New England's Lost Hiking Trails
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Woodbury Trail
State: NH
Connecting Waterville Valley to Mt. Whiteface, the Woodbury Trail became a winter-only trail toward the end of its tenure, reportedly due to a fragile surface.

Woodbury Trail Details
Also Known As:
Location: White Mountains - Sandwich
Peak: Mt. Whiteface
Opened: 1902
Closed:
Reason Closed:
Guidebook Descriptions:
1931 AMC White Mountain Guide
Woodbury Trail. (W.A.I.A.)
This trail was originally opened in 1902 by Dr. W. R. Woodbury. The section between the Inn and Cascade Brook was opened in 1907.
Leaving at the E end of the Inn, the trail ascends the walk, passing between the highest cottages. At the end of the woods (signs) the Livermore Trail (Cascade Path) forks to the L., the Woodbury Trail continuing straight ahead. The trail climbs steeply for about ½ m., then more gradually for ¼ m., when it bears slightly to the R. and runs nearly level 1 ½ m. to Cascade Brook, which it crosses. The cut-off to Mt. Tripyramid and the trail down Cascade Brook here fork to the L. The Woodbury Trail then follows the brook quite closely. Just beyond the 3-m. mark it crosses to the S. bank, and about ½ m. beyond the trail to Flat Mountain Ponds (now destroyed by logging and fire) forks to the R.; and at about the same point the Woodbury Trail begins climbing the S.W. spur which juts from the Sleeper Ridge. Beyond the 4-m. mark there is recent logging at several points where marks indicating the trail must be observed with the greatest care. Surmounting the ridge at an elevation of about 3,400 ft., the trail makes a slight descent into less recently logged country and follows a series of logging roads, crossing the headwaters, first of the Cold River, then of Downes Brook, where it meets the Sleeper Trail on the L., across water. See caution about this point under Sleeper Trail, infra. [The information sign and arrows of the Woodbury Trail are yellow; the Sleeper Trail is marked by blue sign(s) and blue paint on rocks and trees.] The Sleeper Trail is now followed to the ruins of Camp Shehadi and the Rollins Trail to the summit.
Distances. Waterville Inn to Cascade Brook 2.3 m. (1 hr. 15 min.); to Sleeper Trail 5.8 m. (3 hrs. 30 min.); to Rollins Path 6.5 m. (4 hrs. 15 min.); to summit 6.7 m. (4 hrs. 30 min.).

1934 AMC White Mountain Guide
Woodbury Trail. (W.A.I.A.)
Leaving at the E. end of the Inn, the trail ascends the walk, passing between the highest cottages. At the end of the woods (signs) the Livermore Trail (Cascade Path) forks to the L., the Woodbury Trail continuing straight ahead. The trail climbs steeply for about ½ m., then more gradually for ¼ m., when it bears slightly to the R. and runs nearly level for 1 ½ m. to Cascade Brook, which it crosses. The logging-road down Cascade Brook here forks to the L. The Woodbury Trail then follows the brook quite closely. Just beyond the 3-m. mark it crosses to the S. bank, and about ½ m. beyond the trail to Flat Mountain Ponds (now destroyed by logging and fire) diverges R.; and at about the same point the Woodbury Trail begins climbing the S.W. spur which juts from the Sleeper Ridge. Beyond the 4-m. mark there is recent logging at several points where marks indicated the trail must be observed with the greatest care. Surmounting this ridge at an elevation of about 3,400 ft., the trail makes a slight descent into less recently logged country and follows a series of logging roads, crossing the headwaters, first of Cold River, then of Downes Brook, where it meets the Sleeper Trail on the L., across water. (See caution about this point under Sleeper Trail, below.) [At the headwaters of Downes Brook, E. of the second dome, the Woodbury Trail converges from the R., the sign being 100 ft. S.W. across water. In this vicinity the trails may be confused and signs down or badly pointed, and care should be exercised to identify them before proceeding far. The information sign and arrows of the Woodbury Trail are yellowish; the Sleeper Trail is marked by blue sign(s) and blue paint on rocks and trees.] The Sleeper Trail is now followed R. to Camp Shehadi, and the Rollins Trail R. to the summit.
Distances. Waterville Inn to Cascade Brook 2.3 m. (1 hr. 15 min.); to Sleeper Trail 5.8 m. (3 hrs. 30 min.); to Rollins Path 6.5 m. (4 hrs. 15 min.); to summit 6.7 m. (4 hrs. 30 min.).

