Horns Pond Trail leads to the pond and peaks of the same name, and the Fire Warden’s Trail offers a steep and direct route to West and Avery peaks. This stretch to West Peak was much quicker. Well maintained trail. Moose Falls Tentsite is located adjacent to the Fire Warden's Trail just before the trail begins the steep climb to Bigelow Col. 16) Appalachian Trail/A.T. I used the map that came with the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. The views from Myron H. Avery Peak, (formerly East Peak), rank with those from Katahdin and White Cap Mountain due to the extensive, above-treeline, alpine area on Avery Peak. (CHECK ONE) East Flagstaff Road not plowed, access now only with 4WD and clearance or snowmobile due to snow Saturday 1/2. From Avery peak the A.T. continues southbound towards the Fire Warden's Trail, West Peak, and the rest of the Bigelow Range. Love this range, been hiking it for decades. Land Manager: Maine Department of Conservation. There was another peak to climb about a half mile down. These awesome businesses support our goal of connecting people to outdoor adventures in Maine! The Safford Brook Trail is right around the 2000 mile mark of the AT, a perfect spot to hand out PBR and whoopie pies to any hikers whom I crossed. The hike to Avery Peak, West Peak, and the Horns starts on the Fire Warden Trail, which heads north from the parking area and is marked with a Maine Huts and Trails sign to distinguish it from the other dirt road leaving the parking lot. Turning left, my choice, takes me through the boulder-strewn notch, where house-sized blocks lie scattered after tumbling from the sharp cliff face of the “Old Man”. ... Safford Brook Trail. Bigelow Mountain - Avery Peak, Bigelow Mountain - West Peak, ME: Trails: Safford Brook Trail, Appalachian Trail: Date of Hike: Friday, January 1, 2021: Parking/Access Road Notes: East Flagstaff Road not plowed, access now only with 4WD and clearance or snowmobile due to snow Saturday 1/2. Day hiked it 7/13 as a tuneup to a summit of Katahdin on 7/19 after having done the Horns/West Peak last weekend. This trail goes by Stratton Brook Pond and Avery Lean-to. Though the preserve is managed only for summer-time uses, winter uses like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter camping are allowed and popular. A right turn heads in the direction of Avery Peak. Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account. Soon after the Old Man's Head you begin to break treeline and enter the alpine zone on Avery Peak. Fires are only allowed in the provided fireplace ring at the Little Bigelow Lean-to. Begin on East Flagstaff Rd and follow the Safford Brook Trail until you reach the junction with the Appalachian Trail. DISTANCE: 16 miles total, plus short side-trails to lookouts. From the parking lot there is a small trail to the left. Trail Ratings 4.0 from 1 vote #1 in … Leaving from the parking area, the trail climbs gradually through forested lands crossing Safford Brook about 0.7 miles above East Flagstaff Road. I was so so happy to see some running water and stopped at the first brook I came across to fill up. Hiked this with my kids on 8/14/20. There is a small parking area. Today started off well - good company at the lean-to and learning some tricks of the trade from the experienced NOBOs and flip-floppers. Shared By: Patrick Neary. This is a moderate loop trail to Avery Lean-to in Bigelow Preserve. I think we saw about 15 people all day. Never needed snowshoes. It definitely gets more difficult once you get on the A.T., and trekking poles are helpful, especially for those of us who are on the short side. Nice views of the brook as you travel up and down the mountain. Share your experience by blogging your hiking, traveling, outdoor fitness stories and GPX on a map. That's exactly what it took me (and I was about your age then) hiking north. Starting in 1984, my father, John Christie hiked Avery Peak on Mount Bigelow every Columbus Day weekend. Back by same route. Follow Stratton Brook Pond Road 0.4 mile east to Stratton Brook and another 0.4 mile east to the fork. Day 1 Meet at trailhead at 7:00 am, leave overnight backpacks to be shuttled. Bigelow Range Trail (West – Stratton) Safford Brook Trail Appalachian Trail/A. The trail then becomes more steep until it reaches the junction with the Appalachian Trail. There are 2 main trailheads for Avery, The Fire Wardens trail and Safford Brook Trail. To reach the Safford Brook Trailhead continue about 4.5 miles to where the road opens on the right to a gravel parking area. Myron H Avery Peak (Bigelow Mtn) ADVERTISEMENT. The trail begins gradually as it follows Safford Brook and then begins to climb more steadily. The trailhead for The Fire Wardens trail is located 3.2 miles North of Sugarloaf, take a right on the Stratton Brook Pond Road. Lots of spur trails … In a little over two miles we will once again join the AT as it heads south to the rocky summit of Avery Peak, with 360-degree views. Traction needed pretty much the entire way, lots of bare rock above treeline where I bare booted. Ramblr is a geo located stories and blogging app for nature lovers with GPS or iPhone / Android. Bigelow Preserve - Fire Warden's and Horns Pond Trails Loop. There was an issue with your submission. I took shelter behind a rock and stopped for a snack. It was a beautiful view at the top, but