Albany Mountain

The best way to tackle this wonderful 1,930-foot mountain is to park at the north trailhead off the dirt road that leads to Crocker Pond Campground. You can get to this trailhead by driving down Patte Brook Road. It’s approximately 1.9 miles to the summit from here, and it’s relatively easy for the quality of views you’ll get. You’ll start your hike along a longish flat section of the trail before beginning a moderate ascent. At 1.5 miles you’ll reach the 0.4-mile spur along a gorgeous ridge to the summit.

You can also hike up the mountain from the south side of the mountain.

Here are Sam Shirley’s 2025 notes on hiking in from the south: A pleasant and lesser-used alternative approach to Albany Mountain is along the Albany Mountain Trail from its southern trailhead on Birch Avenue in Stoneham. Although lightly used, the trail is in generally good shape and is mostly easy to follow, except for a few turns off of snowmobile trails, which are noted below.

The trail officially starts where the pavement ends on Birch Ave. There is a trail sign here and parking is available in the dirt pull-off on the right side of the road. The trail follows Forest Road 57 past homes and camps as it narrows two a two lane track and crosses a narrow bridge over Meadow Brook. This section of trail is unblazed, but it goes straight at every intersection. At about a mile from the end of the pavement, a Forest Service gate is reached. Most vehicles will be able to drive to this point to start the hike.

Beyond the gate, the yellow-blazed trail follows a snowmobile trail alongside Meadow Brook. About a quarter-mile from the gate, the trail continues straight onto a narrower footpath where the snowmobile trail bears right. This turn is unmarked. Following a very old woods road, the trail encounters a few minor wet areas before reaching an open bog on the left at 0.8 mile from the gate. Here, the trail rejoins the snowmobile trail. In the opposite direction, this turn was marked by an arrow on a tree and yellow flagging tape as of 2025. The trail soon bears right off of the snowmobile trail onto a narrow footpath. As of 2025, this turn was marked by an arrow on a tree which was barely hanging on. The snowmobile trail continues west towards Number 8 Pond.

The trail then climbs steadily into Albany Notch below the impressive cliffs of trail-less Peter Mountain. After the climb through hardwood forest, the trail reaches the floor of the notch and the former junction with the now abandoned Albany Notch Trail. Here, the trail turns sharply east as it ascends to the ridge of Albany Mountain. Nearing the junction with the Albany Mountain Spur, the trail starts crossing areas of semi-open ledge. At 2.9 miles from the end of the pavement on Birch Ave, or 2 miles from the gate on Forest Road 57, the junction with the approach from the north and spur to the summit is reached.

From here, it is 0.4 mile to the summit cairn. This is officially the end of the trail, but a well used herd path continues for a third of a mile to the best view on the mountain from an open ledge facing southwest.

Directions: From Bethel take Route 5 south past Songo Pond and turn right onto the Patte Brook Road at the sign indicating National Forest Camping. Follow signs toward Crocker Pond Campground. (You’ll make a left onto Crocker Pond Road). Travel .6 miles to the trailhead on the right.

Directions to Southern Trailhead: From Route 5 in Stoneham, follow Birch Avenue north for 1 mile. Here, the pavement ends at what is officially the start of the trail. There is a trail sign here and parking is available in the dirt pull-off on the right side of the road. However, most vehicles will be able to drive about a mile further along Forest Road 57 to a gate. Although narrow, the road is generally in good condition with only a few rocks for low clearance vehicles to avoid. There is very limited parking at the gate, with a pull-off only large enough for 2 vehicles. Be sure not to block either road or the gate when parking.