1940 AMC White Mountain Guide
Woodbury Trail (WAIA)
Leaving at the E end of the Inn, the trail ascends the walk, passing between the highest cottages. At the edge of the woods (signs) the Livermore Trail (Cascade Path) forks L, the Woodbury Trail continuing straight ahead. It climbs steeply for about ½ m., then more gradually for ¼ m., when it bears slightly to the R and runs nearly level 1 ½ m. to Cascade Brook, which it crosses. The logging-road down Cascade Brook here forks L. The Woodbury Trail then follows the brook closely. Just beyond the 3-m. mark it crosses to the S bank, and about ½ m. beyond, the trail to Flat Mountain Ponds (destroyed by logging and fire) diverges R; and beyond the Woodbury Trail begins climbing the SW spur which juts from the Sleeper Ridge. Beyond the 4-m. mark, the trail marks must be observed with the greatest care. Surmounting this ridge at an elevation of about 3,400 ft., the trail makes a slight descent into previously logged country and follows a series of logging roads, crossing the headwaters, first of Cold River, then of Downes Brook, where it meets the Sleeper Trail on the L, across water. (See caution under Sleeper Trail, below.) [At the headwaters of Downes Brook, E of the second dome, the Woodbury Trail converges from the R, the sign being 100 ft. SW, across water. In this vicinity the trails may be confused, and care should be exercised to identify them before proceeding far. The information signs and arrows of the Woodbury Trail are yellow; the Sleeper Trail is marked by blue sign(s) and blue paint. The Downes Brook Trail to Albany Intervale is broad and leads N (see Sect. XVIII), the sign being about 70 yds. beyond the junction of the Sleeper and Woodbury Trails.] The Sleeper Trail is now followed R to Camp Shehadi, and the Rollins Trail R to the summit.
Distances. Waterville Inn to: Cascade Brook 2.3 m. (1 hr. 15 min.); Sleeper Trail 5.8 m. (3 hrs. 30 min.); Rollins Path 6.5 m. (4 hrs. 15 min.); summit 6.7 m. (4 hrs. 30 min.).

1948 AMC White Mountain Guide
Woodbury Trail (obscure in 1947)
Leaving at the E end of the Inn, the trail ascends the walk, passing between the highest cottages. At the edge of the woods (signs) the Livermore Trail (Cascade Path) forks L, the Woodbury Trail continuing straight ahead. It climbs steeply for about ½ m., then more gradually for ¼ m., when it bears slightly to the R and runs nearly level 1 ½ m. to Cascade Brook, which it crosses. The Woodbury Trail then follows the brook closely. Just beyond the 3 m. mark it crosses to the S bank, and about ½ m. beyond, the trail to Flat Mountain Ponds diverges R. The Woodbury Trail soon begins to climb the SW spur which juts from Sleeper Ridge. Beyond the 4-m. mark, trail marks must be observed with the greatest care. Surmounting this ridge at an elevation of about 3,400 ft., the trail makes a slight descent into previously logged country and follows a series of logging roads, crossing the headwaters, first of Cold River, then of Downes Brook, where it meets the Sleeper Trail on the L, across water. (See caution under Sleeper Trail, below.) [At the head-waters of Downes Brook (water) the Woodbury Trail (obscure) joins on the R.] The Sleeper Trail is now followed R to Camp Shehadi, and the Rollins Trail R to the summit.
Distances. Waterville Inn to Cascade Brook 2.3 m. (1 hr. 15 min.); Sleeper Trail 5.8 m. (3 hrs. 30 min.); Rollins Path 6.5 m. (4 hrs. 15 min.); summit 6.7 m. (4 hrs. 30 min.). 
Images:
1931 AMC map of Mt. Whiteface
1931 AMC map of Mt. Whiteface


1958 USGS map of Mt. Whiteface
1958 USGS map of Mt. Whiteface


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Last updated 2011-08-20
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