Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To return to the parking area take the Fire Warden's Trail down from the
col. Hands must be used near the ridge and one section features a wooden
ladder/stair arrangement. Strenuous.
Mahoosuc Notch, Riley Township
: Mahoosuc Notch is one of those
legendary places many hikers hear and talk about, but few ever visit.
While the Appalachian Trail Conference is careful not to dish out too
many superlatives when it comes to labeling parts of the AT, it does
grudgingly acknowledge in some publications that Mahoosuc Notch is
considered to be the trail's toughest mile.
The notch is a long, deep, steep-sided gorge about 20 yards wide in places.
The bottom is filled with house- and car-sized boulders covered with
moss, trees and detritus. The trail, if you can call it that, slogs over and
under these rocks. In places, when down in the caves, you can hear an un-
derground river rushing below. Snow lingers here long into summer.
One legend has it that the skeleton of a bull moose which became trapped
among the rocks could be seen for many years by passing hikers.
Several routes access the notch. The easiest involves a 4½-mile approach
hike from the Sunday River ski area in Bethel. It passes through an unof-
ficial tenting area at the base of the notch. Climb to the top of the notch to
where the AT veers south up Fulling Mill Mountain and then retrace
your steps. The total elevation gain in the notch from east to west is about
400-500 feet.
Other day trip approaches include coming in from the west on the Suc-
cess Pond Road which begins off Route 26 in Maine but quickly enters
New Hampshire. From the parking area on that road the Notch Trail
leads 2½ miles to the top of the notch. Figure on at least two hours to
climb down and two hours to climb back up, plus time for the trail back to
the road.
Longer trips are possible by combining a traverse of the notch with a stay
at the popular shelter and tent platform site at Speck Pond on Old Speck.
The pond is the highest body of water in Maine. Begin further east on the
Success Pond Road and take the Speck Pond Trail up for an elevation
gain of 2,100 feet over four miles. Follow the AT down into the notch and
connect with the Notch Trail to return to the road. It is about 2½ miles
back down the road to the first parking area. Water isn't too hard to come
by in this area.
Do not underestimate the endurance needed
to tackle Mahoosuc Notch. About the 30th
time in the first hour you've taken off your
pack to get through a tight spot you may wish
you'd taken a different route.
