One of my favorite places at any time of year is Tunnel Brook Notch, the scenic steep-sided pass between Mount Moosilauke and Mount Clough, a magical realm of slides and beaver ponds. On this gorgeous spring day I opted for the longer approach from the northern end of Tunnel Brook Trail.
At the start of the trail, there was a dramatic change from recent years. Sometime since last fall the main flow of Tunnel Brook was diverted into what was once the eroded bed of Tunnel Brook Road, bringing it right beside the trail.
A short section of the trail has been washed out. It is easily bypassed through the woods to the right.
I enjoy the section of trail that follows the decommissioned road, which is almost park-like in places.
Where the trail emerges on the intact section of the road, bluets lined the corridor.
This washout was caused by a cloudburst sometime last summer.
View across a logging yard to part of the long north ridge of Mount Clough.
The road/trail is wider by the junction with the Benton Trail, where it was used as a logging yard last winter. It's been all cleaned up for the spring.
Moose!
After 2.3 miles on the road, the Tunnel Brook Trail enters the woods as a footpath. The hardwood forest was greening up nicely.
A pleasant section alongside Tunnel Brook.
Stony outwash and fine hardwoods at the mouth of Tunnel Ravine.
A short bushwhack brought me out to an old beaver meadow along Tunnel Brook. From the east side the ridges of Mount Clough loom large.
On the other side of the brook the meadow opens this view of Moosilauke's massive ridges enclosing Tunnel Ravine.
A picturesque scene looking upstream.
Open hardwoods approaching the crossing of Tunnel Brook north of the beaver ponds.
Good blowdown work by the adopter.
The water level was down at the northernmost beaver pond.
High on one of the northern slides on Mount Clough you can see a striking contrast between dark metamorphic rock and light igneous rock.
Fresh beaver activity at the next pond to the south.
Good views of more Clough slides.
This is the largest Clough slide, dating back to the November 1927 rainstorm. At its widest point it is 260 feet across.
The trail passes through a nice stand of spruce that has populated the track of a 1927 slide on the Moosilauke side of the notch.
I took a lunch break on a sitting rock beside this pond, studying the slides and listening to birdsong, including White-Throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and Ovenbird.
A marshy meadow by the third crossing of Tunnel Brook.
The next pond to the south.
Beside the next pond is a wonderful grassy spot where you can lounge and gaze up at Moosilauke's South Peak.
Looking south down the Notch to more ponds.
From here I launched a bushwhack to the lower part of one of the southern Clough slides, a favorite destination of mine.
The lower part of the slide is gravelly and not excessively steep.
Heading up.
The reward for the short climb is a view across to Moosilauke's South Peak and the largest slide in Slide Ravine. A couple of meadows are glimpsed on the floor of the Notch.
Closer look.
Looking down the slowly revegetating slide.
I could hear a rush of water that sounded like more than placid Tunnel Brook would make between the beaver ponds. Then I spotted a tall cascade on the steep slope across the notch, hidden in the trees to the right of center. Will have to investigate on a future hike.
One of a number of white pines growing on the slide.
Five conifer species growing in close proximity on the slide.
A sign of beaver activity some distance up the slope above the ponds.
After descending from the slide, I headed south to pay a visit to Mud Pond, the largest and southernmost pond in the Notch.
Close-up of Slide Ravine.
Parting shot from the northern pond.
A unique trail marker at a Tunnel Brook crossing.
This artful cairn has been a Tunnel Brook Trail landmark for many years.
Calling card from a large local resident.
Homeward bound.
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