The old speck trail ascends to the left which was the beginning of our hike. Old speck mountain is a 4,170 foot mountain in the mahoosuc range in oxford county, maine. Flanked to the southwest by mahoosuc arm and faces baldpate mountain to the northeast across grafton notch. Named katahdin by the penobscot native americans, which means the greatest mountain, it is located within northeast piscataquis, piscataquis county, and. Knock another 4000 footer off the new england 64 and get some amazing views of grafton notch state park. Maine outdoor adventure club is excited to participate in the great outdoor maine weekend with a series of 4 hikes levels 14 progressively more difficult. Backpacking old speck mtn and the west grafton loop section. My 8year old niece was coming too lots of excitement. Tengo and i were talking and failed to notice that the at takes a sharp left turn and begins to descend old speck about 0. Maine outdoor adventure club level 4 hike old speck mtn. Just east of the new hampshire border this is maines 3rd highest peak. Named katahdin by the penobscot native americans, which means the greatest mountain, it is located within northeast piscataquis, piscataquis county, and is the centerpiece of baxter state park. The eyebrow trail is quite steep at parts and was a little sketchy when i tried to descend that way, hence going back around and down old speck. Grafton notch state park is a premier recreational destination off of me26 in newry.
However, it is rather isolated, and the ponds surrounding the. Those who make it up to summits will be rewarded with spectacular views, especially from old speck. The mountain, the 4th highest in maine, is the northeasternmost and highest of the mahoosuc range, the northeasternmost part of the white mountains. On day one, we started off by climbing old speck mountain, the massive. Besides 4 quality newsletters, the maine chapter newsletter editor carey kish also produced the latest edition 11th of the maine mountain guide. Old speck mountain, also known as old speckle mountain, is a mountain located in oxford county, maine, united states. Crowned by towering old speck mountain, which has a viewing tower at its peak. The old speck trail in grafton notch state park encompasses a 3. The trail climbs to the summit of 4,170foot old speck mountain, where the view stretches deep into the wilderness that sparked kings imagination.
Youll start on the whiteblazed appalachian trail before coming to a fork for the blue or orange trails leading to table rock. This is an easy mountain as it is only 4 miles from a main highway through. Old speck trip report maine appalachian trail land trust. Old speck is the 4th highest mountain in the entire state of maine. From the trailhead, there is a great view of the eyebrow cliffs and during the. The old speck firewardens trail ascended directly from grafton notch to the summit of old speck, making it one of the steepest trails in new england. It is a complete playground for some and an arduous workout for others. This is a backpackers dream, with many challenging but scenic hikes, including a portion of the appalachian trail. At 5,267 feet, katahdin is maines tallest mountain. Old speck mountain appalachian trail and eyebrow loop 6. While some things have stayed the same, the newest maine mountain guide isn.
Winter hike the old speck trail in grafton notch state park. Located in grafton notch state park, table rock is a 2. Hike maine 4,000 footers new england 4000 footers hike. Due to the danger posed, and being part of the appalachian trail, it was closed and traffic rerouted to the old speck trail. Be sure to take the eyebrow loop, but be warned that there is a rock face section with hand bars and a ladder. By this time of year, many people in maine are experiencing winter fatigue and cant wait to put away the snowshoes, skis, facemasks, gloves and hats. Jan 04, 2017 old speck mountain is the most accessible of the 4000 footers in mainer, aside from saddleback via the ski trails. The eyebrow trail rejoins the old speck trail after about a mile and i took that the rest of the way to the summit. Here, the trail becomes a metaphor for just about everything else. Hey meb, i did the maine 4000footers as a backpacking trip in october of last year. According to the maine mountain guide, old speck, at 4,170 feet, was named for its speckled appearance formed by its large areas of exposed rock and tree cover and to distinguish it from other speckled mountains in maine. Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of maine trail finder. Old speck is in grafton notch state park and we started at the appalachian trail parking lot. Old speck is the highest point in oxford county and the third highest mountain in maine, and it is also the only 4000foot mountain in the county.
Extensive restoration ongoing, lots of rockwork and transplanting in the overused areas. The summit of old speck mountain is on the southern boundary of grafton notch state park. Old speck mountain is a 4,170 foot mountain located in the mahoosuc range in oxford county, maine. I took my time and went from rangeley to stratton, with a side trip to abraham, a short detour to sugarloaf summit, and a harder than expected bushwhack to redington from the at. We loved the hike to the top of old speck mountain. Apr 09, 2018 the maine appalachian trail land trust ended the winter hiking season with a spectacular april hike to the summit of old speck mountain in grafton notch. Jun 27, 2018 at a scant 190 pages, the book was hardly the definitive compendium we rely on today. Hike maine 4000 footers mount abraham, mount bigelow avery peak, mount bigelow west peak, crocker mountain, mount katahdin hamlin peak, mount katahdin baxter peak, north brother mountain, old speck mountain, mount reddington, saddleback mountain, saddleback mountain the horn, spaulding mountain, sugarloaf mountain, 4000 footers, hike 4000 footer mountains maine. For more information about this book and new england fire towers, go to mount pisgah is really not much of a mountain, but rather a hill on one of the many low ridges in central maine. Our first objective was old speck mountain, reached by a very steep, but short amount of trail.
