Ossipee Hill, Waterboro

This is a short, steep hike with an okay view from the fire tower. The trail is un-blazed, and the trailhead unmarked. I didn’t have a lot of clearance on my car, so I parked it fairly far down the access road, on McLucas Road. For those with little tolerance for what could be a drive up a very rough, unmaintained road, there’s room for about four cars in the shoulder where the pavement on McLucas ends and the dirt road begins. The walk to the trailhead is roughly 1.2 miles from this point, and another 0.9 miles to the fire tower.

Once McLucas reaches the intersection with the stony Mountain Road (which forms the trail to the summit) you should park, if you haven’t done so already.

Once you’re at the start of the trail, take a left and walk up the gravel road — it’s very steep! Follow the gravel road for about 0.4 miles, to where it bends to the right. Keep walking uphill, and eventually you’ll see the radio towers and the old fire tower. You can climb the old wooden steps of the tower two flights, but the hatch to the room at the top is locked. You’ll get views over the trees from the landing.

Directions: Take Route 5 south to Waterboro. Before  the Rt. 202 junction, take a right onto Ossipee Hill Road, and then an immediate right onto McLucas Road. The access road, off to the right, is about 1.72 miles up this road, on the left. Beyond, McLucas Road deteriorates. There is parking here for several cars.