Hover over the button below to share. A clear and frigid winter day hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire Mt Osceola Winter Hike I’ve been back in the Northeast for three whole days and just couldn’t resist an MLK hike! 16 in Conway, follow Kancamagus Highway (Rt. If hiking in the winter, be careful to avoid the cross-country ski parking area for Greeley Ponds which is 0.2 mile beyond the hiking lot. Both of Osceola’s peaks are reached via the Mount Osceola Trail, an up-and-over trek from the Tripoli Road to the Greeley Ponds Trail on the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) side of the mountain. I do love a challenge. Be ready for a long day, and if you stop moving you will get cold. At Upper Greeley Pond, follow a spur trail down to a small beach. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. The ascent from Tripoli Road, detailed here, is considered the easier of the two routes. (2) The other option is to hike Mt. google_color_border = "009966"; Osceola, East Osceola, NH via Mt. 112) East for 9.7 miles. Gear Notes. We were so grateful to hike down Mount Osceola trail to Tripoli RD. Peak: Mt. Osceola Trail: Date of Hike: Wednesday, January 6, 2021 ... Quite a few on the Greeley Ponds Trail but they’re easy to cross. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September. From the Mount Osceola Trail junction, continue on Greeley Ponds Trail for about 0.3 mile at which point you will be able to see the north end of upper Greeley Pond through the trees. These peaks are located in an area of the Whites that I haven't done much hiking in, east of the Sandwich Range Wilderness, and about 20 miles south of the Appalachian Trail. First, we intended to hike through from Tripoli Road to the Kancamangus trail head. You will reach the top of Thornton Gap (not far after the road's 5-mile marker) and then go down the other side about 100 yards or so to reach Mount Osceola Trail and the parking lot at another gate on Tripoli Road. Overall an enjoyable hike. Start at the Greeley Ponds Trailhead on Kancamagus Highway. Share this page's content on a social network. Crampons would maybe work better but micro spikes will do. For the most part the first 1.3 miles of the Greeley Pond Trail is flat, although there were some muddy spots and a few stream crossings. To Mount Osceola and East Osceola I had been up one way, but not the other. Yes it is! In spots the grade was 80 degrees and the summit was very disappointing with zero views. But a spectacular approach with great views. If hiking in the winter, be careful to avoid the cross-country ski parking area for Greeley Ponds which is 0.2 mile before the hiking lot. Osceola. Mount Osceola was another story with great views. TRAIL: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. I want to visit it again and take Mt. When you're done enjoying upper Greeley Pond, continue along Greeley Ponds Trail (with your back to the pond, turn left) for another 0.5 mile to reach lower Greeley Pond. Beautiful views, a new winter favorite. At the trail junction the Mount Osceola Trail starts to the right and a moderate climb begins. Follow Greeley Ponds Trail for 1.3 miles until reaching a junction with Mount Osceola Trail. Follow Greeley Ponds Trail for 1.7 miles which will bring you to a junction with Flume Trail on the left; keep going straight to stay on Greeley Ponds Trail. The trail was definitely difficult, and pretty wet as well. A lot of loose rocks on the trail made the descent challenging. The Osceolas from Greeley Pond is one of the ultra-classic Whites adventure, especially in the colder months. There was a sign giving distances, and it said we had been 1.3 miles. If you want to reference some content on this site, please link to us. Descend very steeply for 1.5 miles until meeting Greeley Ponds Trail, being on the lookout for viewpoints (and a left-hand spur to another outlook) along the way. The hike up Greeley Pond gave us a big fat challenge today. Continue up Mount Osceola Trail for another 1.1 miles to reach the summit which offers excellent easterly views from open ledges. Turn left to stay on Greeley Ponds Trail while Mount Osceola Trail climbs to the right. Osceola (4340'), East Osceola (4156'), Greeley Ponds (2245'), Greeley Ponds Trail, Livermore Trail, Tripoli Road, Mount Osceola Trail, Summits, views, ponds, brooks, river, rock scrambles, 4000-footers, loop hike, Greeley Ponds Trailhead on Kancamagus Highway (1940'), Jct. Bear left off of