Caribou Loop Trail, Donnell Ponds Public Reserved Land

The Caribou Loop Trail is a 6.1 mile trail that runs  across Caribou Mountain, the west and east peaks of Black Mountain, and then back over Caribou Mountain.  The loop can be accessed from the north via the one mile Caribou Mountain Trail, for a combined hike of 8.1 miles with around 2,500 feet of total elevation change.

I did this hike solo yesterday and loved it.  This is an incredible hike with numerous open views, lush moss-filled coniferous forests, hardwood forests, and streams and ponds.   I would rate it as moderate to strenuous due to the trail being steep at parts, the multiple ascents and descents, and three stream crossings (between the east peak of Black Mountain and Caribou Mountain.). Hiking poles came in handy for some of the descents and the stream crossings.  

Here is a map of my hike.