Snow Mountain, Alder Stream Township

While the trail on this 3,967-foot mountain is not blazed, it is easy to follow and attracts enough hikers to be fairly well etched the whole way up. There are also cairns and other markers at critical intersections. The peak, on land owned by the Penobscot Indian Nation, is one the 100 highest in New England, and has a fire tower offering beautiful views to those willing to climb. The elevation gain is ~1,880 feet.

The trail (really a wide track) begins off a logging road, behind boulders, and starts to gradually ascend through forest as it heads toward Snow Mountain Pond. There are occasional muddy patches.

At around 1.3 miles, look for a cairn and some ribbons on your right marking the footpath (if you continue along the track, you’ll also wind up at the pond). The trail at this point looks like a stream bed, there is so much water running down rocks. At around 1.6 miles, you’ll come out at an intersection. If you go straight, you’ll reach the peaceful pond, with possible sightings of loons and a canoe in two pieces. The pond doesn’t appear to be ideal for swimming, but I didn’t check out the rest of it; a path circumnavigates it, or part of it.

Back to that intersection: If you go right, you’ll start heading up a trail that is famously grassy, overgrown, and wet in areas. (Note: There is an alternative route you can pick up closer to the pond for a segment of the ascent: see this map to check out the two ways.)

Hike up the grass for about 0.6 miles, until you see a cairn marking a herd path on your right, which you’ll follow for the last 1.2 miles to the summit. This narrow path is easy to see the whole way, even through a section of thick brush, and becomes steeper for the last 0.8 miles or so. It comes out on a little ledge with views below the summit and fire tower. For those who are brave (that is not me), the tower offers great views. But even if you hike up just a few rungs, you begin to see wonderful sights!

Directions: The trailhead is along a logging road, about 5.5 miles from the intersection with Route 27. The road is in decent shape except for a couple of washed out areas. The final hill to the parking area is very steep and rocky. From Route 27, turn onto North Street, ignoring lesser roads along the way. At 3.75 miles, continue straight on Snow Mountain Road. Drive 1.38 miles to the old trailhead. Pass this and take your first left. Continue up a hill for about 0.4 miles and park at the top of a steep pitch, on the left. The trail is 100 feet or so down the hill, marked with boulders. I found it helpful to follow a downloaded Google map on my phone to feel confident I was going the right way. The AMC Maine Mountain Guide (12th edition) also has detailed instructions, both for finding the trailhead and for the hike.