the main trail to take a detour down to the shoreline. You will be following Mount Osceola Trail across both Mount Osceola and East Peak, and then beyond until it ends at Greeley Ponds Trail. Well worth the effort. It is an 8.4 mile round trip. Just after this, cross Greeley Ponds Ski Trail, marked with blue diamonds. Osceola Trail) are scenic and a nice place to relax if you have some free time after visiting the Osceolas. google_ad_type = "text"; Follow this trail up for 1.5 miles to the summit of East Osceola Mountain. The benefits include summiting an additional peak, enjoying the beauty of Greeley Ponds, and cruising down the easy Greeley Ponds Trail. I also thought it would be a good idea to take the .3 mile detour to see the Greeley ponds at the end of my trip up the Osceola’s. We wore spikes toward the top. Osceola Trail: Winter Access Notes: Tripoli Road is closed in winter, so most ascents start from the Route 112. All other reviews mention the trail is steep. google_ad_format = "180x150_as"; google_ad_height = 150; Great hike, short, but super steep and very rocky. Nothing technical, so doable for the average hiker, just exhausting. This trail is also commonly used by cross country skiers. HIKING TIME: 3 - 4 hours SEASON: Late winter DATE: March 7, 2010 WEATHER: Cold, clear PARKING: From Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway) park at the Greeley Ponds trailhead on the right. Greeley Ponds Trail leaves from the southeast corner of the parking area. Some good scrambles. The last mile or so to East Osceola was tough. We paved the way a lot of the time. The trail was very well marked and could easily be distinguished even though it was the heart of fall and most of the leaves have fallen. The junction of the Greeley Ponds Trail and the Mt. The Osceolas are among the furthest south of the 4,000 foot mountains of the White Mountains. After about 0.6 mile you will encounter a steep chimney just before reaching the col between Mount Osceola and East Peak. google_color_link = "000000"; ... At the saddle we met back up with the other trail and the other skiers tracks and also a side hiking trail up to East Osceola peak. For a view to the north, backtrack just a bit to the old fire tower footings (not to be confused with the newer set of footings located near the eastern view ledge), then turn west (right when backtracking from the summit). After hiking up Mount Osceola Trail for 2.1 miles, look for a ledge on the left that offers views of Sandwich Mountain. He was our guardian angel! We dropped a car at the Kanc and headed to Tripoli but our gps said the road was closed so we decided to hike out and back on the Greeley Pond Trail. Follow Greeley Ponds Trail for 1.3 miles which will bring you to a junction with Mount Osceola Trail. Sage was ready for another hike this weekend; she had yet to do a "two-fer," so I suggested the Osceolas. Fresh snow!! Mount Osceola and East Osceola via Greeley Pond Trail. With that being said it was worth a challenge, and the views were great. Osceola Trail is where the hiking really begins. East (Peak) Osceola and Mount Osceola would numbers 30 and 31 on my New Hampshire winter 4000-footer list. google_ad_client = "pub-8818643303628905"; Greeley ponds trail was wet but water crossings were easily hopped over and logs ensured the worst of the mud was avoided. Greeley Ponds trail is a piece of cake and then the fun begins. hallsmasonry@gmail.com hallsmasonry@gmail.com, Upper Greeley Ponds via Kancamagus Highway, East Branch Road, Pemi East Side and Wilderness Trail, Greeley Ponds Trail via Kancamagus Highway, Mount Osceola Trail to Greeley Ponds Trail, Osceola and East Osceola via Greely Pond Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail to Franconia Brook Trail Loop, Bondcliff, Mt. Continue on Greeley Ponds Trail in a southerly direction (with your back to the pond, turn left) which will descend gently until its end. Osceola Trail, Greeley Ponds Trail Always Carry The Local Trail Map Map Adventures White Mountains Waterproof Trail Map From Greeley Ponds to Mount Osceola Trailhead, More Osceola and Greeley Ponds Trail Reports, Actual vs. Osceola Trail: 5 miles Greeley Ponds Trail: 1.3 miles Total Miles: 7.5 (3,300 elevation gain) Trip Report: - Spring officially began on Saturday at 1:32pm so that meant I could sneak in one last official winter hike! The Greeley Ponds trail is a nice hike. google_color_url = "00008B"; Good workout, lots of people without masks. Osceola Trail