Western Maine Mountains (trip)
Western Maine Mountains
- Active & Adventure
8 Days, from $1,950* per person. July, August.
Accommodations: Comfort. Exertion level: 3 (7 is most strenuous)
Overview of Western Maine Mountains
After 23 years of guiding hiking and walking trips in some of Europe’s most beautiful areas, we are turning to our own backyard to explore the unspoiled beauty of Maine’s Western Mountains. Here, we will hike through some of Maine’s old growth forests and among some of Maine’s highest peaks, including those of Bigelow, Sugarloaf and Crocker, all over 4,000 feet. Hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail as it crosses the Bigelows, we will have expansive views of Katahdin to the north and Mount Washington to the west. This area, also home to many lakes and rivers, is situated along the Northern Forest canoe trail, a continuous canoe trail that traces the Native American travel routes from New York State all the way to the Canadian border in northern Maine.
We will be exploring this wilderness area with the help of a newly formed organization, the Maine Huts and Trails, now in its fourth year of operation with two backcountry huts open and completed.
Operated by Distant Journeys.
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Disclaimers
*Travel product and pricing information are the travel provider’s base estimates, published here as a convenience to TravelDragon users without verification by TravelDragon. Your actual price will vary depending upon length of trip, travel dates, number of traveling guests, transportation (e.g. airfare, rail passes, etc.), and optional service features such as room categories or individualized food requirements. This base price estimate may or may not include all necessary fees, taxes, government-imposed surcharges. Be sure to confirm availability, total price and trip details with the travel provider using the contact information provided here.
Max group size: 12
Itinerary
Day 1: Group pick up at Maine’s Portland
International Jetport. Transfer to the Carrabassett Valley, about a 3
hours drive. If time permits, we will take an easy walk. Welcome dinner
and orientation.
Day 2: A day hike, Burnt Mountain: With a rocky summit that is above the tree line, Burnt Mountain (1,775’), has striking 360-degree views. The trail begins near Brackett brook, climbing through a forest of mixed hardwood and conifer trees. As we emerge from the forest and approach the rocky open summit, we are greeted by fantastic views of the Bigelow range, Sugarloaf and Crocker Cirque. We will circle back to our Inn.
Day 3: Appalachian Trail to Cranberry Peak: After a short transfer, we will hike a section of the Appalachian Trail as it begins its ascent of the Bigelow Range. After about 2 and one-half miles, we will reach the Range Trail and begin heading west, towards the village of Stratton. After passing Cranberry Pond, a beautiful tarn nestled in the mountains and formed by a glacier, we continue climbing to reach our highest point of 3,213 feet. From here, after admiring the view, we begin to descend, steeply at first, into Stratton. We will meet the pontoon boat that will take us the length of Flagstaff Lake to the hut. The damming of the Dead River formed Flagstaff Lake, in the shadow of the Bigelows. As we travel to the hut, we will learn about the history of the area and the village from our captain, arriving in time for dinner.
Day 4: Day walk/hike: We have a couple of choices today. One is heading south from the hut where we can join the Appalachian Trail as it heads north towards Katahdin. Once reaching Carry Pond, we will follow the shore and circle back to the hut in time to enjoy the view from the deck. The area of the Carry Ponds, also known as the Arnold Trail, was where Benedict Arnold, in October of 1775, marched his men on their treacherous way to face the British in Quebec.
Our other option today is to walk to Grand Falls by hiking along a newly constructed trail. The trail leaves the hut and hugs the shore of the lake then follows along the Dead River. The falls are about 5 miles. This is a relatively level walk. Distance: 9 miles
You may also choose to relax at the hut, use one of their canoes, or read a book on their screened porch.
Day 5: Little Bigelow along the Appalachian Trail: We begin the day with a short boat transfer to Round Barn, on the other side of the lake, where we begin hiking on the Safford Brook trail. Following the brook, we climb gradually at first, then more steeply until we reach the junction of the Appalachian Trail at 2,250 feet. From here, we continue climbing to the summit of Little Bigelow. Crossing the ridge, possibly joining some “thru hikers” we will descend at the end of the Bigelow Range and walk back to the lakeshore where we meet the boat to transfer to the Flagstaff hut.
Day 6: Flagstaff hut to Popular Stream hut: Leaving Flagstaff hut after a hearty breakfast, we follow the trail as it hugs the shoreline of the lake. We’ll be surrounded by a great expanse of Maine wilderness, 36,000 acres of public land including seven mountain summits. Our views today will be of forests, mountains, lake, and possibly moose. Much of this wilderness is part of the Bigelow Wilderness Preserve that was created in 1976 to protect the area from the development of a new ski area.
Day 7: Popular Stream hut to Carrabassett Valley: Leaving the hut after breakfast, we’ll visit the Popular Stream Falls before walking out the gentle trail. After two miles, we will join the Narrow Gauge pathway along the Carrabassett River, with a chance to cool off in the river in the many swimming holes along the way. We continue walking to our B & B where we will enjoy our farewell dinner.
Day 8: The trip will end after breakfast with a transfer back to the Portland Airport.
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