Boody Pond, Kennebec Highlands

Boody Pond trails in red; York Hill Farm fat biking trails in blue.

By Sam Shirley

The far western part of Kennebec Highlands Public Land, in Vienna and New Sharon, sees a lot less use than the eastern part. The miles of old woods roads in this part of the Highlands make for easy, secluded hiking. The rolling hills and forests are interspersed with numerous small wetlands, and a pond called Boody Pond. The trails are mostly unmarked, except for snowmobile and ATV signs, and most are multi-use. There are also a variety of minor trails and tracks leading off designated trails that invite more extended explorations.

Boody Pond is reached by a narrow unmarked trail off of Berry Hill Road Trail. There is a mossy clearing on the shore of the pond near its outlet from which to enjoy the little pond. Unlike most remote ponds in Maine, I have been unable to find any boats stashed on the pond! Surprisingly, despite it being a small and shallow pond, the state used to stock brook trout in it, though it appears this practice has stopped. Nonetheless, it is still a pretty spot to visit.

From the York Hill Road parking area, Boody Pond is a 2.4-mile hike. From the Cross Road parking area, it’s about 1 mile.

Directions: The trails into this portion of the Kennebec Highlands can be accessed from York Hill Road and Welch Road in New Sharon, as well as from Cross Road and Vienna Mountain Road in Vienna. None of these roads are fully maintained for winter use. The best access for hikes just on these trails is from Cross Road.

To access the Cross Road trailhead from the center of Vienna, head north 2.6 miles on Kimball Pond Road. There is space to pull off and park at the four-way intersection of Kimball Pond Road, Cross Road, and Anderson Road. The town-maintained portion of Cross Road ends just beyond the first house, and the trail is a continuation of the road.