DISTANCE: 7.6 miles ELEVATION GAIN: 1340 Ft. Please check the links below to get the latest status, closures, and alerts regarding forest roads, trails, and campgrounds. This time, we started our hike on the Greeley Ponds XC Trail, which in my opinion is a considerably better winter approach (though should not be done without snowshoes, per the sign). At 1.3 miles, the trail passes a large boulder and a trail leading up to East Osceola. Recommend gloves and plenty of water too! Leave the summit in a northeasterly direction to continue the trek on Mount Osceola Trail. Nice hike up East Osceola. You will be following Mount Osceola Trail across both Mount Osceola and East Peak, and then beyond until it ends at Greeley Ponds Trail. East Osceola and Greeley Ponds is a 9.7 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lincoln, New Hampshire that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. No Comments on Hike East Osceola via Greeley Ponds Trail Here are some photos from our family hike up East Osceola Mountain via Greeley Ponds Trail on July 7, 2015. Mt. Mount Osceola and East Osceola via Greeley Pond XC Ski Trail. Another approach is from the Kanc on the Greeley Ponds trail which hits the eastern end of the Mount Osceola trail at Greeley Ponds. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. There was more snow and ice as I climbed higher. East Osceola and Osceola from Greeley Ponds - 21/jun/97 By David Metsky ... At the Greeley Ponds trail junction we went right, to check out the ponds. From here there is a spur path that crosses the outlet brook of the pond and leads to a small beach. If you’re doing the 4,000 footers I’d recommend going up Osceola then coming over to East Osceola. Keep in mind that the ski trails are marked by blue diamonds while the hiking trail is blazed in yellow paint; sometimes both routes share the same path for a short ways. Osceola trail. Breathtaking view about .4 mile from the top, and then another near the summit (you have to go off trail to the right for about 20 feet to get to it). There is a small beach which is probably a good spot for a dip in the summer. About 6.9 miles. After my warm up hikes of Mount Monadnock and Mount Cardigan, I was feeling ready to try my legs on the larger mountains of New Hampshire. You can descend on the main trail, or take a detour to the left which will be a bit gentler. East Osceola was our 18th 4,000 footer. The trail up East Osceola starts innocuously, but then becomes steep with several scrambles. The Greeley Ponds (about 0.4 mi. The trail was getting steeper and I decided to put the microspikes on. From the beach is a beautiful view of the pond with the mountains on both sides. Took us about 5 1:2 hours. The approach to the summit was quite steep and Rocky. He offered us a ride from the Tripoli trail head back to the Kanc trailhead. The Mount Osceola trail rises from Tripoli Road, goes over Osceola, then descends and climbs to the summit of East. East Osceola and Mount Osceola via Greeley Ponds and Osceola Trails June 10, 2001 . Jan 06 | Mt. Follow Greeley Ponds Trail for 1.3 miles which will return you to the parking lot on Kancamagus Highway. Perfect weather. Nature Ninja and I haven’t done much hiking together this winter, but we finally hooked up last weekend and bagged another winter 4,000 footer named East Osceola. From Greeley Ponds to Mount Osceola Trailhead Not bad overall. Greeley Ponds & East Osceola 1897 Slide: 2/17/20 Took a half-day plus off for a snowshoe wander in Mad River Notch. For now, turn left to stay on Greeley Ponds Trail while Mount Osceola Trail climbs to the right; the return trip will be via Mount Osceola Trail. Osceola Trail. Turn right to pick up Mount Osceola Trail at the parking area (both are on the right). STATE: New Hampshire DESTINATION: Mt. Osceola, NH: Trails: Greeley Pond trail, Mt Osceola trail: Date of Hike: Wednesday, December 23, 2020: Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking lot is NOT plowed. Hover your mouse over images in order to see captions. Show your appreciation for HikeNewEngland by using these practical and fun reusable shopping bags. From Rt. There is a steep, but short section of the trail as you approach the east peak of Osceola which has a wooded summit. We stowed our hiking poles and used our hands. Hiking with Mike & Fricker-Krulls Leaving the peak, head northeasterly to continue the hike on Mount Osceola Trail. Choose from Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Yahoo, MySpace, and