QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 1,932 acres
- Trail Mileage: 1.2 miles to summit (2,443-foot), 2 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate to difficult
- Sights: 360-degree views from fire tower on summit (2,470 ft.)
On a sunny weekend in the summer, it can sometimes feel the whole population of Rangeley is on this mountain! Despite this, I think this trail, on Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust’s 1,932-acre preserve, is well worth visiting. The trek to the summit is about 1.2 miles from the Bald Mountain trailhead, about 2 miles if you start at the trailhead off Route 4.
The trail from Bald Mountain is fairly easy for the first half, but once you hit the more exposed rock and ledge at about half a mile, the going gets steeper and more scramble-y, and probably slick when wet.
The Route 4 trail ascends gently for 1 mile before intersecting with the summit trail.
At the top, take a deep breath and walk up the stairs of the fire tower for spectacular 360-degree views. There are a couple of picnic tables and ledges at the summit, too.
Directions: Bald Mountain has two trailheads: off Route 4 and off Bald Mountain Road. Only the Route 4 parking area is plowed in the winter. To access the Bald Mountain Road lot, coming from the north, turn onto Bald Mountain Road from Route 4 and follow it for 0.8 miles to the parking area and trailhead on the left. The Route 4 lot is shared between hikers and boaters. To find it, drive west on Route 4 for 1 mile from the intersection of Route 4 and Route 17. The large lot will be on the left, and the trail leaves from the south end of the lot near the kiosk.
