QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 57,703 acres
- Trail Mileage: 0.7 mile one way
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: forest
One doesn’t hike 843-foot Wabassus Mountain for its breathtaking views — though you do get glimpses of gorgeous scenery through trees — so much as for its forest landscapes and the good exercise of walking uphill! Downeast Lakes Land Trust recommends hiking here after the leaves are gone for the best views of surrounding lakes.
The well-marked path leaves Wabassus Mountain Road and climbs moderately steeply for the first 0.35 miles or so. Then it relents somewhat, offering a more gradual climb to the summit. The forest at the top of the small mountain is open and airy, with oak, white ash and hophornbeam trees. A bench looks out over a small clearing.
The trail is about 0.8 miles one way, with a 0.2-mile loop at the top. It is part of the amazing 57,703-acre Downeast Lakes Community Forest, cared for and protected by the Downeast Lakes Land Trust.
Directions: The trailhead is on the Wabassus Mountain Road, approximately 3.1 miles south of the Fourth Lake Road, and can also be accessed from the south from Third Lake Ridge Road. If you’re coming from Grand Land Stream, you’ll see a sign for the trail soon after making a bend in the road, with the kiosk set a bit farther back in the woods. The small parking area — big enough for about three cars — is about 100 feet farther ahead on the road.