the wind almost blew me over a few times. From the summit hikers have a grand view of the Canadian Border Mountains to the north and the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the southwest, not to mention the views of Flagstaff Lake and the nearby High Peaks. Visit Maine Appalachian Trail Club or the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands online (detailed trail guide) for more information or contact: To access the north and east side of the Bigelow Preserve is via the paved Long Falls Dam Road. Switched between Stabilicers and Hillsound microspikes as needed. The trail becomes very steep as it climbs up through boulders, and about halfway to the peak, there is a 0.1 mile side trail to the viewpoint for "The Old Man's Head" which offers fantastic views east. Please contact the Bigelow District Overseer by email (bigelow@matc.org) to report any trail or shelter conditions that may require maintenance or special attention. Safford Brook Trail is the best way to access Old Man’s Head and Little Bigelow. Fast, very fit hikers could probably do it in five. Please try again. The Avery-West-Horns loop is marked in red. Do not underestimate the difficulty of hiking the mountains of Western Maine. Interested in learning more about trails in Maine? It's a beautiful walk to the top! 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! The route of the Safford Brook Trail approximately follows the old "Dead River Route" part of the A.T. from the 1930s before the creation of Flagstaff Lake. Click on a parking icon to get custom directions. The beginning of the Safford Brook trail was dry (surprising considering all the recent rain) and nice to walk. ... Bigelow Mountain West Peak. The mountain was Avery Peak (4,088 feet) in Maine’s Bigelow Range.That morning, early this month, I had left the buggy shore of Flagstaff Lake and climbed, sometimes gradually, sometimes very steeply, through hardwood forest to pine forest and finally out onto the bare alpine summit. This trail goes by Cranberry Stream Campsite, The Horns Pond, The Horns, and South Peak. The Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) is an all volunteer organization that exists to maintain and protect the 267-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Maine extending between Katahdin in Baxter State Park and Grafton Notch at ME Route 26. Took us about 8 hours up and back, including stops, though I'm not a particularly fast hiker. All Rights Reserved. Today started off with a climb to Avery Peak. Continuing past the parking are a little further will bring you to the Round Barn public use area and campsite on the shore of Flagstaff Lake. May 18 2018 | Bigelow Mountain-Avery Peak and West Peak, ME via Safford Brook Trail, AT. The Bigelow Preserve is a public land managed for multiple uses including wildlife and timber management along with its recreational uses. The trail progressively steepens until it reaches the junction with the AT near Safford Notch. The AT climbs steadily to Avery Peak although there is no exceedingly steep sections. So we had bought milk and ice that morning when we ran through town for the shuttle.&n Many short side trails leading to excellent views. ... Dad and I hiked Bigelow from the northern side, up the 4-mile Safford Brook Trail… Notable sites include Avery Memorial Tentsite, located in the col between Avery Peak and West Peak, and Safford Notch Tentsite, located just off the AT between Avery Peak and the ridge of Little Bigelow. WPT010. It was a nice easy first few miles. Safford Brook Trail is a hiking, trail running, walking adventure located in or near Bigelow Preserve, ME. Almost there. Your log in attempt was not successful. Fire Warden’s Trail (moderate to difficult, 4.6 miles) provides the shortest route to Avery Peak or West Peak from the south side of the Bigelow Range. From here, there is approximately 0.8 miles of steep climb to Avery Peak (4088'). LOVE Bigelow Preserve!! I planned to hike the Safford Brook Trail, which I had never taken, up to Avery peak in the Bigelow range. Drive with guide to Safford Brook Trail, hike up and take in breathtaking views at the summit. Stratton Brook Pond Road(1250) to Safford Brook Trail at AT S 9.5miles - 9.50 Miles - From Safford Brook Trail at AT To Stratton Brook Pond Road - Friday night we got back at ten o'clock everything was closed. Check out the newest articles in MTF Stories! Little Bigelow lean-to. TIME: A little over one mile per hour … I was on top of a mountain and starting to doubt. Turning left or north bound will bring you, shortly to the side trail for the Safford Brook Campsite; turning right (or southbound) on the A.T. will begin the climb to Avery Peak. ROUTE & MAP: Safford Brook Trail to Appalachian Trail. The trail is unmarked, but visible and easy enough to follow. Location: 45.1377334594727, -70.2253036499024. The NOBO descent was brutal for me. (North off Long Falls Dam Road) Fire Warden’s Trail (Stratton Brook Pond) REFUSED 6. Success! The trail climbs gradually through forested lands crossing Safford Brook. Descending down the steep, rocky steps of the Fire Warden’s Trail, we’ll reach the valley and Stratton Brook Pond. Had a beautiful hike up the Bigelows on New Year's Day from the north side. Hiked from Flagstaff Lake to Avery Peak. The trailhead leaves opposite the parking. Thanks for watching! Avery Peak, West Peak, and the Horns, Bigelow Preserve, near Carrabassett Valley Map shows Bigelow Preserve trails (except for Safford Brook Trail.) WPT004. Favorite mountain in Maine. Located in the Bigelow Preserve, at an Elevation of 4,090 feet Avery Peak offers amazing views. Safford Brook Trail is easy going and ends at the AT in an area of huge rocks with some boulder caves. Be sure to carry equipment and supplies necessary for this undertaking. 