Dixmont Trails - Center Pond Public Access Trail and Wellmans Pond Road

My younger son and I decided to explore Dixmont this afternoon.  Here is a map of our hikes.

We started at the Center Pond Public Access Trail off of Western Avenue.  This is a short (0.2 mile round trip) trail that leads to Center Pond, a small but scenic pond.  The trail head is well marked with a wooded sign, although parking is right off of Western Avenue.  There is a bench near where the trail meets the pond.  

After our short hike, we noticed a road nearby and decided to see if there were any trails in that area.  We decided to walk on Wellmans Pond Road, which although technically a road is more like a trail and not heavily traveled (there was one pickup truck parked around 1/4 mile in, its owner presumably hunting nearby).  Wellmans Pond Road, also known as Old Route 9, was once paved but the pavement is breaking up in parts and missing in other areas.  It is straight and slightly hilly, traveling through woods and offering obstructed views of Wellmans Pond.  Monk Cemetary is located off the road with headstones from the 1800's.  

 

Downeast Sunrise Trail Ellsworth Section

I went cycling today with both of my sons on the Downeast Sunrise Trail in Ellsworth.   The trail was in good condition despite heavy rains yesterday.

Four Season Adventure Trail - Corinna to Dexter

 My older son and I biked the Four Season Adventure Trail today from Corinna to Dexter.  There is a small parking area in downtown Corinna from which we headed north.  Although it had a number of puddles, the trail was mostly flat and well packed, although there was a section just north of Lincoln Mills Road where the trail was softer dirt.   

It was a cold but beautifully sunny Sunday.  As such, there were a number of ATV riders out on the trail, although for the most part they were courteous.   

This section of trail travels through forests and wetlands and has a remote feel to it.

Here is a map of our ride.

 

 

 

Biking Walden Parke, Bangor City Forest, Caribou Bog and the Veazie Railbed

My younger son and I biked a number of contiguous preserves in Bangor, Orono and Old Town today, including the Walden Parke Preserve, Bangor City Forest, Caribou Bog and the Veazie Railbed.  

We started our trip at Walden Parke.  We took the north fork of the blue marked loop trail, which was moderately difficult due to rocks and leaves on the trail hiding rocks.  The trail lead us to the Veazie Railbed, which we took briefly until entering Bangor City Forest.  

After a quick loop around the Forest, we headed back out to the Railbed and rode down to Caribou Bog.  We continued along the Railbed until we saw signs for Kirkland Road.  We followed that trail (which equaled Walden Parke in difficulty) until reaching Kirkland Road, and then turned around and retraced our steps.  

We departed the Railbed and headed back into Walden Parke on the southern portion of the loop trail, which was significantly easier than the north fork.  

Our total ride was a little over 14 miles and proved to be an excellent way to spend a warm Saturday in October.  Here is a map of our ride.

 

 

 

Great Pond Mountain - Stuart Gross Trail (Orland)

A friend and I hiked the Stuart Gross Trail today at Great Pond Mountain in Orland.  Despite the intermittent rains and clouds, the trail was surprisingly crowded.  

The trail climbs gradually through a series of forested switchbacks until opening to a rocky ledge.  Once near the summit, there are two spur trails - the 0.3 mile summit loop and the 0.1 mile south overlook.  The summit loop is a forested loop across the top of the mountain. 

The views from the top of Great Pond Mountain are exceptional, made even more so by the fall foliage.  

The total hike was a little over 3 miles.  Here is a map of our hike. 

Great Pond Mountain is part of the larger Great Pond Mountain Wildlands land trust.  For more information visit https://www.greatpondtrust.org/.