All in all, I am truly enjoying my time on the trail. Success! After crossing Maine and reaching the Canadian border, some hikers continue on an unofficial trail extension called the International Appalachian Trail. Beyond, the trail ascends over Middle Mountain and to the long southerly ridge of the mountain, which the trail follows until finally reaching the open summit. Length: 78.5 miles (0 to 78.5)Highest Point: 4,458 ft (Blood Mountain)Overview and Why it is Awesome: Springer Mountain has become an iconic landmark for the Appalachian Trail. Out of the fourteen states the famous trail encompasses, Maine is considered by many to be the most difficult, rugged, and beautiful. Appalachian Trail parking/access areas, pictures, maps and information. Based in the tiny town of Caratunk, Maine, he offers the AT's only ferry service. All Rights Reserved. For further info., call the Maine Appalachian Trail Club at 207-645-4407 or visit their website. To summit from the east: From US-201 in Bingham, turn right (east) on ME-16 and drive 5.3 miles. This trail is approximately 2 miles in length. Proceed 0.8 miles to Caratunk Village, then turn right and head uphill on Pleasant Pond Road. This is where it all begins (or ends). The trail threads its way among 20 or so wind turbines on the wind farm access road before descending to the East Ridge Rd and turning east towards the United States/Canadian Border. Appalachian Trail Hike – Pleasant Pond Mountain. Beautiful was the world, colourful was the world, strange and mysterious was the world! On reaching the border the IAT turns north on the Border Trail. The hike begins in the woods, follow the white Appalachian Trail blazes on the trees. From the west: (1.7 miles one-way) Follow the Appalachian Trail from the parking area and past a side trail leading to the Pleasant Pond Lean-to, after 0.3 miles. His name is Greg Caruso and along the nearly 2200-mile Appalachian Trail, thru hikers can't miss him. Bald Mountain Twp T2 R3, Caratunk, The Forks Plt, Click on a parking icon to get custom directions. Please try again. Begin new mileage here: at 0.7 miles, bear right at a fork. Blood Mountain is the first big mountain for Northbounders. Turn right at a T-intersection at 2.6 miles. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. There is an unofficial Appalachian Trail Parking Guide that you should know about if section hiking or slackpacking is your thing. The Appalachian Trail crosses the northeastern and north- western portions of the town, making a bend north to The Forks around Pleasant Pond. NOTES: TWP = township; WELS= West of the Eastern Line of the State (the vertical east boundary on the map). The Appalachian Trail crosses U.S. Route 201 at Caratunk. Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Maine trail finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, earn badges, and more! © 2021 Maine Trail Finder. University of Maine, Fogler Library, Special Collections. It has stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs from Maine to Georgia along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. A new password has been emailed to you. The owner Phil had thru hiked the AT 3 times, and was now retired, running the cabin stays and shuttling people. Check out the newest articles in MTF Stories! Drive 1.3 (with the road turning to gravel after 0.3 mile), then turn right onto a narrow gravel drive, which leads to the trailhead parking area in 0.1 mile. – Siddhartha – Hermann Hesse. In addition, MATC maintains over 60 miles of side trails as well as a system of regularly-spaced shelters and campsites to preserve access to wild, backcountry hiking in Maine. 1974. Here is a link to all my photos and videos of the trail so far! Articles about Maine history, government, ecology, economy, recreation, towns, natural features, famous people, sports, with maps, photos, and videos. ARE WE ANYWHERE NEAR A PART OF THE TRAIL THAT WE COULD TAKE A SHORT WALK ON? Simply choose a selection from each of the list boxes below, then click on the submit button. In Maine, the all-volunteer Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) maintains and protects the 267-mile section of the Appalachian Trail extending from Katahdin in Baxter State Park to Grafton Notch at ME-26. See the Maine IAT Trail Guide for information on hiking the Border Trail. Required fields are marked *. WE ARE COMING INTO MAINE FROM CANADA VIA ROUTE #201. Baxter Quota FAQs. Place the cursor over a red dot to go directly to a township. The breakfast buffet with unlimited coffee started this day off right. Northern Outdoors offers shuttles to and … It is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and 31 trail-maintaining clubs along with other federal and state land managers whose land the trail crosses. