Posted on July 8, 2016 and last updated on July 21, 2020

Little Bigelow, close to Carrabassett Valley

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 36,000 acres
  • Trail Mileage: ~6 miles round trip
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: difficult
  • Sights: views, open summit (3,070 ft.)

(Map show most of Bigelow Preserve. The section for Little Bigelow is in blue)

This trail, part of the longer Bigelow Preserve trail, lends itself well to an afternoon or day hike for families, particularly if you stop at the first great peak (about three miles). It’s the easiest trail in the Bigelow Preserve.

After a long stretch in the woods with a fairly gentle incline, the trail takes you along some great ledges with wonderful views. I couldn’t find anything that marked the actual peak, but once you get high enough, you walk from what appears to be one summit after the next, enjoying the sights along the way. Eventually, you’ll start heading down to Stafford Brook campsite and the rest of the Bigelow Range trail. If you’d like to swim after your hot and sweaty hike, follow Bog Brook Road (at the base of the mountain) to its end. There’s a public swimming beach there.

Directions: If you’re starting from Sugarloaf, take Route 16 and turn left onto the Carriage Road, which passes the town office and quickly turns into dirt. Follow that a long way until you get to a junction. Take a left here, onto East Flagstaff Road (also called Dead River Road on Google maps). At the next junction with Bog Brook Road, continue left. You’ll see the parking lot on the right, and the trail to Little Bigelow is across the road.

Let me know if you have any trail updates or corrections!