The Maine A.T. Land Trust’s Community Hikes program provides free guided hiking trips to the general public from May to October and then from January to March. There are typically two to three hikes per month (depending on weather) and trips are guided by trained trip leaders. The program has been enormously successful at bringing individuals to the A.T. landscape but they can fill up quickly! The limit for participants is usually 5-8 individuals. If a hike you would like to attend is currently filled up, please email us at info@matlt.org to get on the waiting list. Summer hikes will be listed in May, winter hikes will be listed in December, so check back if you don’t see any!

 

 

 

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Saddleback Mountain Berry Pickers’ Trail Great Maine Outdoor Weekend Hike

September 17, 2016 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Free

At long last, the Berry Pickers’ Trail will be opening just in time for the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend!  The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust will be having an inaugural hike on Saturday, September 17th at 10am.  Dave Field, longtime MATC volunteer and the man who relocated the Appalachian Trail in Maine to its current location, will be joining us.  There is nobody more knowledgeable about Maine’s Appalachian Trail than Dave and it’s always a fascinating experience to accompany him on a hike.

This trail will be completed in late summer and should be ready for hikers by then.  The trailhead is on a logging road on the Orbeton Stream conservation easement, and proceeds over an ATV/snowmobile trail for approximately 1.5 miles.  From there is climbs a ridge up the east side of Saddleback Mountain and reaching the top of the ridge (and the Appalachian Trail) at approximately 3.2 miles.  The total elevation gain is approximately 1,800 feet.  Their are spectacular views of the valley between Saddleback and Mount Abraham for most of the climb on the ridge (see photo above).  There might not be a trail in all of the mountains of Maine that provides such great views in alpine terrain with only moderate steepness.

Berry Pickers' Trail (D. Field Flagging 6-18-15)

The starting time for this hike will be 10am and we will arrange car pooling.  You must RSVP for this hike so we can account for weather changes and cancellation.  Please RSVP by emailing us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073.

Directions:

Turn right off Route 4 in the center of Madrid village and cross the Sandy River over the one-lane bridge.  Follow the blacktop Reeds Mill Road.  At 3.0 miles, immediately after crossing a bridge in front of a white house (on the right), turn left onto a good gravel road (“Epstein’s Road”–there is no sign identifying this road).  Follow this private road which was a very good gravel road but has deteriorated some, for 3.1 miles.  Do not take a right on an older, but still high-quality gravel road at this point.  This gravel “cross road” has two connections with Epstein’s Road, creating a pie-shaped island in the middle, and is signed for snowmobile use.  Follow Epstein’s Road, which bears left at this point and, shortly after crossing a stream (watch out for holes in the bridge), you will arrive at the gate.

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Details

Date:
September 17, 2016
Time:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Cost:
Free

Organizer

Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust
Phone
207-808-2073
Email
info@matlt.org
View Organizer Website

Venue

Berry Pickers’ Trail
Madrid Township, ME United States + Google Map
View Venue Website