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is perhaps the best-known hiking and backpacking trail in the United States. MATC publishes The Official Appalachian Trail Guide to Maine, which includes seven maps, please visit their website for information on how to purchase the guide or to learn more about becoming a member of MATC. Cross US 201 and go in on the left .3 mile to the Kennebec River and the official start of section #5. —Bangor Daily News, He looked around, as if he was seeing the world for the first time. Fires are only allowed in the provided fireplace ring at established campsites; it is illegal in Maine to build a fire elsewhere. Do not underestimate the difficulty of hiking the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Maine. AT Trail North (2007) ... Small World: Ethnographic Research of Caratunk, Maine. 97 were here. We all soaked up as much wifi and electricity as we could before our 10AM shuttle. The northernmost hiker service on the Appalachian Trail, we offer a variety of services, including lodging, shuttles, a fully stocked gear shop, gear shakedowns, food drops in the 100-Mile Wilderne At 4.8 miles, bear right at another fork. Caratunk Tourism Caratunk Hotels Appalachian Trail Sugarloaf to Caratunk Hiking route in Bigelow , Bibb County , Maine , United States Leave a Review Pass another side trail leading 0.2 miles to a small sand beach on Pleasant Pond (which is also accessible from the lean-to). Going southbound on the Appalachian Trail across Caratunk, The Bigelows, Stratton, and The Saddlebacks, and everyone you meet along the way. US20-Lee, MA - 1546.8. A short walk west at the crossing brings one to the Kennebec River, a crossing point for hikers. At 4.2 miles, the pavement ends. The trail extends an astonishing 2,184 miles from Georgia to Maine. Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account. The trail crosses a brook at 0.5 miles. Over 3 million people visit the A.T. every year. The Appalachian Trail passes through Caratunk following Pleasant Pond Stream and the northwest shore of Pleasant Pond before climbing Pleasant Pond Mountain. One might also use the parking area on the east side of 201, then venture along the trail for as long as you wish. A short hike on the Appalachian Trail to an open summit with expansive views… Pleasant Pond Mountain is one of our favorite local hikes. Appalachian Trail: Jo-Mary Road to Mount Katahdin. There was an issue with your submission. Your log in attempt was not successful. The rocky trail leads steeply uphill through dense woods. The trail climbs over rock ledges which open up for great views at the summit and site of the former fire tower. These awesome businesses support our goal of connecting people to outdoor adventures in Maine! It’s definitely a dog-friendly hiking trail. The 2,000-mile famous Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the Kennebec River at Caratunk, a few miles south of The Forks, Maine, where our Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort is located. Copyright © 2020 Publius Research unless otherwise noted. Turn left on Town Line Road. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Trailhead parking signs become evident as you proceed to a grassy opening and the AT at 5.5 miles from US-201. Hiker parking is located up a steep incline on the right side (eastside) of the road, just north of the junction of US Route 201 & old 201 at the north end of the village of Caratunk. We saw Salmon, Squabbler, Shit To Do and Smoke Screen as we were exiting the bus. Hiker parking is located up a steep incline on the right side (eastside) of the road, just north of the junction of US Route 201 & old 201 at the north end of the village of Caratunk. Interested in learning more about trails in Maine? Hikers may complete their hike by obtaining a Day Use Parking Reservation (DUPR) or campground reservation and enter the Park through the Togue Pond Gate. They were coming over on the morning canoe shuttle. This program calculates the approximate walking distance in miles between two points along the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,155 mile footpath that spans from Springer Mountain in Georgia, to Mt. The Appalachian Trail crosses U.S. Route 201 at Caratunk. We've got three very dedicated volunteers editing all … Pleasant Pond is the largest lake in Caratunk. Thursday, May 16th and Friday, May 17th I hiked 37 miles on the Appalachian trail from Monson, Maine, south to Caratunk, Maine. "Those seeking cold, hard statistics on Maine communities won't be disappointed." Appalachian Trail in Maine The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, otherwise referred to as Appalachian Trail or simply, A.T., is a marked hiking trail that spans 14 states, from Georgia to Maine. Day 121 (August 7th) Did a 18.8 mile day out of Caratunk. Here was blue, here was yellow, here was green, the sky and the river flowed, the forest and the mountains were rigid, all of it was beautiful, all of it was mysterious and magical, and in its midst was he, Siddhartha, the awakening one, on the path to himself. He was hel HEADING FOR BAR HARBOR AREA THIS NEXT WEEK. At 6269 feet, it’s the highest point in Maine and, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring places, not just on the AT, but in the world. Since its inception in the 1920s, thousands of volunteers have worked tirelessly to maintain, manage, and protect the Appalachian Trail. October Mountain Lean-to, MA - 1554.0 Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. To