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. T. (South, off Rte. Lower part of AT going up to Avery Peak thru the boulder field in Safford Notch had significant amounts of ice in spots. Take the north fork (left) 0.3 miles to the old trail- … Hiking south from Caratunk, your first big challenge will be ascending Avery Peak from Safford Notch. Continue along the trail until you cross an access road. Hike to Avery Peak, one night at the hut using a shuttle. The trailhead is located across the road from the campsite. Part of the Bigelow Preserve, mostly the upper elevations, lies within a state Ecological Reserves specifically set aside to protect and monitor natural ecosystems. The wooded and bouldered Safford Brook Trail connects to the Appalachian Trail and provides a challenging climb from Flagstaff Lake to Avery Peak, Bigelow Range's second tallest peak. This challenging loop within the Bigelow Public Reserved Land is popular with visitors and includes the summits some of the range's highest peaks, West Peak and the Horns. Camping is not allowed above the tree line (a very delicate and vulnerable area to hike in), please stay on the trail. In the state of Maine, it is illegal to build a fire anywhere except within a certified fire ring. The trail begins at the Moxie Falls trailhead. Decent parking at the trail head. Wet Trail, Ice - Blue, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts. 70 degrees at the lake, 52 degrees once we reached Avery including windchill from a refreshing 5-10 mph breeze. The wooded and bouldered Safford Brook Trail connects to the Appalachian Trail and provides a challenging climb from Flagstaff Lake to Avery Peak, Bigelow Range's second tallest peak. However, I wasn't starting out cold; the hike began back at Gorham so I was finally trail-hardy. Contacts. Location: 45.1394004821777, -70.1910629272461. Easy connection on to the AT. Enjoy & research Bigelow Preserve, Maine with trail guides, topo maps, photos, reviews & GPS routes on Trails.com. Turning left or north bound will bring you, shortly to the side trail for the Safford Brook Campsite; turning right (or southbound) on the A.T. will begin the climb to Avery Peak. From North New Portland and ME Route 16, turn onto Long Falls Dam Road and follow it 17.4 miles north and then turn northwest (left) onto the gravel Bog Brook Road. If you do not have the information or skills, be sure to research and educate yourself in order to have an enjoyable and safe hike. At the Safford Brook Trail head on East Flagstaff Road ahead What are we gonna do today We're just gonna hike up to the junction of the Appalachian Trail two point two miles on the Stafford Brook Trail where you think of this so far it's awesome Pretty soft pretty pine tree typical main Several man. This is a fantastic trail! 5.30 Miles - From Safford Brook Campsite To Day 109 - Horns Pond Lean-to - Weather: 67 – 80 and sunny, thunderstorms in p.m.We left camp at 7am and did some hefty hiking up Bigelow, Avery, West Peak and South Horn. Day hiked it 7/26/19. Camp stoves are permitted. AT west to Horns Pond. 360 degree views. This is a moderate one way trail in Bigelow Preserve. A new password has been emailed to you. Full Details. Here the Safford Brook Trail ends at a junction with the Appalachian Trail (AT). Bring a day pack with snacks, lunch and 2 liters of water. We reached the shelter around 1pm … ... You will hear the falls before you s... 0.6 miles Explore Houston Brook Falls. One Union Wharf Portland, ME 04101‐4777 phone 207.874.2077 fax 207.874.2076 portlandresearch.com Location: Intersection of Safford Brook Trail and A.T. 1. At 0.7 miles take the left fork on to the East Flagstaff Road which intersects the A.T. in 0.1 miles. Are you day hiking or overnight camping? Please try again. Be very aware of past, present, and predicted weather. NOTE DIRECTION FROM WHICH HIKER ARRIVED AT THE INTERSECTION. We'll be hiking to both summits via the Safford Brook and Appalachian Trails… In addition, MATC maintains over 60 miles of side trails as well as a system of regularly spaced shelters and campsites in order that wild, backcountry hiking remains accessible in Maine. Get your Ramblr app today! Avery Peak is 4,090 ft., while West Peak is 4,145 ft. We'll be camping at the Round Barn Campsite, which is on Flagstaff Lake and hike the next morning. The area right around the intersection is the Safford Notch and it is well known for its "house-sized" boulders. © 2021 Maine Trail Finder. Visit Website. Hour … hike to Avery Peak thru the boulder field in Safford Notch and it illegal! Mount Bigelow every Columbus day weekend Appalachian Trail/A not plowed, access now only with and. Trail was dry ( surprising considering all the recent rain ) and nice walk! Crossing Safford Brook trail is the Safford Brook trailhead continue about 4.5 miles to where the Road on! 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