Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust

Rangeley Trail Town Festival
2018-09-01 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
What are Rangeley’s best hikes? How can you select food and gear, and still keep your pack light? Learn this and more from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts at the Rangeley Trail Town Festival on Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try your hand at free games, contests, and activities for everyone—all at Haley Pond Park on Pond Street, near Ecopelagicon.
Rangeley is one of only 35 towns along the 2,180-mile AT to be named an official “Appalachian Trail Community.” The town received this honor from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to honor Rangeley as a community that actively protects all of its natural, cultural, and recreational resources, including the AT, which runs from Georgia to Mt. Katahdin. For more information on the Rangeley Trail Town Festival, call Linda Dexter of the Ecopelagicon, 864-2771 or visit our website: http://rangeleytrailtown.com.

Crockers
2018-09-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Caribou Pond Road, Caribou Pond Road, Carrabassett Valley , ME, 04947, United States
The next Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust community hike will be on Sunday, September 9th at 10am, to the Crockers in Maine’s High Peaks region. From Caribou Valley Road in Carrabassett Valley, this hike will be 3.6 miles up to first South Crocker and then (north) Crocker Mountain, then back down for a total distance of 7.2 miles. This is a strenuous hike on one of the great stretches of the A.T. in Maine!
You must RSVP (in case of schedule changes or weather issues) below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. Carpooling will be arranged a few days before the hike.

High Peaks Green Drinks
2018-09-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Tumbledown Brewing, 805 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, ME, 04938, United States
Hosted by the Greater Franklin Food Council and the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, this casual event is an opportunity for the residents of the High Peaks Region to come together over a beer and talk about the social and environmental issues that they care about.
$10 donation at the door.
One free beer courtesy of Tumbledown.
More beer available for purchase.
Family friendly- Free for all under-21.
Snacks, kettle corn, and non-alcoholic beverages available!

Goose Eye
2018-09-15 09:00 - 17:00
Our latest Appalachian Trail community hike will be up 3,862-foot Goose Eye Mountain in Grafton Notch on September 15th at 9am! For many years this mountain was only accessible for a day hike by heading over to New Hampshire at Success Pond Road. The Wright Trail, an official Appalachian Trail side trail, was constructed to provide for a direct route to the heart of the Mahoosucs, in particular the State of Maine-designated Ecological Reserve area which covers most of Goose Eye Mountain. The mountain has three summits and this trail traverses unique and spectacular terrain, including a large alpine bog.
The hike is strenuous and will cover a distance of approximate 9.6 miles. The trailhead is easily accessible via Sunday River Road off Route 2, just north of Bethel. Take a left onto Sunday River Road at the Sunday River Brewing Company, and then bear right at the next fork to stay on Sunday River Road. At the next fork stay right again at the sign that says Covered Bridge, which will be on the left as you drive over the Sunday River. In three miles the road turns to dirt. After about four miles, you will see two causeway bridges at a fork – take the left over those bridges, and immediately after crossing take a right onto Bull Branch Road. You will pass Frenchman’s Hole, a swimming area with a cliff to jump into a deep, cold pool of water. There is parking here, but continue straight and you will reach the trailhead for the Wright Trail at the next parking area on the left on the side of the road. Hope to see you there!
In order to account for changes in start time or weather situations, you must RSVP for this hike below or by emailing us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. You can also contact us via Facebook or Twitter at the footer of our website. We will be arranging car pooling as well.

