Bridges, Pemigewasset Wilderness - Since 2009, three bridges have been removed from the Pemigewasset Wilderness. At 45,000 acres, the Pemigewasset Wilderness is New Hampshire’s largest federally designated wilderness. For one reason or another, outdoor enthusiasts not familiar with the Pemigewasset Wilderness confuse these bridges. Two of the removed bridges crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River, and one crossed Black Brook. The suspension bridge at the start of the Lincoln Woods Trail is not in the Pemigewasset Wilderness...[Continue reading] ...

Black Brook Bridge, Wilderness Trail - Built in the late 20th-century, this steel beam footbridge was located along the Wilderness Trail, just beyond the former junction of the Wilderness Trail and the Bondcliff Trail, in New Hampshire’s 45,000-acre federally designated Pemigewasset Wilderness. It crossed Black Brook (also called Bear Brook) just above the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad’s legendary trestle No. 16; built in the early 1900s, this trestle collapsed in 2018. The steel beam bridge offered an excellent view ...

Suspension Bridge, Wilderness Trail - Built in 1959-1960 (completed September 1960), the 180-foot long suspension bridge along the Wilderness Trail crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River in New Hampshire's 45,000-acre federally designated Pemigewasset Wilderness. The Wilderness Trail utilizes the railroad bed of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948), and after railroad operations came to an end, the suspension bridge was built to replace trestle No. 17; before the bridge was built, hikers used the railroad trestle to ...

Home Comfort Stove, Wilderness Trail - Seen above in 2009 is an old Home Comfort Stove made by the Wrought Iron Range Company in St. Louis, Missouri. This protected artifact remains along the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948) at the sight of logging Camp 18 in New Hampshire's Pemigewasset Wilderness. Today’s Wilderness Trail passes by this historic site...[Continue reading] ...

Redrock Brook, Franconia Brook Trail - At the Redrock Brook crossing (above), along today’s Franconia Brook Trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness, remnants of a bridge from the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948) remained for many years. Active during the early 1900s, this branch of the railroad began at trestle No. 7 and ended at logging Camp 13. A few old books reveal that the origin of the name “Redrock” derives from the red feldspar rock that is in the ...

Cedar Brook Spur Line, Bondcliff Trail - Located along the Bondcliff Trail (formerly the Wilderness Trail) in the Pemigewasset Wilderness are the remnants of an old spur line of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948). Most of the spur lines along the mainlines of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad are easy to locate, but a few, such as this one, can be overlooked. About one half of a mile above trestle No. 7, along the Upper East Branch ...

Dry Trestle, Wilderness Trail - Located along the Wilderness Trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness is an interesting artifact of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948). Like most of the trails in this federally designated wilderness, the Wilderness Trail utilizes the old railroad bed right-of-way of the railroad. This dry trestle (or hillside trestle), between North Fork Junction and logging Camp 18 crossed a steep hillside along the railroad. The trestle footings are covered in moss and blend in well ...

North Fork Junction, Thoreau Falls Trail - Seen here in 2017 is the trail junction of the Thoreau Falls Trail (left) and Wilderness Trail (right) in New Hampshire's Pemigewasset Wilderness during the winter months. While the White Mountains trail system has become overrun, during the dead of winter, solitude can still be found deep in the 45,000-acre Pemigewasset Wilderness. Both trails utilize the railroad bed right-of-way of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948)...[Continue reading] ...

North Fork Spur Line, Thoreau Falls Trail - Located along the Thoreau Falls Trail, deep in New Hampshire’s 45,000-acre Pemigewasset Wilderness, is an interesting piece of East Branch & Lincoln Railroad history. In operation from 1893-1948 and originally owned by James E. Henry, this was a logging railroad in the towns of Lincoln and Franconia. Just before the North Fork Branch of the railroad crossed the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River at North Fork Function, a spur line branched ...

Camp 9 Spur Line, Franconia Brook Trail - When the Franconia Brook Branch of the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (1893-1948) was in operation, a spur line traveled through this wetlands area along today's Franconia Brook Trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness; it was not always wetlands. Beavers have been active over the years. The Franconia Brook Branch of the railroad began at trestle No. 7 and ended at logging Camp 13. The Franconia Brook Trail utilizes the railroad bed right-of-way...[Continue ...