About deni

a novice hiker and South Portland, ME resident. Along with her are her husband and dog with hopes of hiking at Mt. Katahdin. She also blogs about places to explore with your dog at DogWalkSpot.com.

Mt. Desert Island, ME

Posted on November 1, 2010 by deni

Miles of open ledges and picturesque views await you when you beat the crowds and take the journey by foot along the South Ridge Trail to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.

Acadia National Park, located on Mt. Desert Island, is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States. Many of the park’s points of interest can be reached via vehicle including the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Cadillac boasts the tallest summit on the Eastern Seaboard at 1532 ft. and is well known as the place where the sun’s rays first touch the continental US.

To access the South Ridge Trail travel outside the park on Rt. 3. Approximately 5.5-5.7 miles South of Bar Harbor following the signs for Blackwoods Campground. Once you come to the entrance of the campground on the left, the trail head will be 50yards more on your right. You can park along the shoulder of the road.

The South Ridge Trail begins its 3.5 miles as an easy ascent through the forest. Just shy of a mile the trail begins a more moderate climb and at the mile mark a spur to the right will take you to Eagle’s Crag. This lookout is a nice place to linger and take in the sights of the first clear view you have over Frenchman’s Bay and Otter Creek.

Soon you will reach the granite ledges with pine trees growing in available soil. You will wind your way up granite ledges for almost all of the next 2 miles to the summit. As you reach higher elevations, stopping to look behind you at the amazing view is irresistible. At the 2.3 mile mark you will have a short descent in to what is called the Featherbed, a high elevation bog. At this point you will also come across a trail intersection with the Canon Brook Trail.Once past the Featherbed you will reach the steepest part of the trail, a small climb out of the Featherbed and beginning of the last mile to the summit. This area is all open ledge with cairns to guide you along the way. You will soon see the road in front of you and a junction with the Bubble Pond Trail as the trail takes a right hand turn and parallels the road as you have a .5 mile hike through the forest again. Immediately you will encounter a rock that has some rungs in it to assist you in climbing over it. Follow the trail across a fire road and you will come out of the forest in to the hustle and bustle of the summit. Many well known pictures are taken from this vantage point. There is a gift shop and bathrooms here as well as a parking area for those who drove up. While the summit will be crawling with people, it is easy to get a space to yourself for a snack and drinking in of the beauty that surrounds you. Once finished, you can return back the trail you took up. This will make for a 7 mile round trip hike that will take you approximately 4 hrs depending on how long you linger.

Caribou Mountain, WMNF, Evans Notch, ME

Posted on October 13, 2010 by deni

The White Mountains on the Maine side are the lesser known and less traveled hikes of the White Mountain National Forest. However, if it’s a quality hike without the crowds, this gem is your ticket. Located in the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness, Caribou offers a 2840 ft elevation with an open summit allowing you an unobstructed 360 degree view.

To get there, enter Evans Notch on RT 113 from the South. There are many hikes along this road, some marked better than others. Caribou is located approximately 5.8 miles from the Maine Border entering the White Mountain National Forest. From the North from the Junction of Rt 2 head South 4.7 miles. The directions in Best Loop Hikes by Jeff Romano (affiliate link) are highly recommended.

The Caribou-Speckled Wilderness includes 14,000 acres of wilderness area with 25 miles of maintained hiking trails within the White MountainNational Forest.

This trail is a loop, so you can start in either direction. If you choose to climb up the steeper trail and take the more gradual trail down, then choose the Mud Brook Trail at the trail head. The trail is easy to follow and begins under the cover of many deciduious trees. As you climb the Mud Brook Trail you will cross over the stream 3 times before reaching the boundary with the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness. Once you cross the boundary you have one last stream crossing. There is a viewpoint at approximately 2.75 miles up that is worth the stop now that you are above tree level. The last .5 miles becomes steeper and rockier. The summit affords a 360 degree view and is expansive. In the Fall the foliage across the mountains and the view of Kezar Lake is very colorful.

The trail continues over the back side to a left on to the Caribou Trail. The decent is more gradual than the ascent and slightly longer at 3.6 miles. In the beginning the trail is fairly wide and rocky. The middle section follows Morrison Brook and offers a slimmer trail but lovely views including a waterfall. At the bottom the trail crosses Morrison Brook via a bridge and you will arrive at the parking lot.

Notes: It is important to note that you do need to obtain a pass or pay at the trail head. When we were there 10/08 the bridge across Morrison Brook was not there so we had to cross by walking through the brook. The view is truly spectacular and the day we were there we arrived just after 8am and the first people we saw were 2 couples at the summit. As we descended we passed a few more groups of people and there was a tent pitched at the trail head.

