In this article, you will get detail regarding 5 challenging Maine snowshoe treks to tackle this winter
This story was originally published in January 2018.
For people looking for a challenge this winter, this list may be for you.
But first, a word of caution: snowshoeing is more difficult than hiking. It takes longer, requires more energy, and requires more careful monitoring of your body – especially body heat. If you don’t have snowshoeing experience, I suggest you pick a trail that you think is too easy for you and then work your way up to harder trails and longer trails. For suggestions for easier snowshoe trekking, click here.
Spending a long time outdoors in winter requires additional equipment, appropriate clothing and some experience. It’s also crucial to always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back, just in case something goes wrong. And if you can, snowshoe with a companion or two for safety. Cell phones and satellite signals can also be helpful in an emergency, but batteries freeze and die easily in the Maine winter, and cell phone reception isn’t always reliable, especially in the mountains.
The number one danger in winter in Maine is hypothermia, and it’s no joke. To learn more about hypothermia, including the signs that you are becoming hypothermic, click here.
Now, if you don’t mind this post, here are some (in my opinion, and keep in mind I’m not a marathon runner or super athlete) challenging snowshoe trails in Maine.
1. Big Moose Mountain near Greenville
My snowshoe hike up Big Moose Mountain last February was one of the hardest and most rewarding hikes I’ve experienced to date, and a lot of that has to do with the depth of the snow that day. Fortunately, my husband and I were prepared. We packed plenty of warm clothes and food, and wore snowshoes and gaiters to keep the snow out of our boots. However, one of our snowshoe poles (which was metal, I might add) snapped in half as we struggled up a particularly steep section of trail right next to the old firehouse. We reached the top, where we were enveloped in a bright white cloud of snow, but we could only see the steep slope below, filled with snow-covered evergreens, and it was quite special to be in that wild, white place.
The trail up the mountain is 2.1 miles long and is marked with blue markers. The ascent is steady and steep near the top. And the peak is 3,196 feet above sea level. For driving directions and more details on the hike, click here.
2. Round Top Mountain in Rome
I tackled this little mountain in central Maine with my cousin in the middle of a blizzard, because why not? While it was certainly winter, there wasn’t enough snow on the ground that day to handle snowshoes, but we were carrying pretty aggressive ice poles and I’m not sure we would have climbed the mountain safely without them.
Rising 1,133 feet above sea level, Round Top Mountain is the highest peak in the Kennebec Highlands, a group of hills and mountains in central Maine. The loop trail that explores the mountain is 5.9 miles round trip and leads through particularly beautiful forest to some partial views of the region. For driving directions and more details on the hike, click here.
3. Mount Megunticook in Camden
Located in Camden Hills State Park, Mount Megunticook rises 1,385 feet above sea level, making it quite high for a coastal mountain. Its summit is wooded, but there are several exposed granite outcrops along its slopes that command incredible views of Penobscot Bay and the neighboring hills. Hiking to the top and back across Mt. The Megunticook Trail is pretty tough without snow, but add snow to the equation and it’s even more of a challenge. The total length of the hike is about 4 miles, and you can cover even more miles by turning off on the Ridge or Slope Trail to make it a loop hike. Expect a steep, steady climb. For driving directions and hiking details, click here.
4. Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park
Cadillac is probably the most visited mountain in the state, especially when you consider all the people who drive to the top of the mountain in vehicles every summer. The highest mountain on Mount Desert Island, Cadillac is too crowded for my taste most of the time, but in the winter it’s a great place for snowshoeing.
Although many of the trail markers are hidden under the snow, it is a popular enough mountain that trails are often stamped into the snow by locals and rangers who know the trails well. However, it might be wise to bring a GPS device on this mountain in case you lose your trail on the exposed granite ridges, and prepare to endure the reflective sun and cold wind while hiking this mountain in winter.
While four trails lead to the top of this mountain – one up each side – I suggest hiking the North Ridge Trail during the winter. This trail is only 2.2 miles long, and while it is steep in places, it doesn’t involve any hand over foot climbing, which can be dangerous in icy conditions. However, during the winter, the section of the Park Loop that leads to the North Ridge Trail is closed. Therefore, you will need to park at the gate that blocks the entrance to Cadillac Park from Eagle Lake Road and walk toward Cadillac on Park Loop Road about a mile before reaching the trailhead. Along the way you’ll pass a road up Cadillac Mountain, and you can also snowshoe this, but it’s not as protected (and probably not as interesting) as the trail. For more information, click hereand also, check out the very helpful blog “Acadia on My Mind” about hiking Acadia in the winter here.
credit: Aislinn Sarnacki / BDN
5. Blue Hill Mountain in Blue Hill
Blue Hill Mountain has long been a popular hiking destination for people in Maine, and in recent years hiking trails leading to the top of the mountain have been improved and a new one has been built.
The Nova Becton Trail is a perfect snowshoe option as it is the most gradual trail on the mountain, leading to the summit in 2.75 miles. It may not seem like a long trail to summer hikers, but anyone who has done snowshoeing knows that the miles stretch on in the winter. A 3.5 mile snowshoe is nothing to turn your nose up at. Trust me, it will be a nice workout. And at the top of Blue Hill, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, snowy view of the peninsula. Other options up the mountain include the shorter, steeper Osgood Trail and the Hayes Trail, which leads to the South Face Trail and Service Trail. And for an easier snowshoe hike, the Post Office Trail is located directly across from the Osgood Trail on Mountain Road and leads gently downhill to Blue Hill Village. For driving directions and more details, click here.
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5 challenging Maine snowshoe treks to tackle this winter
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