The Fire
Wardens Trail:
is the shortest aproach to the main peaks. Look
for a dirt road,Stratton Brook Rd. running east from ME27 about 3.2 miles
northwest of Surgarloaf Ski Area access road on your right or 4.5 miles
southeast of Stratton. Head in here cross the Appalachian Trail at 1 mile and
continue straight turning left at 1.6 mil to a logging yarding area. Just as
easy to park here because the road beyond the logging area can be very
rough.The bridge over Stratton Brook is washed out and if theres been alot of
rain you may get your feet wet so bring extra socks just in case.
After
crossing the brook continue on the road until 0.2 you will reach a fork,go
left. From this point the trail is fairly level for about .05 mile. Soon it
will climb steeply then again level off for the next 1.5 miles.At the 1.6 mil
point from the parking area The Horns Pond Trail leaves left. At this point I
was beginning to wonder where the challenge was, well I was not disapointed.
About 3 miles into the hike the trail becomes increasingly steep, gaining
nearly 1700` in the next 1.5 miles as it climbs to the Bigelow col. where it
meets the Appalachian trail at 3.5 miles.From the col go right on the
Appalachian trail 0.4 mile to reach Avery Peak,or go left on the Appalachian
trail .04 to reach West Peak.The views are outstanding, so don`t forget you
camera.
Distance from Stratton Brook to:
Horns Pond Junction
Trail:1.6mil
to, Bigelow Col and Appalachian Trail junction: 3.5 mil 3hr.
40min.
to, Avery Peak 3.9 mil 4 hr
to, West Peak 3.9 mil 4hr.
Horns Pond Trail
is longer, not as
steep and more interesting leading to Horn Pond,connecting to the Appalachian
Trail, following the ridge between the Horns, over South Horn and West Peak
then on to Avery Peak.The Horns Pond Trail continues from where it leaves the
Fire Wardens Trail 1.6 mil from Stratton Brook. 3 miles into the hike you will
start climbing slowly around a boggy area with a view of South Horn Continuing
to get steeper.At 4.1 mil the trail will connect to the white blazed
Appalachian Trail, take a right for 0.2 mi to the two Horns Pond lean-tos,(each
will hold six people.) A 50yard blue blazed trail behind the east lean-to leads
to the Horns Pond.
Distance from Stratton Brook :
from the Fire
Wardens Trail:1.6 mil
to Appalachian Trail 4.1 mil
to Horns Pond
lean-tos 4.3 mil 3hr.
The Appalachian Trail
runs from Me.27 to the
ridge west of the Horns Pond. These trails approach from the south
(ME16/27).
To find the trailhead, ME 27 2.6 mil northwest from the
Surgarloaf access road.
Distances from ME27:
to Stratton Brook Road :
0.9mil
to Stratton Brook: 1 mil
to Bigelow Range Trail junction:3.4
mil
to Horns Pond Trail junction:5.1 mil
to Horn Pond lean-tos 5.3 mil
3hr 40 min.
to south Horn summit 5.9 mil
to West Peak summit 8 mil
to Fire Warden`s Trail junction: 8.4 mil 5hr. 55 min.
to Avery Peak: 8.8
mil 6hr 15min.
The Bigelow Range Trail
is longer and travels
from Stratton east to the Appalachian Traileast of Cranberry Pond, involves
more up and down ridge travel and extends the full length of the range.
Distances from ME27
to clearing: 0.5 mil
to first ledges: 1.9 milto
Cranberry Peak: 3.2 mil.,2hr. 40min.
to Appalachian Trail junction: 4.9
mil. 3hr. 50min.
The Safford Brook Trail
is found along a road
that runs along the southern shore of Flagstaff Lake from the Long Falls Dam
Rd. Located on the east side of the south shore of Flagstaff lake,a good
landmark would be a large sawdust pile found near the lake shore.
Distances
from Round Barn Field
to East Flagstaff Rd. : 0.3 mil.
to Appalachian
Trail junction from the Safford Brook trail, 2.6 mil
to Little Bigelow
summit from the Appalachian trail east 6.3 mil. 4hr.
to Avery Peak from
Appalachian Trail West 4.5 mil 3hr. 45min.
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