QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 47,000 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~3.2-mile loop
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate to challenging
- Sights: Views north and east
On the day we hiked Norumbega Mountain, in mid-March, the clouds hung low over Upper Hadlock Pond. As we ascended the steep ledges and stone steps on the Goat Trail (which still had some icy patches), we gradually climbed above them into the sunshine. The best views are a bit beyond the summit in either direction, we thought, and slightly less dramatically stunning than those of nearby summits. The scraggly pitch pine forest on the summit ridge, though, is very pretty.
It’s best to do the loop counter-clockwise and hike up the steep Goat Trail to the summit—which you’ll reach in about 0.6 miles from the trailhead. Then you can make your way along the ridge and down the gentler descent of the Norumbega Mountain Trail.
If you choose to come out on the Golf Course (the less popular option), walk along the edges of the greens and you’ll pick up the park path. Use our blue dot feature in our Google map in satellite view to see where the trail intersects with the golf course, because it can be a touch confusing. (See Maine by Foot/About for more details for directions on using the blue dot.)
Important note: You can’t swim in the Hadlock Ponds since they supply the town’s drinking water.
Directions: The trailhead and parking area—which is big enough for perhaps a dozen cars—is off Route 3, about a mile north of the intersection with Gatehouse Road.