The park lies amidst some of maines most spectacular mountains, the. On july 16, 2017, dad did a solo hike daughter had a planned visit to aquaboggan of old speck mountain 4,270 ft, a fairly strenuous 7. Tumbledown mountain weld 2020 all you need to know. Backpacking old speck mtn and the west grafton loop. Detailed 6 day mountain weather forecasts for climbers and mountaineers planning expeditions. It is also part of the eastern white mountains that stretch from new hampshire to maine. Hiking old speck mountain in grafton notch state park in maine when instagrammers unite to snowshoe in winter in maine adventures.
Clearly this is the case with robert moors on trails. The maine appalachian trail land trust ended the winter hiking season with a spectacular april hike to the summit of old speck mountain in grafton notch. There is a large parking area on the west side of route 26 in grafton notch state park. Im looking for something similar to the nh 4000 footer book im guessing there isnt. Jul 23, 2018 climbing old speck mountain left day one.
From the parking area i took the eyebrow trail to the old speck trail to the summit of old speck mountain old speck trail back down to the junction with the eyebrow trail, but then continued down the old speckappalachain to the parking area in grafton notch. There were some really nice ledges just below where the eyebrow trail rejoins the old speck trail and i got to watch a family of peregrine falcons soaring on the thermals above the ledges and cliff faces. Old speck mountain july 4th, 20 with 20s independence day falling on a midweek day, i was able to accompany my friend mike as he continues his quest for the new england 4000 footers with a hike to old speck mountain in maine. Hike eyebrow trail to old speck mountain loop, maine 26. Since my brother and i are going for the ne67 together, we took the opportunity this weekend so bill could get old speck. We followed the brook trail as others had suggested here. Maine provides detailed information on over 75 of the states best rides, including tours through the western mountains and the islanddotted coastline. A day hike old speck, part of the new england 67 hiking list and located in the white mountain national forest. The mountain, the fourthhighest in the state, is the northeasternmost and highest of the mahoosuc range, the northeasternmost part of the white mountains. Katahdin hiking trails in baxter state park, maine. Six new tent platforms of varying sizes nicely situated along the a. Ascending maines third highest mountain fourth highest peak at 4,180 feet, the trail itself has 2,700 feet of elevation gain featuring stopandstare scenery with.
Old speck is the tallest and northernmost mountain in the mahoosuc range which stretches for 30 miles across the mainenew hampshire frontier. Between old speck 4180, maines third highest peak and mahoosuc notch on the highest pond in maine. Hiking up the steep summit trails rewards hikers with spectacular views, particularly on old speck mountain which at 4,180 feet is maines third tallest mountain. Jul 12, 20 old speck mountain july 4th, 20 with 20s independence day falling on a midweek day, i was able to accompany my friend mike as he continues his quest for the new england 4000 footers with a hike to old speck mountain in maine. It is the highest mountain in the range, and the 4th highest mountain in the state of maine. Baxter state park and acadia national park, with 6 color trail maps. Old speck mountain, also known as old speckle mountain, is a mountain located in oxford county, maine.
It is widely claimed that the single hardest mile of the entire at occurs at mahoosuc notch a few miles south of old speck. From milehigh katahdin, the tallest mountain in maine, to cadillac mountain in bar harbor, where hikers can be among the first on the east coast to glimpse the rising sun, maine has excellent hiking opportunities for all ability levels. Old speck mountain is one of the summits in oxford county, me and can be found on the old speck mountain usgs topographic quad map. It is a fitting conclusion for anyone completing all nine second nature hikes. Grafton notch state park old speck mountain and eyebrow loop show. Mountain climbing weather forecasts for 2 elevations of old speck mountain, mahoosuc range, appalachians, united states. Old man on old speck mountain portland press herald. Grafton notch is a magnificent mountain pass in southwestern maine, a short drive from gorham, nh, the last major trail town that appalachian trail thruhikers visit before leaving new hampshire. Grafton notch state park baldpate mountain and table rock. Old speck is flanked to the southwest by mahoosuc arm, and faces baldpate mountain to the northeast across grafton notch.