more. If you're hiking this route in the winter, starting just beyond the junction with Mount Osceola Trail you will notice cross-country ski trails joining and leaving the hiking trail at several points. It's only a 5 minute trip to the first pond, but we only stayed there a few minutes due to the bugs. Steep steep steep. Livermore Trail/Greeley Ponds Trail (1580'), Livermore Trailhead at Livermore Road (1580'), Mount Osceola Trailhead on Tripoli Road (2280'). Turn right onto Livermore Trail and follow it for 0.3 mile where it ends at a parking area. Osceola, Mt. I had already done Osceola so went up this way to check it off. Look for outlook points at both ends of this pond. There are two ways to ski up to Greeley Ponds. Mt Osceola (4,340 ft) On Sunday, I climbed another two 4,000 footers in the White Mountains, Mt Osceola (4,340 ft) and its neighbor East Osceola (4,156). The Greeley Ponds were in their winter glory, and the bushwhack halfway up the old slide provided views and abundant snowy beauty. Hike up gentle inclines on Tripoli Road for 2.8 miles. Typical Hiking Times and Outing Durations. The Mt. Continue for another 0.7 mile which will bring you to the end of Greeley Ponds Trail at a junction with Livermore Trail, also called Livermore Road in this section. The Greeley ponds hike is roughly 3 miles round trip and a good hike for beginners. The final 3/4 mile was difficult scrambling up and over boulders straight up the whole time. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September. The Osceolas are located in the Sandwich Region of the White Mountains. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Red Tape This day hike started at the parking lot for the Greeley Ponds Trail off of NH Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Climb for 0.4 mile (look for a good viewpoint on the left along the way) to reach the summit of East Peak which is marked by a cairn. This turn is after Big Rock Campground (which is on the left) but before the hairpin turn at Hancock Overlook. We bagged East Osceola which was underwhelming Then hiked over to Osceola (the chimney is less thrilling if you hiked up the steep Greeley Pond Trail). What a great day and a great adventure! Osceola trail at the Greeley Pond and Mt. The 1940 edition of the AMC White Mountain Guide has a laconic description of this section of what was then known as the Osceola-Greeley Ponds Trail. White Mountain National Forest's alert page, Greeley Ponds via Greeley Ponds Trail from Kancamagus Highway on 2/7/2009, Greeley Ponds via Greeley Ponds Trail from Waterville Valley on 12/28/2007, Greeley Ponds via Greeley Ponds Trail from Waterville Valley on 8/30/2003, Mt. Turn into a small parking area on the left-hand side of the road. This route is 5.6 miles but doesn't include Mt Osceola. Bring spikes and maybe snowshoes depending on how soon it snowed. Return Osceola East Peak ELEVATION: 4156 Ft. / 4340 Ft. #5 4K for the boys! Gorgeous. Osceola: Elevation: 4,340' Popular Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail Mt. google_color_text = "336633"; To Greeley Ponds 112) West for about 26 miles. Lots of deep snow/ruts in mushy snow where the road meets the lot and most cars will get stuck. Mt Osceola Trail, Greeley Ponds Trail. Dec 23 | East Osceola & Mt. Osceola Trail. Ample parking, usually plowed. While we’ve both climbed this peak before, we’ve never climbed it from the Greeley Ponds side of the Osceola Ridge, or experienced the 45% grade from this side. Greeley Ponds Trail/Mount Osceola Trail (2300'), Jct. The real hiking begins after turning onto the Mt. We did not continue over to Osceola since we had previously done it and it was rather fogged in anyways. In winter, the hiking trail that skirts the right-hand side of the lower pond is pretty much abandoned in favor of simply walking across the ice. Excellent hike, challenging terrain, perfect fall weather. To hike just East Osceola Mountain Begin on the Greeley Pond Trail via the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) in Lincoln, New Hampshire and hike for 1.3 miles until you come to a fork in the trail with Mount Osceola Trail, where you will bear right to switch trails. First half of the way up is very flat, then the rest is quite steep. After 0.1 mile there will be a junction with Timber Camp Trail on the right; keep going straight to stay on Greeley Ponds Trail. Hiked with Dan and Sammy for our 27th and 28th NH 4K footers. Mt Osceola & East Osceola