Tag Archives: White Mountain National Forest

Caribou Mountain, WMNF, Evans Notch, ME

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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:

Evans Notch, Pequawket Trail (RT 113) Scenic Byway

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Evans Notch Scenic Byway, RT 113

Maine Scenic Byways. Copyright © Eric Holsinger. Image used with permission.

Evans Notch is a mountainous area in Western Maine between Fryeburg and Gilead. The north side of the notch flows into the Androscoggin River drainage and the south side flows into the Saco River drainage. All around it is mountains and forests.

The Pequawket Trail Scenic Byway follows RT 113 north from Fryeburg and weaves in and out of Maine and New Hampshire as it passes through the White Mountain National Forest and the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness.

The area around Fryeburg is agricultural; corn fields and farms. The Saco River flows wide and slow in this area. The road winds in and out farms and forest and slowly climbs toward the notch.

The area near the notch opens up with scenic vistas overlooking the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The cliffs above the notch provide nesting for a recovering population of Peregrine Falcons.

North of the notch, the road follows the Cold River as it descends toward Gilead and the Androscoggin River.

In the winter, a section of this road is impassible. There are gates for closing the road, but you’ll probably just find the plow trucks have blocked any passage with hard packed snow.

Evans Notch Scenic Byway at EveryTrail

More information:

Image used with permission, Copyright Eric Holsinger.

Frankenstein Cliff/Arethusa Falls

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Frankenstein Cliffs from upper parking area

Frankenstein Cliffs from upper parking area

Arethusa Falls

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

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

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

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

Sign along trail