Osceola Trail
State: NH |
Not to be confused with the present day Mt. Osceola Trail, the former Osceola Trail climbed the mountain to the east of Thornton Gap.
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| Osceola Trail Details |
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| Also Known As: |
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| Location: |
White Mountains - Waterville |
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| Peak: |
Mt. Osceola |
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| Closed: |
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| Reason Closed: |
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| Guidebook Descriptions: |
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1892 Goodrich's The Waterville Valley
Osceola. N 13° W. from Hotel. 4352 ft.
Hotel to Osceola Bridge, 4-5M. (First Crossing of West Branch); to First Lookout, 1 1/2; to Second Crossing 1 2/3; to lower spring 2 1/4; to Second Lookout, 3 1/2; to upper spring, 3 3/4; to summit, 4 3-15.
Go north from the House by Osceola Cottage to The Steps. Cross Mad River here, turn to the right and take the path which very quickly leads away to the left. Follow this to Osceola Bridge. West Branch is then crossed and the path at once divides. The left hand path leads to Tecumseh; keep to the right. At the First Lookout the path divides again. The left hand path leads to Thornton Gap; keep straight on. The second crossing of West Branch comes very soon. The path begins to ascend shortly after crossing the brook. Its steepest part is between the lower spring and the second Lookout. The lower spring is just off the path on the right about 1 m. beyond the second crossing. It is unfailing. The upper spring is close to the path on the left about 1/3 m. from the summit. It is small but never fails except in very dry weather. The First Lookout gives a view to the east over Mad River valley with the Tripyramids in the middle distance. The Second Lookout gives view over to south of whole valley.
1931 AMC White Mountain Guide
Osceola Trail. (U.S.F.S.)
The trail starts at the Inn, goes N. past Osceola cottage, crosses Mad River (on a foot-bridge?) and soon comes to a logging road at a fork. This point may also be reached by following the logging road W. from the Inn past the stone tower, crossing the river by a logging bridge, the road soon turning N. Following the L. branch of the logging road, it crosses the West Branch and bears to the R., the trail to Mt. Tecumseh soon forking to the L. It again crosses the West Branch and soon the U.S.F.S. trail to North Woodstock forks to the L. Water is found at a spring just beyond the 2 ½ m. mark. From there to the 3 ½-m. mark the grade is steep. A few yards beyond this mark there is an excellent outlook toward Mt. Tripyramid.
At ¼ m. below the summit is another spring, near which is the cabin of the State fire-warden. Just beyond the spring a loop trail to the L. leads to the look-out tower and continues to the summit. The main trail passes the open log shelters maintained by the W.A.I.A.
Distances. Waterville Inn to North Woodstock Trail 1 ¾ m.; to warden’s cabin 4 m.; to summit 4 ¼ m. (2 hrs. 15 min.).
1934 AMC White Mountain Guide
Osceola Trail (W.M.N.F.)
The trail starts from the Inn, goes N. past Osceola cottage, crosses Mad River on a foot-bridge and soon comes to a logging road at a fork. (This point may also be reached by the road leading W. from the Inn past the stone tower, crossing the river and soon turning N.)
Within the angle formed by the logging roads at this fork the trail leads somewhat W. of N., following to a considerable extend an old trail location, to the dam at Dusky Pool, where it crosses to the W. side of the West Branch. It continues near this brook for some distance, then crosses to its N.E. bank just above the mouth of Osceola Brook. It then follows this bank of the West Branch for some distance until it bears away from it entirely and begins to climb a spur of the mountain. Water is found at a spring just beyond the 2 ½-m. mark. From there to the 3 ½-m. mark the grade is steep. A few yards beyond this mark there is an excellent outlook toward Mt. Tripyramid.
At ¼ m. below the summit is another spring, near which is the cabin of the State fire-warden. Just beyond the spring a loop trail leads L. to the lookout tower and continues to the summit, to which the main trail leads directly.
Distances. Waterville in to warden’s cabin 4 m.; to summit 4 ¼ m. (3 hrs. 15 min.).
1948 AMC White Mountain Guide
Mount Osceola Trail (WMNF)
This trail combines the former Breadtray Ridge and Osceola-Greeley Ponds trails. |
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| Images: |
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1928-1929 USGS maps of Mt. Osceola
1934 AMC map of Mt. Osceola
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| Last updated 2011-09-05 |
| Disclaimer: Data provided for academic and historical purposes only. Respect all signs. |
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