summit from the west: Travel 14 miles on US-201 north of the US-201/ME-16 junction in Bingham. A side trail off Saddleback Mountain in this area, allows hikers to follow the ski trails to the base lodge. Please try again. Caratunk House Hiker B&B is back after eleven years. Maine - 12 Miles - From Caratunk trailhead mile 2041.8 To Moxie Bald Pond stealth site mile 2053.8 - We stayed at the 100 mile wilderness cabins the night before. McAllister, Donna. This 53.2-mile section is wild and remote, stringing together the 100-Mile Wilderness to Mount Katahdin, the highest point in Maine and the northern-most point on the Appalachian Trail. Updated and maintained by A.T. hikers. Pass another side trail leading 0.2 miles to a small sand beach on Pleasant Pond (which is also accessible from the lean-to). Suggested Section Hikes in Maine Caratunk to Monson (S to N) – 37 miles An historic stone shelter, built in 1934 by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) is perched on the summit.Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neels Gap is t… For more information, please visit the Baxter State Park webpage or refer to their recent announcement. From the east: (4.7 miles one-way) Walk north from the parking area along Troutdale Road for 0.2 miles to where the trail leads west up the mountain from a spot near Joe's Hole at the southern end of Moxie Pond. Many other accesses to the A.T. are located throughout the region by means of secondary trails. At 5.3 miles, bear right into the woods where Boise Crossover Road bears left. Pleasant Pond Stream overflows a dam in the southwest corner of the pond, and flows 3 miles (4.8 km) west into the Kennebec River at Caratunk village. Appalachian Trail: Jo-Mary Road to Mount Katahdin. I use it all of the time to find places to park along the trail, trail head intel, and excellent photos that show what different sections of the trail look like. The rocky trail leads steeply uphill through dense woods. Browse topics related to the bicentennial. At 0.1 miles, the trail crosses under a powerline, then passes through a low area of beaver bogs. Be sure to carry equipment and supplies necessary for this undertaking and be prepared for challenging weather conditions. Another hard place to leave. Maine is the A.T.’s most challenging, rugged and remote state, and it has the wildest feel of any area of the Trail even for the most seasoned hiker. I Am in Love with These Maine Mountains. Pleasant Pond Mountain is accessible from the west or east along the Appalachian Trail and has open ledges that offer fine views in all directions. A short walk west at the crossing brings one to the Kennebec River, a crossing point for hikers. One might also use the parking area on the east side of 201, then venture along the trail for as long as you wish. From the west: (1.7 miles one-way) Follow the Appalachian Trail from the parking area and past a side trail leading to the Pleasant Pond Lean-to, after 0.3 Hikers may also choose to set a shuttle and hike from one trailhead to the other, enjoying the summits of Pleasant Pond and Middle Mountains (6.4 miles). Directions The parking lot in Grafton Notch is on Maine 26, 13 miles north of US 2 and 7 miles south of the town of Upton. * 2006-2011 data compiled by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. (See the Caratunk article.) Maine: Nearby Town: Caratunk: Rating: Directions: Kennebec River Parking: Follow US 201 north from Bingham for 16 miles. At 3.9 miles, take the left fork onto North Shore Road. The list on above links towns and townships on the Appalachian Trail in Maine from north (top) to south (bottom). Visit Maine Appalachian Trail Club online for more information or contact: Pleasant Pond Mountain is accessible by hiking the Appalachian Trail from the west (Northbound AT) or east (Southbound AT) to reach the summit. The Sterling Inn: A stop off the Appalachian Trail - See 38 traveler reviews, 12 candid photos, and great deals for The Sterling Inn at Tripadvisor. This 53.2-mile section is wild and remote, stringing together the 100-Mile Wilderness to Mount Katahdin, the highest point in Maine and the northern-most point on the Appalachian Trail. Turn right at a sign for Caratunk and Pleasant Pond. I am trying to knock off the Maine section of the AT and have a short section from Caratunk to Flagstaff Lake, and the famed ‘hundred mile wilderness’, which isn’t really all wilderness any longer. Upper Goose Pond Cabin Side Trail, MA - 1545.2. (See the Caratunk article.) Please educate yourself before hiking, so that you can have the knowledge and skills necessary for an enjoyable and safe hike. Appalachian Trail: Pleasant Pond Mountain - Maine | AllTrails Appalachian Trail in The Forks. Reach the AT trailhead and parking at 11.2 miles from ME-16. Your email address will not be published. It was a … From the west: (1.7 miles one-way) Follow the Appalachian Trail from the parking area and past a side trail leading to the Pleasant Pond Lean-to, after 0.3 miles. The Appalachian Trail Lodge and Hiker Service is your full-service hiking center in the Katahdin Area. 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