Arnold Trail-A.T. Hike
2018-09-22 10:00 - 17:00 | Great Carrying Place, Carry Pond Road, Bingham, ME, 04920, United States
In 1775, the American Revolution was underway and the British hold on Canada was tenuous. British troops were thinly scattered through Canada, mainly at Quebec City, Montreal and smaller garrisons in the Great Lakes. General George Washington, newly inaugurated in July 1775, approved a two-pronged invasion of Canada designed to deal a serious blow to the British and further the American cause by bringing the Canadian territories into rebellion.
Thus began one of the great episodes in Maine history, chronicled in Kenneth Roberts’ famous novel Arundel. In the fall of 1775, Colonel Benedict Arnold led a detachment of 1,100 American soldiers through the Maine and Canadian wilderness in what was intended to be a coordinated, secret attack on the British army fortified in Quebec City. The overland route would follow a Native American trade route along the Kennebec and Chaudiere Rivers, using the Great Carrying Place Portage Trail through the Carry Ponds. About 600 soldiers made it through the wilderness, encountering horrendous storms, flooding, disease and starvation before reaching the St. Lawrence River across from Quebec City. While their attack on the heavily fortified city of Quebec failed, this campaign continued until 1777 with the great American victory at Saratoga, in Northern New York which resulted in the defeat and capture of an entire British army and recognition of the American cause by the French government.
Map showing the route of the Great Carrying Place Portage Trail from the Kennebec River ot Flagstaff Lake.
The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is pleased to once again offer our Arnold Trail-Appalachian Trail community hike with Maine Historical Society. The route of the hike will trace Arnold’s March from the Kennebec River to the Appalachian Trail, through spruce woods and ponds, over a trail created by the Arnold Expedition Historical Society that follows the route with 95% certainty. Norm Kalloch of AEHS will be leading the hike, which traverses a ridge from the Kennebec River to the AEHS cabin on the east shore of Middle Carry Pond. There are a number of historical sites related to the expedition along the route and in the vicinity of the AEHS cabin, sites which we will explore with Norm’s guidance.
This hike will be approximately 3.5 to 4 miles in length, depending on which sites the group chooses to visit. Some participants can choose to remain at the AEHS cabin while others explore the area. The terrain from the Kennebec River to the ponds is relatively flat compared to the mountainous areas of the Appalachian Trail, but there are uphill stretches and areas of rocky terrain. All participants should be in relatively good shape and should prepare for a day in the woods. Trip leaders will be spotting cars at the end of the route to carpool back to the starting point.
You must RSVP below for this hike, which is free to all members of the public. Information about the meeting place and carpool details will be circulated prior to the event. For all inquiries please email us at info@matlt.org or call 207-808-2073.

Great Maine Outdoor Weekend - MYTaSC Fall Stewardship
2018-09-29 08:00 - 17:00
Cleanup on one of the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust’s awesomest lands!
Register here: https://goo.gl/forms/VscSJ4lUkavOKgOw2
The Maine Youth Trail Stewardship Coalition is hosting a Fall Stewardship Weekend September 28-29 in Kingfield, Maine! The work trip will be Saturday, September 29 and we will offer free accommodations on Friday, September 28.
THE LOCATION: Mt Abram – host of the second largest alpine zone in Maine

THE WORK: We will clean up refuse from the broken firetower on the top of the mountain and haul it off the mountain
THE CAMPSITE: Mountain Village Farm B&B in Kingfield, Maine
We will provide tools and safety equipment, you need to wear long pants and bring work gloves. WARNING: The hike is 4.5 miles each way so be prepared for a long hike – bring water, lunch, snacks and warm clothing! Wear sturdy shoes! Please also bring a backpack that is large enough to help haul.
For the work trip…
…if you are 18+, you can come alone or in a group
…if you are 16-17, you can come alone or in a group with parental permission
…if you are 14-15, you need a chaperone (parent, teacher or other adult)
…if you are under 14, you need a chaperone and proof of your own health insurance
If you choose to stay over Friday night, you need to bring your own camping gear and dinner. There are picnic tables and available bathrooms. Anyone under 18 needs a chaperone for overnight stays. We will provide the s’mores!

Little Bigelow
2018-10-06 09:30 - 16:00
Our next A.T. community hike will take place on October 6th – we will be tackling Little Bigelow, the long, lower peak at the east end of the Bigelow Range. This hike is approximately 6.2 miles in length and should take from 5 to 6 hours start to finish. It features spectacular views of the Bigelow Range, Flagstaff Lake and Maine’s High Peaks. Maine Trail Finder rates it as a Moderate to Advanced hike.
The trailhead can be reached by taking Maine 16 to North New Portland, where Long Falls Dam Road begins. Take Long Falls Dam Road for 17.4 miles, and then take a left on Bog Brook Road. After 0.7 miles take the left fork onto East Flagstaff Road (the right fork dead ends at Flagstaff Lake). There is parking in the gravel pit on the right just before the A.T. crossing 0.1 miles after the fork.
Please read up on Little Bigelow at Maine Trail Finder and at the Bigelow Public Reserve Land website (which has a printable map in the sidebar). And as always, please contact us with any questions.
We will be meeting in the parking area at 9:30am on Saturday, October 6th. You must RSVP for this hike below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073!