More Information:

Best Loop Hikes by Jeff Romano (affiliate link)
White Mountain National Forest
Evans Notch Scenic Byway

Frankenstein Cliff/Arethusa Falls

Posted on October 15, 2008 by deni

Frankenstein Cliffs from upper parking area

Arethusa Falls

Located in the Crawford Notch region of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF), Frankenstein Cliff is named after a German-born painter who was known for his landscape art. It is fitting that his namesake stands approximately 1000ft above the valley floor and offers incredible views of the Saco River Valley, Dry River and Bemis Brook as well as the trailhead to Arethusa Falls which are named after a goddess in mythology. The waterfall is the tallest in New Hampshire boasting a 200 ft drop.

Map of Crawford Notch area

If it’s solitude you want, try parking in the lower lot and hiking up the Frankenstein Cliff Trail. There is a moderate grade on this trail as it crosses the stream. Once you reach the railroad trussle above you, the grade becomes steeper and the soil a little loose in areas. There are a few small switchbacks leading up the trail. The elevation gain is nearly 1200 ft. in just shy of a mile. The climb is worth it. Once you reach the top, you can see for miles and miles. It is a nice place to rest and have a snack or look over the edge to your car if you are adventurous and not afraid of heights. Take caution when at the edge of open cliff faces.

View from top of Frankenstein Cliff

To continue on, follow the Frankenstein Cliff Trail to the right opposite of where you came up to the Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail.

There will be an outlook to Mt. Washington along this trail.

Follow this for approximately 1.3 miles when you will reach the Arethusa Falls Trail. The sign at the base of the trailhead for this trail along the highway states this is a 60 minute one way hike up the Arethusa Falls Trail.

Turn right and follow the Arethusa Falls to the waterfall. Once you reach this point, expect to see many more people as the trail is more maintained and more popular on this side. It is a short hike from this point, perhaps 2/10th of a mile. To return via a loop, return from the falls to the junction with the Arethusa-Ripley Falls trail and continue right down the mountain on the Arethusa Falls trail. Near the trailhead, there is a slight divergence for the Bemis Brook Trail if you are so inclined for a little more adventure.

When you reach the upper parking lot at the Arethusa Falls Trailhead, be advised the home and property located there are off limits and private. However, this is a great spot to snap some photos of the cliffs you just climbed. Continue down the hill on the paved road to the lower parking lot and return to your car. This loop will total approximately 4.8 miles.

Sign along Trail

Notes: The day we went on this loop (August 2008) we did not see any other people until we had almost reached the Arethusa Falls Trail junction. I was glad we had the toughest part of the hike out of the way early and we enjoyed the time alone with our dog on the trail. Once we reached the Arethusa Falls Trail it was almost non-stop people coming and going. We saw some people dressing in hopes to swim at the top. This is not that kind of hike. While you could perhaps get in the water, if it is a swim you are looking for, the Saco River is right along this route and easily acessible just up the road from this hike. There is one amenity you will find here, an outhouse located in the lower parking lot.

Sign along trail

Robinson Woods Cape Elizabeth, ME

Posted on August 14, 2008 by deni

Many people follow Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth to see the ocean and visit Fort Williams State Park. However, there is a small gem of preserved land with an easy trail and many vernal pools along this road and only a short distance from the better known state park. Robinson Woods, part of the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust (C.E.L.T.) has 87 acres of fairly level packed dirt path that winds its way around a nice a loop where you can smell the ocean while checking out the local flora and fauna and hopefully catch a glimpse of wildlife. There is a self-guided tour book available at the entrance, please be sure to return it for others to enjoy.

Open dawn to dusk, no fee, hiking, bird watching, dogs allowed on leash and under total voice control, mountain biking, no trash, no toilet.

For more information: http://www.capelandtrust.org/

To get there: From RT 77 take a left on to Shore Rd toward Portland Head Light/Fort Williams State Park. Trail access on Left just after Pond Cove on Right. The sign above on this post will be visible. There are also trail entrances at Dyer Road and Rock Crest Drive.

While not a Portland Trail trip for us, this was an exploratory trip as our dog had minor surgery and we decided to find some trails less traveled; Robinson Woods turned out to be just what we were looking for. We dedicided to take the boundry trail on this 1.4 mile loop trail. Most of the trail is packed dirt, fairly level, and a few small bridges to help you over vernal pools. We saw many old trees of different varieties and found the trail marked well with white blazes as well as signs with the greenbelt where the paths overlap. The website says that there are deer, owls, fisher and woodpeckers residing in Robinson Woods as well as Eider Ducks that raise young near the protective waters. There is also fresh water that goes through the woods and is a tributary to the ocean at Pond Cove.

