View Full Version : Grafton Loop Trail, Maine
Chaco Taco
08-28-2012, 12:53
Alright, wak and I are on the Grafton Loop Trail Friday evening. Going up to Baldpate Lean to. Tough climb to start but figured we are going to be climbing and declining so much, it wont matter much. Im ready to get my a** handed to me and this trail promises some spectacular views and awesome wilderness!
Is the lean to at Baldpate absolutely no camping? Are there legal spots or is it being on private land a big no no for camping. How is the long section from Town Corner to Puzzle Mountain?
hikerboy57
08-28-2012, 14:00
i had lunch at baldpate when i did the loop ;last year, its stepp, but not bad did it in the rain(pics in the gallery),dont remember tenting but i seem to recall they had 3 or 4 platforms. in any event i camped the first night at the first site after baldpate(dont remeber the name) but you can get a lot of info on the grafton loop at matc.org.
im freakin jealous. my ankles healed and i wish i was there.
hikerboy57
08-28-2012, 14:01
the eastern part is mostly rolling terrain, a few steeps here and there. the western half was a bit more difficult.
hikerboy57
08-28-2012, 14:08
yeah just click on http://matc.org/GraftonLoopTrail.htm.
a lot of good info.
Chaco Taco
08-28-2012, 14:09
i had lunch at baldpate when i did the loop ;last year, its stepp, but not bad did it in the rain(pics in the gallery),dont remember tenting but i seem to recall they had 3 or 4 platforms. in any event i camped the first night at the first site after baldpate(dont remeber the name) but you can get a lot of info on the grafton loop at matc.org.
im freakin jealous. my ankles healed and i wish i was there.
Yea I like the brochure the MATC did for it. The websites are equally as nice.
http://matc.org/GraftonLoopTrail.htm
http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/trails/work/grafton/index.cfm
But the online map is awesome
http://www.matc.org/Documents/Grafton%20Loop%20Trail%20Brochure.pdf
hikerboy57
08-28-2012, 14:11
another link from those devils at amc:http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/trails/work/grafton/index.cfm
hikerboy57
08-28-2012, 14:17
see you already found the amc link. great minds think alike, especially with performance enhancing substances.
Chaco Taco
08-28-2012, 14:39
Im thinking the best plan of attack is from northern 26 trailhead and over to Baldpate Lean-to. Seems they may have platforms but the high thru hiker rate may keep us off the platforms and may need to stealth somewhere. Just want to make sure I we could pitch somewhere if need be off trail. We are coming in late. My last client is done at 3:15 and we head 3 hours north across The Whites into Maine. Basically an hour further to Newry and 26 from where we were Sat and Sun. Puts us at the trailhead probably hiking by 7:00.
hikerboy57
08-28-2012, 15:08
the summit is pretty bare, dont think youd have a problem stealthing if you dont mind rock.
Chaco Taco
09-02-2012, 19:25
We got to the lean to at 9pm friday night....4 Thru's thats it! Saw 3 people on the GLT
Alright, wak and I are on the Grafton Loop Trail Friday evening. Going up to Baldpate Lean to. Tough climb to start but figured we are going to be climbing and declining so much, it wont matter much. Im ready to get my a** handed to me and this trail promises some spectacular views and awesome wilderness!
Is the lean to at Baldpate absolutely no camping? Are there legal spots or is it being on private land a big no no for camping. How is the long section from Town Corner to Puzzle Mountain?
Sorry to be late responding. This is a busy season for me. But the leanto is on Maine Public Reserved lands, as is the entire Maine Mahoosuc ridge line. Camping is allowed on all public reserved lands, subject only to environmental restrictions. The last time I was at the shelter, there was a small camping area adjacent to the leanto. I doubt if that has changed.
Chaco Taco
09-02-2012, 21:52
Sorry to be late responding. This is a busy season for me. But the leanto is on Maine Public Reserved lands, as is the entire Maine Mahoosuc ridge line. Camping is allowed on all public reserved lands, subject only to environmental restrictions. The last time I was at the shelter, there was a small camping area adjacent to the leanto. I doubt if that has changed.
Plenty of camping. The only issue we ended up having was the water issue. Its wet as hell up here but after the climb off of Long Mtn and just before the haul up to Stewarts Campsite there is no water sources. There is no water at Stewarts at all. The stream looks like its just dry. We had lots of rain. You have to haul water up that climb and its a mile and a half of gradual rooted and rocky uphill. Camping is very sparse :)