Caribou Mountain
2018-12-29 09:30 - 17:00 | Caribou Mountain, 436 Bog Road, Unorganized Territory of South Oxford, ME, 04217, United States
Finally! Our first hike of the winter will be on Saturday, December 29th at 9:30am. We will be heading up Caribou Mountain in the White Mountain National Forest. While the mountain is not directly on the Appalachian Trail it is on Forest Service land (like much of the A.T. landscape to the south) and there are great views of areas where the trail passes to the west and north. Plus it is one of our favorite trips!
We will be taking the Caribou Trail from the east trailhead, which is 2.8 miles down Bog Road off Route 2 in West Bethel. Many guidebooks only describe this trail from the Route 113 side in Evans Notch, so please take note of the directions. The hike is relatively moderate for most of its length and the distance to the summit is 3.1 miles (returning the same way). We will meet in the parking area past Pooh Corner Farm at the end of bog road.
You must RSVP for this hike through this page or contact us (info@matlt.org or 207-808-2073)! When entering a Forest Service wilderness area, the limit per group is ten people. There will be updates on snow conditions a few days prior to the hike and we will coordinate ridesharing.

RSVP

Little Bigelow Mountain
2019-01-12 09:30 - 17:00
Our next A.T. community hike will take place on January 12th – we will be tackling Little Bigelow, the long, lower peak at the east end of the Bigelow Range. We just hiked this mountain in October but it’s so awesome that we wanted to do it again in the snow! This hike is approximately 6.2 miles in length and should take at least 6 hours start to finish. It features spectacular views of the Bigelow Range, Flagstaff Lake and Maine’s High Peaks. Maine Trail Finder rates it as a Moderate to Advanced hike.
The trailhead can be reached by taking Maine 16 to North New Portland, where Long Falls Dam Road begins. Take Long Falls Dam Road for 17.4 miles, and then take a left onto East Flagstaff Road. After 0.7 miles take the left fork to continue onto East Flagstaff Road (the right fork, Bog Brook Road, dead ends at Flagstaff Lake). There is parking in the gravel pit on the right just before the A.T. crossing 0.1 miles after the fork. The road is usually plowed to the split or just beyond – we’ll park there if it’s not plowed to the A.T.
Please read up on Little Bigelow at Maine Trail Finder and at the Bigelow Public Reserve Land website (which has a printable map in the sidebar). And as always, please contact us with any questions.
We will be meeting in the parking area at 9:30am on Saturday, January 12th. You must RSVP for this hike below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073!

West Baldpate
2019-01-19 09:00 - 17:00 | Grafton Notch State Park
The next Maine A.T. Land Trust community hike will be up to West Baldpate in Grafton Notch on the A.T.! We will meet in the parking area below Old Speck in Grafton Notch State Park at 9am this Saturday January 19th. This is an up-and-back hike on the Appalachian Trail, with a distance each way of 3.1 miles (6.2 miles total). The terrain is rugged and this is a strenuous hike that is a bit less strenuous than others in the area due to the shorter distance. We will not be attempting to climb East Baldpate which is much more challenging in the winter. If the trail has been broken out and we make good time, we will stop at Table Rock on the return hike.
Snowshoes and traction aids (Microspikes, Hillsounds, etc.) are required for this hike. Higher portions of the A.T. on West Baldpate tend to be icy. You must RSVP by using the form below or contacting us. The hike will be weather dependent – there is a snowstorm in the forecast which we are monitoring, but it is several days out.
Here’s some information on the trail and Grafton Notch State Park:
Maine Trail Finder
Grafton Notch State Park
Sign up and come on out!

