Dixville Notch

On a breezy day with ranks of puffy clouds Carol and I drove up to Dixville Notch to climb to Table Rock and snag a couple of geocaches. From Table Rock I continued along short sections of the Cohos Trail for some AMC White Mountain Guide trail checking while Carol headed back down, did some reading, and picked me up at the other end of the notch. Thank you!

 

The easier (by far) of the two trails ascending directly to Table Rock currently has no signage where it leaves NH 26 at a large pulloff.

A pleasant moderate climb, ascending 700 ft. in 0.8 mile.

 

Onto the Cohos Trail.

 

 

 

Heading for Table Rock.

 

 

A steep little pitch down to the back side of Table Rock.

 

 

The top of the crazy steep, eroded Table Rock Climbing Trail, which ascends 600 ft. in 0.3 mi.

 

A little scramble to get up on Table Rock.

Emerging on Table Rock. It was quite windy up here, making things a little spicy.

The famous prow. The wind gusts deterred me from going out to the very end. 

 

 

 

Peering east into Dixville Notch. 

 

 

Lake Gloriette, the Balsams (closed for 11 years now), and Abeniki Mountain. Some nice early fall color up here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back.

Some pranksters had placed trail markers down on a lower cliff.

 

 

This is indeed an airy perch.

 

Carol headed back down and I continued on a scenic section of the Cohos Trail named Three Brothers Trail.

The trail soon passes a chasm known as the Ice Cave.

Side view of Table Rock.

 

 

This 0.1 mile spur is well worth taking.

 

 

From the Middle Brother outlook, another neat angle on Table Rock.

 

Sun on Abeniki Mountain.

 

The cliffs and gravel slides of Sanguinary Mountain.

 

 

Closer look. Sanguinary Ridge Trail goes through the central, gravelly section. 

 

 

 

Looking back at Middle Brother outlook.

 

Beautiful woods along Three Brothers Trail.

 

A makeshift bridge over Cascade Brook. I preferred the easy rock hop.

 

 

Part of Huntington Cascades, where the brook drops through a steep-walled gorge. This steep, short section of the Cohos Trail is called Huntington Cascade Trail. 

 

 

Lower part of the cascades.

 

Sign near start of the trail at Cascade Brook Picnic Area.

 

Olden days in Dixville Notch.

 

A small but interesting cemetery. 

 

 

 

 

A short link in the Cohos Trail leads to the Baby Flume Picnic Area.  

 

 

Story of the Notch.

 

 

While Carol waited patiently, I went a half-mile up Sanguinary Ridge Trail to the first two outlooks.

Dixville Peak looms to the south.

 

 

A nice burst of color.

 

 

Looking up at Table Rock from the Balsams entrance.