snow (largely between the Route 2 intersection in Drury and the Cold River crossing), one of which stretched entirely across the trail. Traction was definitely NOT necessary, and any snow from Saturday probably no longer exists. Though full details of the route are posted on Unnecessary Climb, the easiest place to lose the trail (heading north/west) was after reaching N Florida Rd., and then turning left into the Savoy Mountain campground. Turn right at the sign for "Cabins / Nature Trail", continue straight on this path (bypassing the cabins), and you will soon find welcome signage for the Mahican-Mohawk Trail.

Parking

Ample, free parking during the off-season at Mohawk Trail State Forest off Route 2.

Water Crossings

Cold River crossing near the halfway point required wading- about knee-deep on the way out, and about calf -deep on the way back. I suspect it's only a rock hop at particularly low water levels. Everything else was either bridged or a minor rock hop.

Wildlife

Maybe a couple flying around, but nothing that threatened to bite on this cool, breezy day.