Piazza Rock and Eddy Pond
2019-01-27 09:30 - 17:00 | Piazza Rock Trailhead, Route 4, Sandy River Plantation, Maine
The next Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust winter hike will be on Sunday, January 27th at 9:30am. The destination will be Piazza Rock (a big rock) and Eddy Pond (a nice pond, shown above) on the A.T. going up Saddleback Mountain. The distance to Piazza Rock is 1.8 miles, and Eddy Pond is about 1.9 mile beyond that. Altogether, there and back, the distance is 7.4 miles. This is a strenuous hike that has ups and downs but we will not be ascending any peaks, and we will not be going above treeline. Note on the meeting spot: in warmer months there is a parking area where the A.T. crosses route 4, but it is usually not plowed in the winter. We will park alongside the road and we will meet where the A.T. crosses route 4.
More info here: Maine Trail Finder – Appalachian Trail Piazza Rock
You must RSVP for this hike below, or by emailing us at info@matlt.org, or by calling 207-808-2073. Let us know if you have any questions!

Flagstaff MH&T Hut Snowshoe
2019-03-02 10:00 - 17:00 | Flagstaff Hut Trailhead
Our snowshoe hike to the Maine Huts & Trails Flagstaff Hut is finally upon us! On Saturday, March 2nd we will meet at the Long Falls Dam Road trailhead for a guided 2.2 mile snowshoe to the Flagstaff Hut for lunch, and then back, with MH&T trails manager Savannah Steele. We have the option to make it a loop trip with the Maine Hut Trail/Shore Trail route. If you have never been to any of the MH&T huts they are an excellent experience. As a bonus, during the full service season (which is now) they serve lunch and have beer/wine. We are encouraging all participants in this hike to take advantage of this option since the food is also incredible! Of course, you are also free to pack in your own lunch also.
A trail map is posted below. The terrain is relatively flat and the trail is moderate, but the speed and difficulty will depend on snow conditions. We will keep all participants updated.

You must RSVP to attend this hike by signing up below or contacting us directly. As always, we will have carpooling which will be arranged in advance. If you have any questions or need additional information please contact us!

Old Speck Mountain
2019-03-16 09:00 - 17:00 | Grafton Notch State Park
The latest Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust community hike will be up Old Speck in Grafton Notch! This challenging yet awesome hike will run via the Appalachian Trail for a total roundtrip hike of 7.6 miles. The summit elevation is 4,170 feet – the fifth highest summit in Maine and the highest in the Mahoosucs/Grafton Notch area.
This hike will be Saturday, March 16th at 9am. We will meet in the Grafton Notch parking lot on the west side of Route 26 where the A.T. crosses the road. You must RSVP for this hike below, by emailing us at info@matlt.org or calling 207-808-2073.

Cranberry Peak
2019-03-23 09:30 - 17:00 | Curry Road, Curry Road, Stratton, Maine, 04982
Our next Community Hike will be up Cranberry Peak (3,214 feet) in the Bigelow Range via the Bigelow Range Trail. We will meet in the trailhead parking area at the end of Currie Street (sometimes spelled “Curry”) in Stratton at 9:30am on Saturday, March 23rd. This will be an up-and-back hike up the Bigelow Range Trail, with a distance of 3.2 miles each way for a total distance of 6.4 miles. The trail is moderate for most of the first half and then emerges onto open ledges and low spruce forest for the remainder. The views from the summit of Cranberry Peak are excellent.
Due to uncertain trail conditions, we will send an update two days before the hike to everybody who has signed up. Snowshoes and microspikes or other traction aid will be required for this hike.
Here’s some information about Cranberry Peak and the Bigelows:
Maine Trail Finder
Maine Natural Heritage Hike
Bigelow Preserve Map and Guide
You must RSVP below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. We will arrange ridesharing prior to the hike. See you there!

