The Highwater Trail, which extends for 9.7 miles along the west side of the Wild River, is a trail of frequent change due to the impact of major storms. Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the "Halloween Storm" of 2017, and the December 2023 rainstorm have each caused significant washouts along the banks of the river in the middle section of this trail. As a result, field checking has been needed for the AMC White Mountain Guide after each of these storms. With a new edition in the works for 2027, it was time once again, as it was in 2016 and 2021, to take a long stroll on Highwater. Luckily I had some good intel from Andreas Frese, the dedicated adopter of the northern 5.3 miles of Highwater, so I knew what to expect.
Sign at the trailhead, located at the start of the (closed) Wild River Road.
The bridge at this site was washed out by Irene, but it serves an important snowmobile trail, so it was replaced.
Looking south down the Wild River.
Forest Service warning signs.
The first three mile section of Highwater Trail offers easy walking through beautiful forests. Here the trail passes between two big white pines.
One of a number of open hemlock groves that the trail leads through.
Nice hardwood forest, too.
At 2.3 miles, a spot where you can get out on the river.
The first washouts, relatively small, are at 3.2 miles.
Nice river views here.
Beyond here, the trail gets rougher in places.
I took a nice break in the sun at this spot on the river.
Two partly buried truck tires are remnants of a long-ago logging operation, possibly in the 1950s. There was a logging road bridge across the river, now long gone.
I found a spot on a high bank with a long view upstream to part of the Carter Range.
Sidehilling.
Crossing Martins Brook.
Good walkin' again.
Good work by Andreas, the adopter.
At 4.4 miles, Highwater hikers have to make a choice. The 2017 storm created a new channel of the river, which the trail crosses twice, traversing what is now an island in between. Most of the river's flow now goes through this channel, and it always requires wading. In high water, this would be dangerous. Andreas has flagged a bushwhack route that follows the outer edge of the channel and avoids the two crossings. I had done the crossings my last time through, so this time I used the bushwhack bypass.
Flagging near the start of the bypass, which is 0.6 mile long..
The first part of the bypass traverses a fairly severe sidehill. As Andreas notes, if this route becomes the official trail, "benching" would be required in this section.
Though it's flagged, this is a bushwhack, and there are obstacles along the way.
There are some nice views of the river channel along the way.
Farther along, the bypass traverses easier terrain, passing areas where beavers and floodwaters have felled many trees.
An impressive logjam.
The bypass returns to the main trail at the second crossing of the channel.
Beautiful river view around the corner.
Junction with Shelburne Trail, where Andreas's section ends.
I tried to follow Shelburne Trail to its crossing of the Wild River, but I gave up at this pile of flood debris under a trail arrow.
Continuing on the Highwater Trail, across Bull Brook.
I found an easier crossing just upstream, ending up on this stony outwash.
An arrow points the way into the woods.
View from another washout.
The 1.4 mile section of Highwater Trail from Shelburne Trail to Moriah Brook Trail is not actively maintained at present. This is one of the more obscure spots.
The biggest challenge comes not far from the Moriah Brook Trail junction. There is a massive washout here, and it goes higher up the slope than it did during my last visit in 2021. To get around it, you must undertake a steep and strenuous sidehill bushwhack well up on the slope.
Flagging placed before the 2023 storm is now located on the crumbling edge of the washout.
There is a good view here across the river to the back side of the Basin Rim.
I found a seat up above the washout and enjoyed the view for a while.
Continuing on the bushwhack.
Looking back as I descended to the trail on the other side of the washout.
More washouts ahead.
I was happy to reach the Moriah Brook Trail junction.
I continued a little bit farther to where the trail disappears again. Here the bushwhack around the washouts is on easier terrain.
Downstream view.
Wilderness boundary.
I dropped down the bank on Moriah Brook Trail and was able to rock-hop across the river, using a few underwater rocks.
I crossed diagonally to this wide outwash, where I was able to go up into the woods on the east side without scrambling up a steep bank.
I turned left onto the Wild River Trail, which here follows the bed of the Wild River Railroad, a logging operation from the 1890s and early 1900s.
A look at the big washout that must be bushwhacked around on Highwater Trail.
The former Blue Brook Shelter is now located at Wild River Campground.
I opted for a slightly shorter and definitely easier route back to the trailhead, walking 5.7 miles out on the gravel Wild River road, finding this view from a washout just off the road.
There's not a good crossing for Shelburne Trail on this side.
The only person I saw in 13 miles was this guy who was heading down the road on a sort of motorized skateboard. He had an advantage in keeping ahead of the relentless mosquitos.
Beautiful ledgy spot along the river.
Why the road is closed.
Another washout.
I was happy to see this beaver pond, which meant I was almost back to the trailhead.
