NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: 06/14/2012
Trail Conditions: Trails well marked, though corridors are very narrow with hobblebush growth in sections. New Bald Cap Peak trail very well done and well marked. Peabody Brook Trail flooded by beaver activity near the Bald Cap intersection, requiring easy bushwhack around area. Bog bridge floating in new beaver pool off-trail.
Special Equipment Required: None. Heavy tick activity in lower grassy logging road portion of trail - we plucked off 20 or more as we hiked. Mosquitoes were their usual pesky selves around the lake.
Comments: Excellent afternoon hike to check out one of the great new trails recently built by the Shelburne Trails Club. The Bald Cap Peak trail heads almost due south from the Peabody Brook Trail just as you approach Dream Lake - it runs for about a third of a mile over fairly level ground before crossing some open slabs and dropping down to end on extensive ledges on the south end of Bald Cap Peak. Great views of the Presidentials and Moriah, as well as views east towards Bear Mountain and Maine. Very similar to those from Mount Craig below, except from a much higher vantage. Dream Lake has a great view of Washington and Madison over the water, but there is no shore whatsoever to wander out on - all views are through some trees on the edge of boggy areas. Giant Falls was another fine destination - an under-appreciated drop which is quite significant.
Several easy bushwhacks available on the way up to little ledges that can be seen from the trail - a few nice little viewpoints. Bushwhacking down to the tip-top of Giant Falls brings you to a great view out to the Presis and the river from a small narrow slab of rock that the water bursts through before plunging down a rock face that is not visible from the trail viewpoint below. Nice little gorge and cascades at that point, too, and a good spot for lunch. Bushwhack up to the trail from Giant Falls is not recommended, even though it looks very close on the map. There is a good reason why the trail does not loop back.
Your name: NeoAkela
Trail Conditions: Trails well marked, though corridors are very narrow with hobblebush growth in sections. New Bald Cap Peak trail very well done and well marked. Peabody Brook Trail flooded by beaver activity near the Bald Cap intersection, requiring easy bushwhack around area. Bog bridge floating in new beaver pool off-trail.
Special Equipment Required: None. Heavy tick activity in lower grassy logging road portion of trail - we plucked off 20 or more as we hiked. Mosquitoes were their usual pesky selves around the lake.
Comments: Excellent afternoon hike to check out one of the great new trails recently built by the Shelburne Trails Club. The Bald Cap Peak trail heads almost due south from the Peabody Brook Trail just as you approach Dream Lake - it runs for about a third of a mile over fairly level ground before crossing some open slabs and dropping down to end on extensive ledges on the south end of Bald Cap Peak. Great views of the Presidentials and Moriah, as well as views east towards Bear Mountain and Maine. Very similar to those from Mount Craig below, except from a much higher vantage. Dream Lake has a great view of Washington and Madison over the water, but there is no shore whatsoever to wander out on - all views are through some trees on the edge of boggy areas. Giant Falls was another fine destination - an under-appreciated drop which is quite significant.
Several easy bushwhacks available on the way up to little ledges that can be seen from the trail - a few nice little viewpoints. Bushwhacking down to the tip-top of Giant Falls brings you to a great view out to the Presis and the river from a small narrow slab of rock that the water bursts through before plunging down a rock face that is not visible from the trail viewpoint below. Nice little gorge and cascades at that point, too, and a good spot for lunch. Bushwhack up to the trail from Giant Falls is not recommended, even though it looks very close on the map. There is a good reason why the trail does not loop back.
Your name: NeoAkela