Portland Trails 15×15 / Annual Meeting
2019-04-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Oxbow Brewing, 49 Washington Ave., Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Portland Trails’ annual meeting is coming up and the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust will be presenting to the group on Appalachian Trail conservation! Lots of other friends are on the agenda as well!
The annual meeting is a night of the best ideas in trails, transportation, conservation, and placemaking from members of our community. The 15×15 presentation style inspires presenters to be deep, brief, and snappy; and it inspires audiences to walk away educated and entertained.
Presenters get 15 slides, and 15 seconds per slide, to share the story of their idea or innovation. In years past, we’ve heard from lawyers, middle schoolers, bridge builders, botanists and more. Join us for an evening of great ideas, snacks, drinks and community!
5:30 pm: Member reception and Annual Meeting
6:00 pm: 15×15 Presentations
When: Thursday, April 11th, 2019 at 5:30PM
Where: Oxbow Brewing – 49 Washington Ave, Portland
Free. Light refreshments during annual meeting, cash bar.
2019 Master of Ceremonies: Casey Gilbert, Portland Downtown
Presenters include

Craig Freshley: Before Portland had the Internet, Portland had Bicycles
Doug Welch: 100 years of Plastic -My Plastic Life
Gillian Schair: Ladies Adventure Club
Michelle Praught: Virtual Walkabouts
Simon Rucker: Appalachian Trail conservation
Bruce Rayner: Cape Elizabeth Plogging
Ainsley Judge: The Life of a Bike from Scrap to Joy
Carolann Ouelette: Maine outdoor tourism
Azenaide Pedro and Nyaruot Nguany: Environmental Changemaking
Kara Wooldrik: Portland Trails Special Sauce

Four Ponds Hike
2019-06-15 09:30 - 17:00 | Height of Land, R7QQ+7VX Byron, Maine, ME, 04275, United States
Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust’s first of many warm season hikes will be on Saturday, June 15th – destination, Four Ponds. We will meet at the Height of Land overlook at 9:30am in the parking area. We can proceed to the summit of Spruce Mountain and then down the backside to series of remote, high-elevation ponds within the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands’ Four Ponds area.
This is a moderate hike and we can choose to make it shorter or longer, depending on ability, conditions and interest. It is a great way to get out on the A.T. in Maine without having to navigate woods roads or climb steep mountains. In any case, total mileage will be about 3.5 miles each way with the ascent/descent involving approximately 300 feet of elevation gain on either side of Spruce Mountain.
You must RSVP for this hike below, or by emailing us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. Sign up soon – we will limit the group to ten hikers! Rain date will be the next day, Sunday June 16th.

Old Speck Hike
2019-06-22 09:00 - 17:00 | Grafton Notch State Park
The latest Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust community hike will be up Old Speck in Grafton Notch! This challenging yet awesome hike will run via the Appalachian Trail for a total roundtrip hike of 7.6 miles. The summit elevation is 4,170 feet – the fifth highest summit in Maine and the highest in the Mahoosucs/Grafton Notch area.
This hike will be Saturday, June 22nd at 9am. We will meet in the Grafton Notch parking lot on the west side of Route 26 where the A.T. crosses the road. You must RSVP for this hike below, by emailing us at info@matlt.org or calling 207-808-2073.

East and West Baldpate
2019-07-13 09:00 - 17:00 | Grafton Notch State Park
Our next community hike will be up East and West Baldpate on July 13th at 9am. These two peaks mark the east side of Grafton Notch State Park, with the East Peak being higher (3,882 feet). We will go for both peaks from the Grafton Notch parking lot on Route 26. Total round trip distance will be 7.6 miles (AMC Maine Mountain Guide lists it as 8 miles round trip).
This hike should be considered strenuous and there are some ledges that look very dramatic in the photo above, but are not too scary. We will meet at the parking lot on Route 26 at 9:00am (see below) in order to accommodate the estimated hiking time of 6 hours. You must RSVP for this hike below, by emailing us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. We will have ridesharing info for attendees. Rain date will be Sunday, July 14th.
More information about The Baldpates can be found here:
Maine Trail Finder
Grafton Notch State Park
See you there!

Mount Abraham
2019-07-27 09:00 - 17:00 | Fire Warden Trail, XP8Q+PW Strong, Maine, ME
The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust’s latest community hike will be on Saturday, July 27th, starting at 9am! This is a challenging, 9.1-mile hike (total distance) that traverses varied terrain via the Fire Warden Trail. This trail meanders through woods before climbing steeply and emerging on a rocky slope above treeline. It is a great hike on one of Maine’s most spectacular and important mountains. And it’s free to come along!
More information about the trail can be found here: Maine Trail Finder
You must RSVP for this hike by entering your info below! You can also email us at info@matlt.org or call 207-808-2073! That way we can update you on weather or other changes to the itinerary. For those of you who want to follow others to the trailhead, we will meet at a nearby store before heading in on the logging roads. Details will follow when you RSVP.

