Bald Ledge, Porter

This is a great short hike, with a lovely view from open ledge over Colcord and Bickford ponds nestled among foothills. The 1,185-foot mountain is protected by Francis Small Heritage Trust, which has created a trail up and over the hill, with two trailheads and two medium-sized parking lots. One trail leaves from Danforth Lane, a dirt road off of Kennard Hill Road; the other is off Colcord Pond Road.

There are also snowmobile paths across the preserve, making for different access points and making it possible to do a loop hike, if you wish. The summit from the northern trailhead is roughly 0.7 miles and moderate, with an elevation gain of 270 feet. If you’re leaving from the northern trailhead, you’ll follow Varney Lane, a narrow, dirt lane, for about 0.2 miles. Look for the turtle markers on your right — the intersection is well signed and hard to miss. The next half mile climbs steadily, but it is over quickly!

From the south, the distance to the summit is about 0.9 miles and offers a steady, moderate climb (elevation gain 575 feet), with a couple short, steeper stretches. (The path passes through a beautiful hemlock forest before it reaches the rare ironwood-oak-ash forest near the summit.)

The Varney Lane parking area is closed in the winter, and there’s no parking on Danforth Lane or Kennard Hill Road. The Colcord Pond parking area is not plowed, but you can park on the side of the road if you leave room for passing cars.

Directions: (From the land trust) For the northern trailhead: from the junction of Old County Rd and Maine 25/160 in Porter, drive north on Old County Rd to Colcord Pond Rd. Take a left (north) on Colcord Pond Rd and after 2.8 miles, where Colcord Pond Rd bears right, take a left on Dana Weeks Rd, then after about 300 feet, a right on Kennard Hill Rd. After 1.5 miles, take a right onto Danforth Ln, then at the split (after about 200 yards) bear right on Varney Rd. For the southern trailhead, drive west on Maine 25/160 for 0.7 mile. As the highway curves to the right, bear right onto Colcord Pond Road. Continue northward on Colcord Pond Road for almost 5 miles. At a fork with Dana Weeks Road, stay straight ahead on Colcord Pond Road. In about a quarter mile you will see Lady Slipper Lane on the right; continue on Colcord Pond Road for another quarter mile. The Bald Ledge Summit parking area is on the left.