A footbridge that hikers use to cross the west branch of the Peabody River in the White Mountain National Forest is closed due to concerns about its structural integrity. For Appalachian Trail thru hikers, that will mean using a detour that temporarily trims about 4.3 miles from the famed route.
The Madison Gulf Bridge, also called the Great Gulf Suspension Bridge, was evaluated and closed last November by the U.S. Forest Service.
White Mountain forest staff then worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to blaze a detour that avoids the river crossing.
On its website, the conservancy encourages thru-hikers looking to complete the 2,190 mile long route to utilize the detour. Hikers that want to instead ford the river are advised to do so with extreme caution.
“It is a dangerous crossing in all but dry conditions when the river’s flow is low and even then, it can be difficult,” the group says.
It isn’t clear how long it may take for the U.S. Forest Service to design and build a new pedestrian bridge.
The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine, and includes around 160 miles of trail in New Hampshire.
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These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org.
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