Puzzle Mountain Hike
2019-08-17 09:30 - 17:00 | Puzzle Mountain Trailhead, 1000 Bear River Road, Newry, ME, 04261, United States
Our next community hike trip of the 2019 warm season will be up Puzzle Mountain on August 17th! We will meet at 9:30am at the trailhead (shown on the map below) which is at the Grafton Loop parking lot. The distance from the parking area to the summit is 3.6 miles and should take approximately 3 hours. So, total hike will be 7.2 miles over about 6 hours. This is a strenuous hike due to overall length and elevation gain (approximately 2,400 feet) but there are no steep ledges or areas requiring hand-over-hand climbing. It’s a great day hike.
Puzzle Mountain is a great hidden gem just south of Grafton Notch and one of our favorites!
You must RSVP to join this hike! You can do so below or contact us directly at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073.

Saddleback Mountain Visual Resource Inventory Hike
2019-08-25 09:00 - 17:00 | Berry Pickers’ Trail, Madrid Township, ME, United States
*************This event is full!************************
Our upcoming community hike on the A.T. will be up the Berry Pickers Trail to The Horn and Saddleback Mountain on Sunday, August 25th – this will be a hike for the National Park Service Visual Resource Inventory project! You should contact us at info@matlt.org if you want to attend.
An exact description of the route can be found here at Maine Trail Finder:
Berry Picker’s Trail
We are going to head up to the Horn at the junction.
You must RSVP for this hike below. If you can’t get the RSVP system to work please email us at info@matlt.org or call 207-808-2073.

Goose Eye Mountain Hike
2019-09-07 09:00 - 17:00
Our latest community hike will be up 3,862-foot Goose Eye Mountain in Grafton Notch on September 7th at 9am! For many years this mountain was only accessible for a day hike by heading over to New Hampshire at Success Pond Road. The Wright Trail, an official Appalachian Trail side trail, was constructed to provide for a direct route to the heart of the Mahoosucs, in particular the State of Maine-designated Ecological Reserve area which covers most of Goose Eye Mountain. The mountain has three summits and this trail traverses unique and spectacular terrain, including a large alpine bog.
The hike is strenuous and will cover a distance of approximate 9.6 miles. The trailhead is easily accessible via Sunday River Road off Route 2, just north of Bethel. Take a left onto Sunday River Road at the Sunday River Brewing Company, and then bear right at the next fork to stay on Sunday River Road. At the next fork stay right again at the sign that says Covered Bridge, which will be on the left as you drive over the Sunday River. In three miles the road turns to dirt. After about four miles, you will see two causeway bridges at a fork – take the left over those bridges, and immediately after crossing take a right onto Bull Branch Road. You will pass Frenchman’s Hole, a swimming area with a cliff to jump into a deep, cold pool of water. There is parking here, but continue straight and you will reach the trailhead for the Wright Trail at the next parking area on the left on the side of the road.
Further info can be found here: https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/wright-trail
Hope to see you there!
In order to account for changes in start time or weather situations, you must RSVP for this hike below or by emailing us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. You can also contact us via Facebook or Twitter at the footer of our website. We will be arranging car pooling as well.

Cranberry Peak Hike
2019-09-21 09:00 - 17:00 | Curry Road, Curry Road, Stratton, Maine, 04982
Our next Community Hike will be up Cranberry Peak (3,214 feet) in the Bigelow Range via the Bigelow Range Trail on September 21st! We will meet in the trailhead parking area at the end of Currie Street (sometimes spelled “Curry”) in Stratton at 9:30am on Saturday, September 21st. This will be an up-and-back hike up the Bigelow Range Trail, with a distance of 3.2 miles each way for a total distance of 6.4 miles. The trail is moderate for most of the first half and then emerges onto open ledges and low spruce forest for the remainder. The views from the summit of Cranberry Peak are excellent.
Here’s some information about Cranberry Peak and the Bigelows:
Maine Trail Finder
Maine Natural Heritage Hike
Bigelow Preserve Map and Guide
You must RSVP below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073. We will arrange ridesharing prior to the hike. See you there!

