Sterling Pond and Long Trail

light traction, trail is in good shape

Tough, wet, muddy, slippery. Turn at the sign that says picnic area for less road walking back up the Notch.

So beautiful! It had rained the night before and we started the hike around 9 and had the pond to ourselves for at least 10 minutes! However, this place gets super busy around noon. Once you get past the main beach of the pond (where most people turn around and go back) it’s completely empty and gorgeous! Very challenging and slippery as it was still damp from the day before and the fallen leaves didn’t help, but gorgeous views around the pond!

Started as rain ended, which added to the challenge. Slipped a few times on the way up to Sterling Pond and fell twice on the way down Long Trail. Hiking poles and good boots kept the slips and falls from doing much damage. Challenge of hiking through trail areas that doubled as creek bed made it memorable. Wet rock was easy enough. Wet rock with moss coating was challenging. Wet, mossy rock hidden under newly dropped leaves made some spots tough hiking.

So good, as always

Steady uphill climb over rocks and tree roots. There are some steeper parts too. Gets the heart pumping! We got caught in a quick storm which quickly made the rocks slippery. Beautiful hiking up through the woods to Sterling Pond and the top of one of the ski lifts. Sterling Pond is a big draw for families and kids so the beach area is crowded. We usually continue past the beach and find a quieter spot on the lake. Great hike!

Oct 26- very muddy, slippery & wet leaves, but a beautiful hike, mossy woods and a nice pond to eat lunch :) up + down trail

Attempted to do, but it started torrentially downpouring five minutes in!

Really steep and rocky! The view at the top isn’t anything special, though the pond is really pretty and a nice place to relax after the hike itself.

We met a group via Meetup and enjoyed seeing a new trail through someone else's guide. We just followed along on a 12.5 mile hike from Smugglers notch to Sterling pond, Madonna summit and Whitedace summit with a stop at Bear Hollow shelter. Nice hike, we met some cool hikers and then did Camels jump the next day.

As a volunteer at Barnes Camp Hiker/Visitor Center on Route 108, right on the Long Trail, when we heard hikers asking for "The Smuggler's Notch Trail" we informed them there was no trail with that name. They quickly said AllTrails said there was. However, once I saw the topo map, we knew the trail is actually a combination of trails including a 2 mile road walk. The actual trails are Sterling Pond Trail, Long Trail and then a road walk, Route 108. However, the Long Trail has been rerouted now (not showing on the AllTrails map, and crosses 108 more south, traveling across a Boardwalk, then beside Barnes Camp. This reroute of the LT adds distance (about 1 mile) to this hike is following the LT. Here is another confusing element: The old LT trail head, from 108, heading north is still open, but it is a new trail (Barnes Camp Loop Trail) and has blue blazes vs. white for LT. It connects with the LT, north after crossing the brook and hiking steeply for .2 mi. If using this trail, this trail map is okay, just be aware, it is NOT all on the LT. And, be aware, if you ask a local what the Smuggler's Notch Trail is, they likely will not have a clue what you are talking about, as this loop is not called that. It is called by the actual trail names.

Nice trail with some terrific views, we met lots of people hiking or skiing on the trail, also three groups of ice climbers in the notch, nice relaxing day in the notch highly recommend.

Nice trail. Met a lot of people with their dogs. Beautiful day for a hike like this one. Some great views once you get to the top. If you don't want to meet a lot of people don't go here.

Great hike but I would NOT rate it as easy, at least not if you end up on the Long Trail on the way home (especially on a rainy day in June). Wear waterproof boots for sure as you walk through a lot of streams and I even had to wade through a shallow river at the end. Also wear warmer clothes than you might expect as it was windy and much colder at the top. I recommend getting to the pond and then going back on the pond trail if you want an easy hike, otherwise it is quite long (and seemed to take me more than the 5 miles states) but really good and with great views! There is actually a trail that takes you to a vista off the long trail as well, with a great view. Otherwise, I found the portion connecting the Long Trail to the highway to walk back was not a marked trail for a part of it but if I followed the map closely I could almost "bushwack" back. All in all, it was definitely a great and challenging hike.

I'm using this trail because its closest to Bingham Falls. Well apparently they are related but Bingham falls can actually be found about 2 miles down the road. The hike is easy. Except when you are closer to the falls where you need to hike down some steepness. But you'll be ok if you're careful. People swim here. I jumped from the top of the falls. Which I wouldn't recommend if you don't know how. I landed in the water wrong lololololol but it's absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks.