Posted on October 7, 2015 and last updated on January 22, 2023

Bald Mountain Preserve, Camden

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 583 acres
  • Trail Mileage: 2.6 miles round trip
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Sights: views from summit (1,280 ft.), rocky heath subalpine ecosystem


Ragged Mountain trails are blue and purple-blue. Spruce Mountain and Mt. Pleasant are green. Bald Mountain is orange.

A beautiful, popular and short hike to a 1,280-foot summit with lovely views. The hike is about 1.3 miles one way, and there are signs pointing you to the right trail to protect the mountain’s rare and fragile subalpine ecology.

The first part of the hike up is steady and steep on a well-built trail that includes switchbacks and stone steps. When you reach the more open ledge, the trail gets steeper as you climb up ledge and rock.

For a longer hike, you can continue on to the summit of Ragged and Spruce mountains, across Route 17. The 583-acre preserve is protected by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust.

Directions: From Route One in Camden: Take John Street (0.8 mi.) to Hosmer Pond Road (which becomes Barnestown Road after the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area). Follow 3.5 miles to the new preserve parking lot on the left, just past the Gillette Road. The trail crosses Route 17.

Let me know if you have any trail updates or corrections!