Great Pond Mountain and Dead River, Orland

Great Pond Mountain trails in blue (with purple denoting the accessible dirt roads); Craig Brook Fish Hatchery trails in orange

Great Pond Mountain, protected by the area land trust, offers fantastic views for a small mountain (1,009 feet) and a fairly easy, gradual hike with well-maintained trails. The summit is exposed, which makes for expansive vistas of three nearby mountain areas—Acadia, Camden’s hills, and even as far as Schoodic Mountain. Although the new section of the Stuart Gross trail is better, it can be slick in the winter!

Also, the trails in the immediate vicinity around the mountain in the Wildlands are wonderful and well-marked, with sporadic views. These include multi-use trails, for mountain bikes and feet. The two lakes, Craig Pond and Alamoosook, below the trail system are fabulous for swimming.

There are several access paths to the mountain, and two trailheads 0.4 miles apart on the access road (Don Fish Trail on Google maps. It’s plowed in the winter). At Mountain Trailhead, which is the second one farther along the access road, there is parking for eight or 10 cars. From here, the summit is about 1.5 miles along the Stuart Gross Trail and the elevation gained is about 850 feet.

The other trailhead, at Dead River Gate, is the first one you reach on the access road, and has a much bigger parking area. From this point, the hike to the summit is a bit more than 2 miles. You can hike the wide Dead River Trail—which, incidentally, is great for skiing and biking. At 0.5 miles, you’ll come to the intersection with the ~0.6-mile Hay Ledges Trail, which includes a nice overlook and bench off to the right about 2/3 of the way along. Or you can take the zig-zagging multi-use 1-mile Capstone Trail.

The Hay Ledges Trail deposits you at the 0.9-mile Stuart Gross Trail, which brings you along a gradual ridge to both the mountain’s wooded summit and to its overlook with gorgeous views. Be sure to wear snowshoes or spikes on your boots in the winter! Also, it can be hard to find the trails (there are two loops up here) if snow is covering the blazes. But the hike is popular enough that you will likely be following others’ footprints.

If you have time, I highly suggest checking out the picnic spot on the Dead River, off Dead River Trail. A steepish 0.3-mile path takes you from Dead River Road to the lakeside, where there is a secluded spot for a swim and snack. The trail begins wide and gradually narrows, with firs enclosing the trail on either side as you get closer to the lake. Or, you can end your hike in the clear aquamarine waters of Craig Pond, a popular swimming spot.

The Dead River Road, which includes a looong hill, is good for skiing and biking — and is wheelchair accessible, for some. There is also a 3.3-mile bike trail — the Capstone Trail — woven into the hiking trail system. We hiked along Capstone from Hay Ledges Trail to the Dead River Road, as it served as a connector path.

Meanwhile, across Dead River, there is a large protected swath of land called Dead River West, which in the spring of 2023 has a there-and-back 0.6-mile trail to the quiet shores of the river, leaving from a parking area off Mast Hill Road. The riverside looked a bit too mucky for swimming, but the spot was quiet.

Directions: (See names on map) Dead River East Trailhead—Turn off US Route 1 in East Orland onto Hatchery Road, following signs for Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. Go 1.4 miles to the Hatchery. Continue through the parking lot, through the yellow gate onto the gravel Don Fish Road, another .6 miles. The trailhead/ parking lot is on the left. Street/ GPS address: 24 Don Fish Trail, Orland. Mountain Trailhead—The Mountain Trailhead is .5 miles further, with parking on the right. Street Address: 70 Don Fish Trail, Orland. Dead River West Trailhead—At H.O.M.E. and the intersection of US Route 1 and Upper Falls Road (at the flashing light) in Orland, go north on Upper Falls Road. At 1.5 miles, you cross the Narramissic River and in another 0.25 miles Duck Cove Road comes in from the left and the road becomes Mast Hill Road. Go 2.1 miles to a small turnout on the right. Street address: or 445 Mast Hill Road, Bucksport.