Fall day hike in Maine

[sheeptoast]

Hey everyone, I live in Freeport, Maine and I'm looking for a good fall hiking trail within like 2-3 hours drive to take my overweight father on. Something not too challenging but rewarding would be ideal. I've googled around a little bit but I couldn't find much and was considering just going to Tumbledown because I've been there before. Any better ideas would be awsome.



I'm going hunting until Saturday night so I wont be able to respond until then but thanks in advance for any advice.

[Kirby]

Pleasant Mountain, the undeveloped side of Saddleback. There is a 2.5 mile traail that is not all the difficult, and has a great view from the summit. I hiked it last friday with my entire junior class, and everyone from non hikers to hiking enthusiasts enjoyed the climb.

Kirby

[The Solemates]

katahdin :)

[woodsy]

Check this out in the Rangeley/Oguossoc area (http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=41)
Not too hard, lots of scenery on the way to and from on RT 17 or 4. Take one route up and another back. Look out for Moose ;)

[Over Yonder]

What about Maidens Cliff in Camden Hills State park. It's not too hard and the view will be wonderful this time of year. This is also connected to Mount Battie so you can make it a longer hike if you want too!

[Roland]

Here are a few easy foliage hikes I can think of, within a short drive of Freeport.

North
Camden Hills State Park (http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=14) offers a network of hiking trails leading to Mt. Megunticook and Mt. Battie. The view from these "hills" is stunning.

West
There are a number of easy hikes in the Oxford Hills region. In South Paris is Singlepole Ridge (http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/hiking/trails/singepoleridge.shtml). This 3-mile round trip probably gives you the best return for your effort, anywhere in the region.

Continuing westward on Rt 26 you will find Speckled and Bald Mountains (http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/hiking/trails/Speckled.shtml). A little longer hike than Singlepole Ridge, but with nice foliage views.

Just outside of Bethel, in Newry, is Mount Will. I couldn't find a link. This short hike yields fabulous views of the Androscoggin River Valley. The trailhead is opposite the transfer station. Pick-up a brochure at the trailhead, for a self-guided tour.

Continuing towards NH, on Rt 2, is the Evans Notch/Wild River region, where your options are endless. One easy favorite is Mt. Caribou (http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/hiking/trails/caribou.shtml).

I could go on, but more options will only make your choice more difficult.

[sheeptoast]

Thanks for the replies guys, they all look good. I think were going to check out Singlepole Ridge.
(http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/hiking/trails/singepoleridge.shtml)

[weary]

Maine has a wealth of interesting trails that almost no one has ever heard of. My small town has at least 25 miles of protected trails. Some developed by our town land trust, and others by other conservation groups and families.

Singepole is one of my favorite small mountains. But it doesn't surpass the four mile hike in Phippsburg to the summit of Morse Mountain and down the other side to a two-mile wild beach.

One of the finest woodland trails in southern Maine exists on the Phippsburg Land Trust Center Pond preserve. The preserve's perimeter trail loops nearly 5 miles among glaciar-carved valleys, among eroded rocky ridges, past the cellar holes of early settlers, along an abandoned beaver flowage, and the shore of an 1800's ice pond.

Another two mile walk loops from Route 209 to the Morse River salt marshes and back past the remains of an unmarked log house, some believe was built by norsemen.

Weary

[Tennessee Viking]

Haven't done too much in Maine. But when I did, Acadia was cool.