River View Resort, Route 2, Bethel, .

1 888 224-8413 OR 207 824-2808

Evans Notch

Hiking Coordinator: Gail Tedstone

Please attend the hiking meetings at 8.15 and be ready to leave because trailhead parking is tight. Have US $ for parking fees where applicable. Do not forget to contribute to your driver’s gas costs. Take digital pictures at key trail junctions.

• Follow RA Hiking Guidelines. Hike four or more but no more than eight. The Rangers are tough on groups that exceed group size. Don't leave anyone behind. ♦ Pay attention to trail blazes, cairns, trail signs and hiking notes. Don't assume the people in front of you read the map! Be responsible for yourself. ♦ Be prepared. Carry a watch, emergency clothing, extra water and food. There are many ledges, slides, and loose rocks to deal with. Take care. The higher peaks areas are magnificent but dangerous in storms. Lightning on exposed ridges is dangerous. Accidents happen returning home downwards on slopes. ♦ Calculate your hiking times before leaving the parking area. Agree on a time. Be back at the agreed time. Leave a note if you must switch cars.

# Hike Rating Miles Elev. Gain Hours Trailhead

Hikes in Evans Notch / White Mountains National Forest N.H 1 The Roost 1 1.4 550 1.3 A 2 Caribou 3 6.9 1900 4.6 B 3 Speckled Mtn / Blueberry Ridge 4 8.6 2300 5.5 C 4 Baldface Circle / Bicknell Ridge 5 9.7 3600 5.5 E 5 Mount Meader / Meader Ridge 4 9.2 2800 5.2 E

Hikes in Evans Notch

Hike 1 – The Roost

Level 1 – 1.4 miles – 550 feet ascent – 1.3 hours – Trailhead A on Map From the car park on the west side of Route 113 back-track 0.1 miles to the trailhead on the east side of the road, just north of a bridge across Evans Brook. • Trail climbs a bank, and then ascends gradually to a brook at 0.4 miles. • Trail climbs more steeply to a small rock ledge at the summit at 0.6 miles. • A side trail right leads downwards for 0.1 miles to spacious open ledges with excellent views. • Return by same route to Route 113 at 1.3 miles, turning left to go back to the car park (1.4 miles).

Hike 2 – Caribou

Level 3 – 6.9 miles – 1900 feet ascent – 4.6 hours – Trailhead B on map Start at Caribou / Mud Brook trailhead parking area, and follow Caribou Trail northwards. • After 0.4 miles cross brook, then follow it. • After 2.0 miles, pass waterfall, crossing brook for third time. • Trail levels in col at about 2.9 miles. • At 3.0 miles turn right on Mud Brook Trail for Caribou summit (the trail is OK, in spite of the ominous name). • Pass site of former shelter and a spring, reaching summit at 3.5 miles. • Cross ledges, descend into small ravine, then reach small bare knob with good views at 3.9 miles. • Descend, crossing brooks, until reach Mud Brook at 5.0 miles. • Cross brook, then follow brook for some distance till trail bends north away from it. • Reach Route 113 at 6.9 miles.

