| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Old Speck, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Old Speck Trail : Eyebrow Trail : Mahoosuc Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Thursday, September 24, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of room in the large lot off route 26. Fee lot except for senior Mainers. Outhouses are available. The lot is used by hikers going to Old Speck and the the Baldpates & Table Rock. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
None. The Cascade Brook crossing on the Old Speck Trail is dry. |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails in good condition. No obstructions. The evergreen that had been across the Old Speck Trail just uphill of the upper junction with the Eyebrow Trail has been cut.
Many rock steps have been added to both the Old Speck Trail and the Eyebrow Trail. The Eyebrow Trail has a cable, iron rungs, and a metal ladder to facilitate passage over the steep ledge section.
A new two log bridge has been added to ease movement across a wet ledge section. There had been a makeshift set-up at this spot in recent years.
The signage at the upper junction of the Eyebrow Trail and Old Speck Trail is oriented for hikers walking the Old Speck Trail. Hikers ascending via the Eyebrow Trail do not readily see the sign. In the past, I have met hikers that ascended the Eyebrow Trail and continued straight down the Old Speck Trail for some distance before realizing they were heading the wrong way for going to Old Speck.
The door on the observation tower is detached and is lying on the platform's floor. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Fine for dogs. Water is scarce. |
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 | Bugs: |
None |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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|
 | Comments: |
Ascended via the Eyebrow Trail and descended on the Old Speck Trail. The ledge surfaces are mostly dry. The moist surfaces in some spots presented no problems. There are some spots at the top of the Eyebrow to view Grafton Notch. There are good views at an open spot on the Old Speck Trail just below its junction with the Mahoosuc Trail. The best views are atop the summit tower. The iron ladder is nearly vertical. This may unnerve some hikers. The 360 degree view from the tower is worth a climb up and down the ladder.
The foliage is very colorful in the Grafton Notch area.
The cascade has been reduced to a trickle. The cascade is very picturesque during the wet season (Spring thaw).
Lots of hikers out today. Two AT thru hikers (NC & GA), one AT section hiker (Fla), and overnight hikers finishing Grafton Loop - western section. Also, non-AT hikers from CO, ID, and WA. As expected, hikers from northern New England. |
|
 | Name: |
WAUMBEK |
|
 | E-Mail: |
waumbek1@charter.net |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-09-24 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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