QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 800,000 acres, White Mountain Forest
- Trail Mileage: 1-mile one way
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy
- Sights: woods, pond
From the Crocker Pond campsite, where you can park, you can walk 1 mile to Round Pond, a peaceful, remote pond. (And it might be the easiest trail in Maine’s bit of the White Mountain National Forest!)
The yellow-blazed trail begins at the large parking area near the Crocker Pond boat launch; you’ll find it behind the trail kiosk. It first circles the west side of Crocker Pond, offering neat views of the ledges on the pond’s opposite shore. At the end of the pond you’ll encounter a relatively steep hill up the side of Albany Mountain. Thankfully it’s not that long. After this hill, the path becomes more gently rolling, with another short descent closer to Round Pond.
At Round Pond, you can use a canoe provided by the Sebago chapter of Trout Unlimited as long as you reserve it ahead of time. You must bring your own life vests and paddles. Sebago TU works to protect critical river and stream habitat, and encourages anglers to help manage the native fishery by harvesting fish within the allotted size. Read more about its work at this pond.
The Forest Services provides more info about this hike and others in the region.
Directions: This trailhead is located next to the Crocker Pond Campground and can be reached by traveling down the Flat Road from West Bethel for 5.8 miles and then turning right, following the sign to the campground.