Little Bigelow Hike
2019-10-19 09:00 - 17:00
Our next A.T. community hike will take place on October 19th – we will be tackling Little Bigelow, the long, lower peak at the east end of the Bigelow Range. We just hiked this mountain in October but it’s so awesome that we wanted to do it again in the snow! This hike is approximately 6.2 miles in length and should take at least 6 hours start to finish. It features spectacular views of the Bigelow Range, Flagstaff Lake and Maine’s High Peaks. Maine Trail Finder rates it as a Moderate to Advanced hike.
The trailhead can be reached by taking Maine 16 to North New Portland, where Long Falls Dam Road begins. Take Long Falls Dam Road for 17.4 miles, and then take a left onto East Flagstaff Road. After 0.7 miles take the left fork to continue onto East Flagstaff Road (the right fork, Bog Brook Road, dead ends at Flagstaff Lake). There is parking in the gravel pit on the right just before the A.T. crossing 0.1 miles after the fork. The road is usually plowed to the split or just beyond – we’ll park there if it’s not plowed to the A.T.
Please read up on Little Bigelow at Maine Trail Finder and at the Bigelow Public Reserve Land website (which has a printable map in the sidebar). And as always, please contact us with any questions.
We will be meeting in the parking area at 9:00am on Saturday, October 19th. You must RSVP for this hike below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073!

Eddy Pond and Piazza Rock Hike
2020-01-18 09:30 - 17:00 | Piazza Rock Trailhead, Route 4, Sandy River Plantation, Maine
The first Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust Community Winter Hike will be on Saturday, January 18th with a meetup time of 9:30am. The destination will be Piazza Rock (a big rock) and Eddy Pond (a nice pond, shown above) on the A.T. going up Saddleback Mountain. The distance to Piazza Rock is 1.8 miles, and Eddy Pond is about 1.9 mile beyond that. Altogether, there and back, the distance is 7.4 miles. This is a strenuous hike that has ups and downs but we will not be ascending any peaks, and we will not be going above treeline. Note on the meeting spot: in warmer months there is a parking area where the A.T. crosses route 4, but it is usually not plowed in the winter. We will park alongside the road and we will meet where the A.T. crosses route 4. Carpooling will be arranged the day before the hike.
More info here: Maine Trail Finder – Appalachian Trail Piazza Rock
You must RSVP for this hike below, or by emailing us at info@matlt.org, or by calling 207-808-2073. Let us know if you have any questions!

Caribou Mountain Hike
2020-02-08 09:30 - 17:00 | Caribou Mountain, 436 Bog Road, Unorganized Territory of South Oxford, ME, 04217, United States
Our next Community Hike of the winter will be on Saturday, February 8th at 9:30am. We will be heading up Caribou Mountain in the White Mountain National Forest. While the mountain is not directly on the Appalachian Trail it is on Forest Service land (like much of the A.T. landscape to the south) and there are great views of areas where the trail passes to the west and north. Plus it is one of our favorite trips!
We will be taking the Caribou Trail from the east trailhead, which is 2.8 miles down Bog Road off Route 2 in West Bethel. Many guidebooks only describe this trail from the Route 113 side in Evans Notch, so please take note of the directions. The hike is relatively moderate for most of its length and the distance to the summit is 3.1 miles (returning the same way). We will meet in the parking area past Pooh Corner Farm at the end of bog road.
You must RSVP for this hike through this page or contact us (info@matlt.org or 207-808-2073)! When entering a Forest Service wilderness area, the limit per group is ten people. There will be updates on snow conditions a few days prior to the hike and we will coordinate ridesharing.

