QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 5,240 acres
- Trail Mileage: 11.2 miles
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: Bartlett Stream, forests
Frye Mountain in orange; Bog Brook, Whitten Hill, and Northern Headwaters Preserves in orange; Dave Rock Trail in green. Hogback Mountain (black) is closed;
Note: A new 13.5-mile section has been added that extends the long-distance path from Frye Mountain to Route 173, close to Gibson Preserve. I mean to hike it soon!
You could easily miss the 1,122-foot summit of Frye Mountain, but no matter! This is a long, 11.2-mile hike through woods filled with mushrooms and other delights. A 3.3-mile leg brings you to a 4.6-mile loop. The elevation gained is about 1,000 feet to the summit, and 1,830 cumulative feet if you do the whole loop, so expect an arduous hike that includes stream crossings and some steep inclines.
The trail is part of the Georges Highland Path and the Hills to Sea Trail, both of them near-50-mile networks of trails. Frye Mountain Trail is located within the 5,240-acre Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Across Rt. 220 and Frye Mountain’s trailhead, is Hogback Mountain, which feeds into Bog Brook and Whitten Hill preserves.
The long-distance trail is divided into three sections: Headwaters Region (this one: Frye and Hogback mountains), Central Region (in Searsmont, Rockport and Camden), and the Saltwater Region (in Thomaston).
Directions: From the intersection of Routes 3 and 220 in Liberty, follow 220 north for 6.5 miles to Walker Ridge Road on the right. Park at the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife maintenance building lot and walk up gravel road .3 miles to trailhead on right. There is a small land trust sign on the right at the trailhead. To the left is the trail to Hogback Mountain. You can also access Frye Mountain from the other side, via a dirt road off Getchell/Frye Mountain Road. There is a small area across the road at the trailhead that is big enough for one, maybe two cars. Or you could park at the large official parking area for Hills-to-Sea Trail hikers (check the map) and walk 0.5 miles to the trailhead. The access road can be a bit rough for cars, especially in early spring.
