Bald Mountain, near Weld

Unfortunately, the ridge trail is closed, and hikers are asked to not continue beyond the Bald Mountain summit.

This hike has rocketed to one of my favorites in Maine. It’s likely to be amazing in any season, but I recommend hiking it in the autumn, at peak foliage if you can.

Most people do the hike starting from the trailhead on Route 156, a route that offers incredible views after a short 1.1-mile climb to Bald’s summit, and then consistently beautiful views along the ridge. You can stop at the top of Bald Mountain (2,370 ft.), or continue another 1.8 miles to Saddleback’s summit (2,590 ft.). If you have the energy to do this, I highly recommend it. The 360-degree views are even better from Saddleback, and it’s interesting to look out over the nearby wind turbines.

Doing the traverse requires summiting two not insubstantial mountains, with a fairly deep col between them, so be prepared for a hard and tiring hike.

Close to the summit of Saddleback, you’ll come to an intersection with the trail to the summit, which heads right, and a trail going left to the mountain’s eastern ridge. The trail to the east ridge ends roughly 0.8 miles away at another view. I am wondering whether this trail might be extended one day to form a loop back to the parking area?

As it was in the Fall of 2018, if you complete the traverse from Bald Mountain to Saddleback Wind Mountain, you either have to return the way you came or you can head down from the summit to the wind farm access road. It’s a half-mile to the access road from the Saddleback summit, and another 3.2 miles down the well-maintained dirt road to the office and parking area.

If you start from the Saddleback Ridge Wind office, off Winter Hill Road, park behind the main office in the large lot. Head back the way you came down the driveway, turning right onto the access road, which is blocked by a locked gate. Make sure you call ahead (207-381-7327) to see if the road is open. It gets closed periodically for maintenance, and it is never open during the winter, when ice can fly off the turbines and be fatally dangerous.

As you continue your hike up the road, you’ll first dip down before climbing steadily for about 1 mile. Once you reach the line of turbines, the ridge flattens out a bit, and the walking is easier until the final turbine. It’s dramatic to walk under these huge structures as their shadows sweep past you. Beyond the final turbine, you’ll see a sign for the 0.5-mile footpath to the mountain summit. While the first half of this path is fairly easy, the second push to the top is very steep! Well worth it, though, for gorgeous views from the summit.

Directions: The trail head is on the west side of Rt. 156, approximately 9 miles from Wilton, and 5.3 miles from the junction of Routes 142 and 156 in Weld. Parking is on the road’s side, along its wide shoulder. You can also summit Saddleback Wind by walking up the wind farm access road. Note: The wind farm access road is closed during the winter. The address is 9 Highland Drive, Carthage. From Route 2, turn onto Winter Hill Road and go about 0.8 miles. When the road splits, stay right and drive up the short hill to the wind farm headquarters. Park behind the main building. The hike begins on the access road, which branches off the driveway, behind a locked gate.