You then can choose to continue on this trail or hop onto the eyebrow trail. In hiking, tags day hikes, hiking, hiking maine, ne 67. Old speck mountain and eyebrow loop maine trail finder. Old speck is the tallest and northernmost mountain in the mahoosuc range which stretches for 30 miles across the maine new hampshire frontier. Mahoosuc notch appalachian trail if you are going to go backpacking in maine, pick up a copy of the latest edition of these thorough and extremely accurate guidebooks. The western portion of grafton notch state park offers two rugged trail experiences offering spectacular views of the mahoosuc mountain range and of old speck mountain on the eastern side of grafton notch.
The mahoosucs are just to the northeast of the famous presidentials in the white mountains region of new hampshire. The trail is rated as difficult and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. Hike old speck mountain maine new england 4000 footers. Land trust community hike was up old speak in the western side of grafton notch. Long thought to be the second highest peak in the state, old speck has now yielded this honor to sugarloaf mtn. Old speck mountain newry, maine mountain, landmark. Check out my book before reality tv, gps devices, and dashboard computers, there was a coming of age for the maine warden service. Best camping in and near mahoosuc public reserved land. About one year ago, i climbed old speck when i hiked the grafton loop trail. Old speck mountain is the most accessible of the 4000 footers in mainer, aside from saddleback via the ski trails. Level 4 climb old speck mtn, the fourth highest mountain in maine, 4,170 ft. The distances of these trails are about equal, but the eyebrow trail is much steeper and a lot.
Old speck mountain in oxford county me old speck mountain area. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and snowshoeing. The appalachian trail, which runs from springer mountain in georgia to mount katahdin in. It is also part of the eastern white mountains that stretches from new hampshire to maine. You dont have to use logging or camp roads to get there, the parking lot is plowed in winter and the length of trail to the summit is relatively short. Apr 20, 2017 from milehigh katahdin, the tallest mountain in maine, to cadillac mountain in bar harbor, where hikers can be among the first on the east coast to glimpse the rising sun, maine has excellent hiking opportunities for all ability levels. Authors sarah hale and david gibbs have uncovered a diverse collection of trails that offer a wealth of enjoyment to fattire enthusiasts of all abilities. Old speck, commonly so called to distinguish it from the speckled mountains in stoneham and peru, dominates the w side of grafton notch. Grafton notch state park baldpate mountain and table. From the parking area, follow the whiteblazed appalachian trail southbound along cascade brook. Mar 12, 2018 on july 16, 2017, dad did a solo hike daughter had a planned visit to aquaboggan of old speck mountain 4,270 ft, a fairly strenuous 7.
Hiking up the steep summit trails rewards hikers with spectacular views, particularly on old speck mountain which at 4,180 feet is maine s third tallest mountain. The old speck trail very quickly hits an intersection with the eyebrow trail. Winter hike the old speck trail in grafton notch state. Map and location information for old speck mountain in maine. The notch is a mile of trail which winds through literally in many cases huge piles of tallus and boulders shed from the mountains on either side. Old speck is maines fourth highest peak and the tallest mountain in the mahoosuc range. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, featuring 175 new trails, 50 new mountains, and additional intext maps. Hike maine 4,000 footers new england 4000 footers hike nh. Firewardens trail me new englands lost hiking trails. The first time i attempted this trail was in mid april, and the slush and mud i encountered was absolutely unbelievable. Nonetheless, each of the maine mountain guide hikes below appeared in that first edition and still rise to the top today, in the brandnew 11th edition, available now.
We dropped a car at the rattle river trailhead off rt 2 in gorham, nh and drove north to grafton notch state park in maine to start our hike southward. The mahoosuc public reserved land is a beautiful and rugged landscape of mountain peaks, gorges, caves, and waterfalls. Winter hike the old speck trail in grafton notch state park, maine. Grafton notch state park baldpate mountain and table rock loop. It is very steep in some places but there is an old fire tower on top that may or may not be accessible to climb. Old speck mountain in oxford county me old speck mountain. Bridging the white mountains and southern maine, the mahoosuc trail is part of a. If you are not a regular climber, this mountain will be challenging, but its well worth it. The most commonly used route to the summit of old speck follows along the at most of the. Old speck mountain via appalachian trail maine alltrails. With all the rain last weekend i had quite a bit of time on my hands and so i started to plan out some of the routestrips for the maine 4000 footers and i have some questions and need some recommendations.
323 752 1202 707 520 1437 1190 271 904 68 1328 190 817 354 234 1289 1142 814 525 439 865 914 1299 377 34 798 1107 1301 244 1289 769 1315 1079