Mt. Apatite, Auburn

My map is not complete!

The 325-acre forested park is named after the apatite that was once mined here. Some amateur rock hounds still at times find bits of apatite, as well as tourmaline, feldspar and quartz. The mines, marked with an icon on my map and Google maps, are interesting to check out — they form rugged, rocky cliffs ringing large hollowed-out quarries. You can also see the old mine tailings. Just take caution at a few of the higher edges!

Another interesting aspect to this preserve is it abuts a National Guard base, on its southern end. A friendly local fellow I ran into told me that the park is the only one in the country that has a right of way through a military base! And indeed, one of the signs outside the fortification insists that pedestrians are welcome. So you can saunter past the gate on your way to the trail system (in about a quarter mile, you’ll reach the official Mt. Apatite City Park sign, in the woods). Additionally, all around the base are threatening Keep Out signs — but the local walker said you can really disregard those. Every two years or so, the base runs training exercises in the woods, with soldiers running around with guns. Perhaps then you might want to walk somewhere else, although my source says he just ambles on by with his dog.

There are many trails here! The city offers a map, but I found the map a bit confusing to follow. What’s helpful to know for orienteering is that a wide snowmobile corridor runs through the middle of the park — it’s the red trail marked #6 on the city map, “Mt. Apatite Road”. Weaving all around this multi-use highway on each side are trails more suited to walking, snow shoeing, or biking. But none of them, as far as I could see, were blazed! With the important exception being the Blue Trail (#5), which makes an enjoyable three-mile loop through the forest. Some of the bike trails also have trail signs at the start.

So I recommend using a digital map from Strava or AllTrails to give you confidence you’re going where you want to go. Also, if you are primarily a walker/hiker, I recommend just sticking to the Blue Trail, which seems to be consistently blazed, and also checking out the mines.

The terrain is relatively flat with some small hills (I’m keeping an outdated map in my slideshow because it shows contour lines). While the forest is near the city, you will likely find a lot of solitude here (if you avoid the snowmobile highway).

Directions: Two trailheads: one is is 64 Mt. Apatite Road, park near the National Guard base and the baseball fields. One trail at this end starts at the baseball field; walk along the side closest to the base (west side) and the trail continues into the woods. The other cuts right through the base. The other parking area and trailhead is at 2 Small Road. For Small Road, drive west on Minot Ave (Route 121) and take a right onto Hatch Road. Continue about 1.5 miles on Hatch Road until you see Small Road. Take a right on Small Rd and the main entrance is at the end of the road. Parking is opposite the snowmobile club. There’s plenty of parking at both trailheads.