Notes: During our visit in July 2008, we found the trail to be quite nice and we only saw two people walking a dog so there was a lot of solitude. However the misquitoes were of a different hybrid breed that we have never encountered before. We both sprayed ourselves down before entering the woods and came out with many a swollen bite on us. Even our poor dog was “bugged”. One of my favorite moments though, was rounding the path on the way back parallel to Shore Road and smelling the ocean. With the proper bug spray, I would think this would be a fabulous place to take children and take the self guided tour to educate them about the local flora and fauna. We didn’t see the book until we were on our way out, but next time I would certainly take it along as there are many well marked spots along the trail and I would like to know what they are.

Have you been here? Send us a comment and tell us about your experience.

Tumbledown Mountain Weld, ME

Posted on August 14, 2008 by deni

Tumbledown Mountain found in Weld, ME, located just outside of Mt. Blue State Park, approximately 2 hours North of Portland, has become on of the state’s most popular hikes. While not one of the tallest mountains in the region, this little mountain, with an elevation of 3068′, packs a punch, but rewards you with one of the prettiest views and a great alpine pond to cool down in as a reward.

Open 24 hrs as you can camp out here overnight, outhouse located at the Brook Trail trail head, carry in carry out, dog friendly, hiking, camping, conservation, wildlife, bird watching, fishing, alpine pond, swimming.

For more information: http://www.tumbledown.org/

To Get There: (directions from Summitpost.org) From Portland, Maine, take I-95 north to Route 4 in Auburn. Follow route 4 through Auburn, Turner, Livermore Falls, and Jay. Turn left on 156 and follow into Weld Village. At the four way stop in Weld, go straight. Turn left at Webb Corner (large sign). Within about 1/2 mile, a logging road (Byron Road) leaves straight ahead in a 90 degree turn. The Brook Trail leaves Byron Road approximately 4.4 miles from Webb Corner. The Loop Trail also begins on Byron Road approximately 5.8 miles from Webb Corner. Both the Loop and Brook Trail heads are fairly well marked but I suggest setting your trip odometer when you make the turn at Webb Corner so you know you are in the general area.

* We mis-read our directions and found our Maine Gazetteer essential to finding our way back.

On our hike, we chose the Brook Trail as my husband had hiked this mountain before and remembered on the Loop Trail and Ridge Trail that there were places with ladder rungs to help hikers, as well as a hole on the Loop Trail that you would need to take your pack off to get through called the “fat man’s misery”. Since those trails would not be appropriate for our dog, we decided on the “easier” trail. The Brook Trail is approximately 1.5 – 2.5 miles (depending on which site you are looking at) with a 1, 600 ft height gain. Don’t be fooled though. The beginning of the trail is loose rock of various sizes on a wide path with many water barriers across the trail directing the water to the sides. Approximately 3/4 – 1 mile in, the path suddenly goes almost completely vertical. You will need to climb over many boulders and cross the stream 3 times. There is a rock step stair that parallels the waterfall near the top. The alpine pond is beautiful and the view can’t be beat.

Notes: We went up on a Saturday in July 2008. We found the trail head to be packed and had to park along the side of the road with many others. There was a constant wave of hikers, fishers, campers and dogs going up and down the mountain. The beginning of the trail was easy packed rock, which changed as the elevation changed to loose rocks of various sizes and there was almost a shallow river running through the trail. There were work crews there working on the water diverts in the trail. As the trail elevation climbed more vertically, we found that even the dogs had some trouble climbing and eventually allowed them off-leash as many others were doing. This is not a beginner’s climb. I became overheated and eventually sick and had to rest often. It took us almost 3 hrs to reach the top, although we were passed by more fit hikers. The alpine pond at the top was a pleasant cool down on a hot and humid day for me as well as the dogs and was a very popular spot for many to have lunch. The climb back down was confusing at times as we lost the blazes 4 times. It was easy to back track though and get on the right path. The climb down was almost scary for me as I am a little afraid of heights and looking down at what I had climbed up was a bit daunting. I began to understand how the mountain got it’s name.

Have you been here? If so, what were your thoughts about this hike? Or did you take a different trail? If so, I would love to hear about it. Please post a comment and let me know about your experience.

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Northern New England outdoor recreation and adventure travel in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont

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