West Kennebago Mountain, near Rangeley, Upper Capsuptic Township

You have to drive several miles on dirt logging roads to access this trailhead. When you at last see the 3,705-foot mountain, it looms startlingly in front of you, seeming to come out of nowhere (maybe if I had been looking up a bit more during the drive, it wouldn’t have surprised me so much). The parking area for this mountain is on the side of the road, and the trailhead is a few feet further up the road.

You start out on a wide track, which narrows a bit as you go up. There is a fairly steep section that involves a bit of climbing over rocks that can be wet and slippery. Close to the top of the mountain, you’ll reach a wooden platform — I hear it’s a helipad — and at 100 yards or so further along the trail you’ll come to the summit and a lot of radio towers. There are decent views from the helipad and from the summit. Make sure you walk the scratchy path around the tower fence to take it all in. 

Directions: From Oquossoc, take Route 16 west. At around 4.8 miles, turn right onto Morton Cutoff Road, a dirt road that is well signed. After 3.2 miles, you’ll reach a large intersection. Take a right and drive 5.5 miles. You’ll see the mountain in front of you eventually. Once it feels like you’ve driven by the mountain, you’ll see a small parking area on the left. The trailhead begins slightly past the parking area.