Hawk Mountain Preserve

This hike is a two-for-one deal: It is fairly quick and easy and has a jaw droppingly beautiful view at the top. More than 140 acres around Hawk Mountain are protected by the Western Foothills Land Trust.

The shortest path to the summit (1,072 feet) is about 0.8 miles. When you reach the end of the main route to the summit, you’ll enter a large clearing. Head straight across to the wide open ledges beyond and the even wider vista. Pleasant Mountain is prominent, and the White Mountains are visible on clear days, glistening white much of the year. A large bog below the mountain creates an interesting ground tapestry.

Western Foothills Land Trust has created a uniquely monikered network of trails here — they are named for members of an early Waterford family that had a penchant for unusual first names — giving you several choices for your ascent and allowing for different loops. The trails on the east (Europe, Cyprus, the main trail) tend to be wider tracks, with some ledge and eroded sections, while the newer trails on the west (America, Hannibal) are narrower footpaths. The wider tracks were created in 2017, when the trust oversaw a harvest that also opened up new recreational corridors to mountain views.

The trails are signed and mostly easy to follow, but there were no blazes when I visited.

The elevation gained from the parking area, according to the Maine Mountain Guide, is roughly 242 feet.

Directions: From Route 35/37 (also, Waterford Road), take Mill Hill Road to your right. Hawk Mountain Road will be to your right. Before the road turns to dirt, there’s a lot on the right (for about 8-10 cars) and a trailhead kiosk.