Great North Woods Adventure 2019 - North Percy Peak

Trip Details
Date: September 21^st, 2019
Total Distance: 4.34 mi (via Garmin fenix 5X)
Total Time: 2 hours 13 min
Total Elevation: 2123 ft gained
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We started the morning getting breakfast at Happy Corner Cafe in Pittsburg, NH and had this interesting paper place mat on the table...

Day two of our Great North Woods Adventure brought us to the Nash Stream Forest Natural Area for two hikes. The first was another Terrifying 25. North Percy Peak has a bit of a reputation due to its slides and slabs that you have to climb or navigate around to make your way to the summit. This is a great hike and a wonderful addition to the list.

• To enter the Nash Stream Forest you have to head down another dirt road for a few miles. The road is in good shape, but has an occasional large rock that is making its way out of the road. 
• You have to pull off the side of the road and parked angled. It helps to get more cars in, but there is not a ton of parking for this trail.
• The trail starts just over the bridge that is past the parking area.
• The trail gets interesting when you arrive at the slides, but unfortunately they are just for show as the trail navigates around them by using the woods just to the the side. Eventually, it actually starts moving away from them as it climbs the final bit of elevation.
• As you approach the summit you break out of the trees and on to the bald granite slabs that you have to ascend to reach the summit. This is the best part of the hike and you have views for miles. The slabs were fine on our sunny day, but I can see them getting treacherous on a wet day.
• The summit has a 360º view and some low bush blueberries for your enjoyment.
• Once done with the hike, if you are feeling a need to cool off, the Nash Stream has a great swimming hole just south of the parking area. The swimming hole is quite deep and the cold stream water will cool you off and have you feeling refreshed in no time.

Giant boulder just hanging out on the trail.

The start of the slide. The trail is on the right making its way through the trees.

That is the way to South Percy.

The start of the slabs.

The Presidentials (Washington is behind that cloud)

Mt. Cabot

The Baldplates and Old Speck

Windmill farm

South Percy Peak

The wooded summit of South Percy.

Looking down the slabs during the descent.

The Nash Stream swimming hole just south of the North Percy parking area.
This photo is provided by Matt Boston. Used with permission.

There is about a half of mile extra due to drift while we hung out on the summit for a half hour.