Hike 3– & Blueberry Ridge

Level 4 – 8.6 miles – 2350 feet ascent – 5.5 hours – Trailhead C on map

• Start at the Brickett Place trailhead, following Bickford Brook Trail. • At 0.3 miles trail turns right on old service road. A rock in the middle of the trail marks the spot. • At 0.7 miles, continue straight at junction with Blueberry Ridge Trail. • Trail climbs steadily, on straightforward terrain passing a couple of unmarked side trails on the right. • Trail winds away from brook, then climbs to crest of ridge at 3.1 miles where Spruce Hill trail enters from left. Continue straight on. • Pass west and north of Ames Mountain, then after 3.8 miles Blueberry Ridge Trail enters from right. Continue straight on. • Short steep stretch before you reach summit at 4.3 miles. Excellent 270-degree views from SE round to SW. Old Speck to north, Baldface, Meader, Washington to west. • Return by same trail to junction at 4.8 miles, turning left on Blueberry Ridge Trail. • Trail is rougher than Bickford Brook Trail, but not difficult. An attractive ridge trail, passing over several open stretches with great views, sometimes to south, sometimes to west. Cairns and yellow and blue paint splashes mark the way. Be extra careful if misty or wet. • Reach Stone House Trail junction (on left) at 7.0 miles, after short climb. Continue straight on. • Junction with a 0.5-mile Overlook Loop side trail to left. This trail has nice views south, but it’s sometimes not easy to follow the cairns and paint splashes. • Summit of Blueberry Mountain (wooded), and then Overlook Loop trail re-enters at 7.2 miles. • Shortly after, White Cairn Trail enters left, in open area. Continue straight on. • After five minutes or so, open ledge with great views west, followed by long steep rocky descent. • Cross Bickford Brook, then cross Bickford Slides Loop Trail at 7.8 miles. • Climb to junction of Bickford Brook Trail at 7.9 miles, turning left at junction. • Return to car park at 8.6 miles, remembering to turn left at rock in middle of trail.

Hike 4 – Baldface Circle and Bicknell Ridge

Level 5 – 9.7 miles – 3600 feet ascent – 5.5 hours – Trailhead E on map Trail starts on west side of Route 113, 60 yards north of car park • After 0.7 miles reach Circle Junction with side trail right to Emerald Pool (0.1 miles). Take south (left) branch of Baldface Circle Trail. • At 0.9 miles Slippery Brook Trail enters from left, continue straight on. • At 1.2 miles loop path leaves left to Chandler Gorge (0.5 miles). Continue straight on (or go look at the gorge!) • At 1.3 miles loop path rejoins Circle Trail. • After 2.6 miles the trail passes a shelter, then crosses steep open ledges, dangerous if wet or icy. • At 3.2 miles Baldface Knob Trail enters left, continue straight on • At 3.7 miles reach South Baldface. Trail bears right here. • Semi-open knob at 4.2 miles, then mostly open walking to North Baldface at 4.9 miles. • Descend steeply, and then at 5.8 miles turn right on Bicknell Ridge Trail. • Broad open ledges, great views. • At 6.9 miles Eagle Cascade Link enters from left, continue straight on. • Trail crosses branch of Charles Brook then rejoins Baldface Circle Trail at 8.3 miles. Turn right. • Reach Circle Junction again at 9.0 miles. • Reach Route 113 at 9.7 miles and turn right for car park.

Hike 5 – Mount Meader and Meader Ridge

Level 4 – 9.2 miles – 2800 feet ascent – 5.2 hours – Trailhead E on map Suggest parking at Baldface Circle car park (where you will return), or you could spot a car at the Meader trailhead to avoid the 0.5-mile walk up Route 113. • From Circle car park walk 0.5 miles north on 113, to Mount Meader Trail start point (on west side of Route 113). • At 1.5 miles you pass a side path to Brickett Falls, continue straight on. • At 2.6 miles trail starts to climb steeply, then trail bends sharp left at 3.0 miles. • At 3.4 miles you reach open ledges, then turn left on Meader Ridge Trail at 3.5 miles. • Descend briefly then climb to Mount Meader (true summit is on short spur trail) at 3.7 miles. • Pass several good viewpoints east, and then at 3.9 miles there is a side path west to great views westwards. • Reach deepest col at 4.1 miles, then climb, descend, climb, reaching timberline at 5.4 miles. • Pass summit of Eagle Crag, and then turn left on Baldface Circle Trail at 5.5 miles. • Trail trends left and descends ledges. • At 6.7 miles trail enters old logging road and follows it to the right. • At 7.1 miles Eagle Cascade Link leaves right, continue straight on. • At 7.8 miles Bicknell Ridge Trail enters right, continue straight on. • Cross brook and reach Circle Junction at 8.5 miles, then Route 113 at 9.2 miles. Turn right to car park.