QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: N/A
- Trail Mileage: 12-mile loop
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: challenging
- Sights: views, Bemis Stream
Bemis Mountain is one of the seven hikes in the High Peaks Alliance Scenic 7 guide and hiking challenge. The guide is incredible — it’s filled with detailed information, up-to-date maps, photographs, and recommended routes for each location.
Be prepared for a long, strenuous hike if you head out to hike the Appalachian Trail-Bemis Stream Trail loop. It is 11 miles, plus a 1-mile road section, but because the access road — Bemis Road — was not passable for my car, I ended up having to tack on an extra 1.5 miles. (I left my low-clearance car at the intersection of Shelton Trail and Bemis Road.)
If you do attempt this hike, you’ll walk along the ridge of Bemis Mountain for about five miles, making your way along open ledge with occasional lovely views across scrubby vegetation (krummholz trees) and through long stretches of forests (I saw a moose and baby spruce grouse). The first good view you’ll have is from Bemis Mountain’s second summit (marked on my map). This is a good turning around point for those who don’t want to hike the entire loop.
A bit farther along, you’ll get a good look at the main Bemis Mountain peak and Elephant Mountain behind it (they will both look far away — don’t despair!).
Apart from the initial steep climb up to the first of Bemis’s four summits from Bemis Road, the path is relatively moderate, going gently up and down as you make your way across the stretched-out mountain to the final peak (3,592 feet), which has no view.
From this final peak, you’ll descend to the intersection with Bemis Stream Trail, about a mile from the summit. Take a left here and begin a moderately steep descent to the valley. I really enjoyed Bemis Stream Trail. The narrow blue-blazed path doesn’t appear to get much foot traffic, so at points it is a bit grassy, but it is peaceful and pretty. One of the nice parts of the trail is that you’ll have occasional views through trees of the ridge you just climbed (or will climb), giving you a good perspective on your hike.
Bemis Stream Trail hews pretty closely to the golden-hued Bemis Stream, and includes a spot where you can walk out onto a flattish ledge to rest by small rapids and take a dip in a small, cold pool.
Directions: From Route 17 in South Rangeley, turn onto Bemis Road. This is a well-maintained dirt road for the first seven miles, until it crosses the causeway and meets up with Shelton Trail Road. The trailhead is another 0.7 miles down Bemis Road from this point, but if this part of the road is closed, you can park here, at the junction with Shelton Trail, and walk to the trailhead where the Appalachian Trail crosses Bemis Road.
