Mountain Pond, Rangeley Plantation and Sandy River Plantation

Mountain Pond Trail is a three-mile trail (in total) that takes you up a moderate incline before leveling out when you reach the pond elevation (roughly 2,400 feet). The elevation gained in the hike is about 650 feet. The destination is a beautiful, remote pond. The pond bottom is a little murky, and there are no handy rock ledges from which to jump, but you can certainly swim here. The trail does a little loop at the top before heading back to the trailhead.

Directions: From Rangeley, follow Route 4 south for 4.5 miles. Turn right on to Edelheid Road and go about a half mile to utility pole #13. (You have to squint to read the numbers.) There is a little sign for the trail, and a bench at the trailhead, which is on the right. Park along the road.