QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: N/A
- Trail Mileage: ~4.6 miles to 2,447-ft. summit
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate, elevation gain ~1.440 ft.
- Sights: Views
If you have a choice of mountains in this area, I really recommend Mosquito or Moxie Bald or even Coburn over Pleasant. But to not be too disparaging: the 2,447-foot Pleasant Pond is a fine mountain on the AT with really great views.
There are two ways to summit Pleasant Pond Mountain. The eastern route (also called northern side since the AT goes north) is longer (almost 5 miles one way) and more gradual, through old spruce and fir forests. The western route is 1.6 miles and steeper, with some great ledges around 1.5 miles. Because it’s the AT, the trail is well maintained and well blazed. There is a side trail near the bottom that goes to the shores of Pleasant Pond (take a dip if you’re hot!) and the Pleasant Pond lean-to and tent sites.
While the official summit has nice views, I think the best place to eat your sandwich is on the trail a couple hundred feet north or south of the summit.
Directions: To hike the mountain from the north: From Route 201 in West Forks, drive 5.2 miles on Lake Moxie Road to where it splits in a T-intersection. Go right on Troutdale Road, a narrow dirt road that can have potholes. In roughly 7.8 miles, you’ll see the AT sign on your right for Pleasant Pond Mountain. In another .2 miles, you’ll come to the AT trail sign for Moxie Bald Mountain. A small parking area is farther up on your right. You can also reach the trailhead from Bingham. Here are the AMC directions for this route (I can’t vouch for these): From Route 201, turn right (east) on Route 16 and drive 5.5 miles. Turn left on Townline Road. At 2.8 miles from this intersection, bear right at a fork onto Dead Water Road. At 4.4 miles, cross a bridge onto the road, now called Troutdale road, which you can follow until, at mile 11.2 (from Route 16), you reach the AT parking area on your left.
