Baker Pond, AMC Maine Woods Initiative

Baker Pond is set away from the small cluster of ponds in this corner of the AMC Maine Woods Initiative, so I’m giving it its own post. While the pond is small, the view of Baker Mountain looming over it is worth the easy, mostly flat walk. There’s a picnic table close to the pond.

There are a couple of ways to get to Baker Pond. According to the Little Lyford Lodge staff, most park at the gate off Baker Pond Road and walk the 1.2 miles along an old woods road to the wide and easy 0.5-mile trail that accesses the pond and picnic table. But you could also walk to Mountain Brook Pond, grab a canoe (you can borrow a paddle and life jacket at Little Lyford Lodge) and boat across Mountain Brook Pond to Mountain Brook Trail, and then walk into the pond that way. However, the staff say sometimes Mountain Brook Trail can be overgrown, that it is used more as a skiing path.

Directions: The trailhead is at the locked gate off Baker Pond Road, about 2.5 miles from the driveway of Little Lyford Lodge. From Greenville, take KI Road past the gatehouse to where it hits a T-junction. You’ll see a sign for Little Lyford Lodge here; go left. Continue on the road as bends left and becomes Upper Valley Road. Go past the driveway for Little Lyford Lodge on your right. It’ll take a sharp bend and become Baker Pond Road. Continue on until you reach the gate on your right; it’s right before another bend in the road. Best to have a high-clearance vehicle.