Four Ponds Hike
2020-02-22 09:00 - 17:00 | Height of Land, R7QQ+7VX Byron, Maine, ME, 04275, United States
Our next Community Hike will be held on Saturday, February 22nd at 9am to Four Ponds/Spruce Mountain. This 2,530-foot summit is very close to the famous Height of Land overlook, which is where we will meet at 9am on the opposite side of the road from the parking area (details will be provided in the organizer’s email). We can proceed to the summit of Spruce Mountain and then down the backside to series of remote, high-elevation ponds within the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands’ Four Ponds area.
This is a moderate snowshoe hike and we can choose to make it shorter or longer, depending on ability, conditions and interest. It is a great way to get out on the A.T. in Maine without having to navigate woods roads or climb steep mountains. Total mileage will be up to 3.6 miles each way – the distance to the Sabbath Day Pond shelter – with the only ascent/descent involving approximately 300 feet of elevation gain on either side of Spruce Mountain.
Having just come down Bemis Mountain, the Appalachian Trail proceeds from the parking area to the east, up Spruce Mountain (2530’) and down to large areas of montane spruce-fir forest in largely wet areas. The terrain in this section is largely flat, and proceeds along the first two ponds, Moxie and Long, before heading up along the south side of Four Ponds Mountain. The A.T. skirts the northern edge of the state land while remaining just below the summit of Four Ponds Mountain and becomes steep in this section, but only briefly. As the trail descends to the isthmus between Long Pond and Sabbath Day Pond, the third of the Four Ponds, it reaches the A.T.’s Sabbath Day Pond shelter.
You must RSVP for this hike through this page or contact us (info@matlt.org or 207-808-2073)! Snowshoes will likely be required!

Old Speck Hike
2020-03-01 09:00 - 17:00 | Grafton Notch State Park
The latest Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust community hike will be up Old Speck in Grafton Notch! This challenging yet awesome hike will run via the Appalachian Trail for a total roundtrip hike of 7.6 miles. The summit elevation is 4,170 feet – the fifth highest summit in Maine and the highest in the Mahoosucs/Grafton Notch area.
This hike will be Sunday, March 1st at 9am. We will meet in the Grafton Notch parking lot on the west side of Route 26 where the A.T. crosses the road. Carpooling will be arranged. You must RSVP for this hike below, by emailing us at info@matlt.org or calling 207-808-2073.

Caribou Mountain Hike
2021-07-10 09:30 - 17:30 | Caribou Mountain, 436 Bog Road, Unorganized Territory of South Oxford, ME, 04217, United States
…and we’re BACK. Our first Community Hike of the post-COVID era will be on Saturday, July 10th at 10am. We will be heading up Caribou Mountain in the White Mountain National Forest. While the mountain is not directly on the Appalachian Trail it is on Forest Service land (like much of the A.T. landscape to the south) and there are great views of areas where the trail passes to the west and north. Plus it is one of our favorite trips!
We will be taking the Caribou Trail from the east trailhead, which is 2.8 miles down Bog Road off Route 2 in West Bethel. Many guidebooks only describe this trail from the Route 113 side in Evans Notch, so be careful! The hike is relatively moderate for most of its length and the distance to the summit is 3.1 miles (returning the same way). We will meet in the parking area past Pooh Corner Farm at the end of Bog Road.
You must RSVP for this hike through this page below or contact us (info@matlt.org or 207-808-2073)! When entering a Forest Service wilderness area, the limit per group is ten people.

Cranberry Peak Hike
2021-07-17 10:00 - 17:00 | Curry Road, Curry Road, Stratton, Maine, 04982
Our next Community Hike will be up Cranberry Peak (3,214 feet) in the Bigelow Range via the Bigelow Range Trail on July 17th. We will meet in the trailhead parking area at the end of Currie Street (sometimes spelled “Curry”) in Stratton at 10am. This will be an up-and-back hike up the Bigelow Range Trail, with a distance of 2.9 miles each way for a total distance of 5.8 miles. The trail is moderate for most of the first half and then emerges onto open ledges and low spruce forest for the remainder, with some steep areas. The views from the summit of Cranberry Peak are excellent.
Here’s some information about Cranberry Peak and the Bigelows:
Maine Trail Finder
Maine Natural Heritage Hike
Bigelow Preserve Map and Guide
You must RSVP below or by contacting us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073.