Winter Hike via Greeley Ponds Trail. Had to carry the dog a few times. google_color_bg = "9FD39F"; Though it’s steep...it’s doable. The southern end of the Greeley Ponds trail (about 3.6 miles south of the northeast end of the Osceola Trail, compared to 1.3 miles for the northern trailhead) is 0.3 miles from the west end of the Livermore Trail, which starts on Tripoli Rd about a half mile from the Waterville Valley ski area. Immediately upon reaching the ridge (1/4 mile from the summit), there is a good view of Osceola and the valley below, twenty feet off to the right. After hiking up Mount Osceola Trail for 2.1 miles, look for a ledge on the left that offers views of Sandwich Mountain. Bond, West Bond, Mt Guyot and Zealand Loop. google_ad_width = 180; The Greeley Ponds Trail is a nice walk through the woods and allows the legs to "warm-up" for the hike up to East Osceola. That trail is supposed to be really steep and rough, especially the section in between East Osceola and Osceola. About a mile after beginning the trail, it opens up for a nice view of the ponds and surrounding area before returning under treeline. Steep! Steep, steep pitches are waiting for you after a quick mile and a half of flatter terrain. Hiking Trail Conditions Report: Peaks: East Osceola & Mt. Take Exit 32 off I-93 and follow Kancamagus Highway (Rt. Follow the short spur to an open ledge offering northerly views. East Osceola and Greeley Ponds is a 6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lincoln, New Hampshire that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. Overall a tough hike and not in my top 10. I arrived at the parking area right around 8:30 and started hiking a little before 8:45. The main summit is wooded but if you poke around you should be able to find some good outlook points. Bring waterproof shoes if you have them, Really steep trail with slippery rocks! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Dec 26 | None , NH via Greeley Ponds Tr, Lower Pond Spur, Timber Camp Tr by: Heat Lightning / newenglandtrailconditions. Dec 27 | East Osceola, Osceola, NH via Greeley Ponds Trail, Mount Osceola Trail by: Daniel / newenglandtrailconditions. Other than that, East Osceola is heavily forested and has only a nondescript pile of rocks at the summit to congratulate you on your feat. The southern end of the Greeley Ponds trail (about 3.6 miles south of the northeast end of the Osceola Trail, compared to 1.3 miles for the northern trailhead) is 0.3 miles from the west end of the Livermore Trail, which starts on Tripoli Rd about a half mile from the … The quick detour to Greeley Ponds is worth it on the way down. Beautiful warmer than expected day. They are also great as a tote for your hiking boots and other gear. Osceola, East Osceola, NH: Trails: Greeley Ponds Trail, Mt. No views on the summit itself though. First 1.5 miles was easy. from the Mt. Turn into a small parking area on the right-hand side of the road. No views from the summit but a few nice lookout points nearby. google_ad_channel =""; Don’t miss outlook 1/2 mile on right before East peak. Alex always likes getting two or more peaks in one day, so I thought Sage might enjoy the experience as well. Osceola trail junction and bag two 4,000 footers, East Osceola and Mt. Turn right onto Tripoli Road which is closed to vehicles in the winter but always open to hikers. Upon reaching Greeley Ponds Trail, turn left (north). Our gps was incorrect as we learned from a fellow hiked at the top of East Osceola. After 0.2 mile you will reach a junction on the left with Scaur Trail; keep going straight to stay on Greeley Ponds Trail. The information on this site may freely be used for personal purposes but may not be replicated on other websites or publications. Exit the parking lot and turn right onto West Branch Road which quickly intersects with Tripoli Road. I decided to hike both peaks because there was only a mile between them. Having read recent trail reports that the climb consisted of packed snow, I switched to snowshoes at this junction to avoid post holing and … - Left RI at 4am on trail at 7:15am, 33 degrees at start of hike, finished at … Must bear off trail a bit. Another 0.2 mile will bring you to a junction with Goodrich Rock Trail on the right; keep going straight to stay on Greeley Ponds Trail. Rejoin the main trail and continue for about 0.1 mile to arrive at the southern shoreline of upper Greeley Pond. This turn is after the hairpin turn at Hancock Overlook.