All About TAKE A HIKE

Hiked and Written by the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association in 2012

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Do you want to know an easy hike to a great waterfall? How about a trek that allows you to bag THREE 4,000- foot peaks in a single day? Or maybe the best spot to picnic, surrounded by awesome vistas?

 

Want to get to know your own backyard just a little bit better? The Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association can help!! Members of the  "active outdoor club" put boot to boulder during the summer of 2012, hiking the mountains in our very own playground. We made notes about the views, the wildlife and the terrain over the miles upon miles of trails that criss-cross our Valley and its neighboring towns.

 

The result is this hiking guide, an insider’s look at our mountains, waterfalls, lakes and trails .. all the places that make Carrabassett Valley such a special place. We'll tell you what the trail is like, how long it will take you to get to the top, where to stop for a swim or a picnic .. and how tough a hike you are getting yourself into! This book is filled with personal observations and hard facts. It is crammed with some of our favorite hikes .. including all the 4,000-footers in our valley, five waterfall walks and some nice loop treks.

 

Our region has much to boast about: There are just 14 peaks in Maine that tower to the 4,000-foot level .. and 10 of them are in our backyard: Avery Peak, Mount Abraham, North & South Crocker, Redington, Saddleback, Saddleback Horn, Spaulding, Sugarloaf and West Peak

 

Yet, look in most hiking guides and the town of “Carrabassett Valley” gets none of the kudos. Instead, our mountains get lumped into the “Rangeley/Stratton Region.” We thought it was time to set the record straight!

 

Not only do we have the highest concentration of 4,000- footers in Maine, but the Appalachian Trail runs right through our town. Our trails are some of the toughest climbs the thru-hikers make on their way to the summit of Katahdin and the terminus of the 2,174 mile Appalachian Trail.

 

7/2020 –in past years, CVOA members have maintained several sections of the AT, trimming back brush, clearing blow downs, building bog bridges and marking trails. And all our members are on constant litter patrol, picking up trash left behind by other less considerate hikers.

 

We are also the home base to the Maine Huts & Trail system. 7/20: visit their website mht.org for updated information.

 

 

A WORD ABOUT OUR GUIDE

 

Our guide is not just for the hard-core hiker: There are easy hikes to waterfalls, swimming holes and fishing ponds. There are “slack pack” hikes you can finish in half a day. There are special hikes to scenic vistas that give you a lot of view for not much exertion!

 

We tried to be as accurate as we could with distances, referencing several sources. Our estimated hiking “times” were what it took our hikers to get to the summit and back .. with some leeway to account for the twinkle toes who skip to the peak and the foot-draggers who slog their way up and limp back down.

 

As a rule of thumb, figure on hiking 2 miles every hour .. and then add an extra half hour for every 1000 feet of elevation gained.

 

 

HIKING IN CARRABASSETT VALLEY

 

We enjoy these special lands we call “home” .. and we want future generations to do so as well. That is why we are committed to preserving and protecting our natural resources .. and to keeping them pristine and “open” for those who hike behind us.

 

For anyone who enjoys recreating in the outdoors, whether it be hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, biking, hiking, fishing, bird watching or any other activity you might enjoy out in the woods, no one likes to see “No Trespassing “ signs. Unfortunately as we travel around the State of Maine, these signs are becoming more common, with thousands of acres being posted. It is frustrating to us outdoor enthusiasts to see these signs. But when we talk to the landowners, we understand their reasons: The stories they tell of the inconsiderate acts people do on other’s private property are infuriating.

 

Here in our Valley, the landowners generously allow us to use their property. In return we should all respect their land as if it is our own. Carry-In, Carry-Out is always the rule. And please pick up any trash left behind by others who are less considerate. It’s the right thing to do.

 

The hikes listed in the book traverse property owned by a mix of private landowners .. the Sugarloaf and Saddleback ski areas, Plum Creek Corporation, The State of Maine (Bigelow Preserve), The Town of Carrabassett, the Penobscot Indian Tribe and others. Please join us in thanking these generous neighbors for giving the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors by respecting their lands. Without them allowing us to recreate on their land, there would be no need for this book!