Hiking Bald Pate Mountain Maine: The Best Hiking Trails
Bald Pate Mountain is a beautiful mountain in the lakes region of Maine and the perfect place to enjoy a hike when visiting the area. Although it is not the tallest mountain in Maine, it does not lack beautiful views! And the best part? You can enjoy these trails in every season! The warmer months offer fun hiking trails, and the winter offers cross-country skiing.
The Bald Pate Mountain Preserve also has hiking trails for all levels. Whether you want a moderate hike to an overlook or a strenuous one to the summit, the preserve has a hike for everyone to enjoy.
If you want to hike Bald Pate Mountain in Maine, you are in the right place. This guide has everything you need to know about the best Bald Pate Mountain trails.
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Tips for Hiking in Bald Pate Mountain, Maine
Get a map of the trails. Although the Bald Pate Mountain trails are well-marked, I always recommend having a physical map. Usually, there are maps in the main parking lots, or you can print your own from Loon Echo Land Trust.
Wear shoes with good traction. The Bald Pate Mountain trails are rugged, with roots and rocks, so it is crucial to have supportive hiking shoes with traction. I love the Merrell Moabs because they are comfortable and lightweight!
Pack layers. Even though Bald Pate Mountain is not among the tallest mountains in Maine, it still has unpredictable weather. It could be a sunny and warm day in the morning and change into a windy and rainy day within a few hours. It is essential to check the weather before starting the hike to make sure you have the appropriate hiking gear. I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Pack your gear, 10 essentials, food, and water in a supportive backpack: My go-to is the Deuter Daypack.
Enjoy trail running instead of hiking. The Bald Pate Mountain trails are perfect for trail running! When I first started trail running, I would run on these trails because they had a great balance of easy and difficult terrain to navigate. If you want to trail run, you should wear trail running shoes with good traction.
Wear orange during hunting season. Hunting is allowed in the Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, so you must wear bright orange when you hike during hunting season. If you have a dog, they should also wear an orange vest.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Bald Pate Mountain Trail Map
The Best Bald Pate Mountain Trails
Foster Pond Lookout Trail
Length: 1.4 miles
Elevation: 160 feet
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
The Foster Pond Lookout Trail is one of my favorite hikes in Bald Pate Mountain Preserve and one of the easiest trails while still offering beautiful views on the lookout.
The 1.4-mile trail begins in the main parking lot off Route 107 and follows along the Bob Chase Trail before continuing straight onto the Foster Pond Lookout Trail. The trail begins to gradually gain elevation before it reaches the last climb towards the lookout.
The final climb to the lookout has a few rock slabs to navigate, but the effort is worth it once you reach the top! Foster Pond Lookout offers beautiful views overlooking the Ingalls Pond and the surrounding area!
Bob Chase Loop
Length: 1.2 miles
Elevation: 230 feet
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
Another one of my favorite trails in the Bald Pate Mountain Preserve is the Bob Chase Loop. This trail is one of the most scenic loops and has some of the best views in the preserve!
The 1.2-mile trail begins in the main parking lot off Route 107 on the same trail that leads to the Foster Pond Lookout. Around 0.2 miles in, the trail turns left at the first trail junction and continues to the loop around the top. You can follow the loop in either direction, but the best views are on the west side of it.
The final climb to the summit is steep, but the effort is worth it! Once you are at the top, you get stunning views overlooking the surrounding area! This lookout has one of my favorite views in the Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, so I know you will love it. This overlook also has a lot of wild blueberry bushes to enjoy!
South Face Loop
Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation: 600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
The South Face Loop is known to be one of the most scenic trails in Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, but it will make you work for the views! This loop is among the longest trails and has more steep sections than others in the preserve.
The 2.2-mile loop begins off Moose Cove Lodge Road on the Micah Trail and gradually climbs until it reaches the loop trail junction. Although you can hike the loop in either direction, many hikers follow it counterclockwise to ascend the steepest section. Both ways along the loop have steep areas with rock slabs, making you work for the views. Once you reach the summit of Bald Pate Mountain, you get beautiful views overlooking the surrounding area!
Micah Trail and Pate Trail
Length: 1.4 miles
Elevation: 500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Do not let the short mileage fool you! This trail to the summit of Bald Pate Mountain has some of the steepest sections in the entire preserve. But the views along it make the effort worthwhile!
The 1.4-mile trail begins on the Micah Trail off Moose Cove Lodge Road and gradually ascends to the trail junction, where it continues straight onto the Pate Trail to Bald Pate Mountain. Because Pate Trail is the most direct route to the summit, it is steep, gaining about 400 feet in 0.3 miles. It is the steepest and most challenging trail in the preserve.
Before you reach the summit, the trail has a stunning view looking south that will take your breath away! It is the perfect place to take a break before making the last push to Bald Pate Mountain. Once at the top, you have more beautiful views of the surrounding area!
If you do not want to descend the Pate Trail, you can descend via either side of the South Face Loop to have a less steep descent.
Bald Pate Mountain Loop
Length: 3.3 miles
Elevation: 820 feet
Difficulty: Difficult
If you want to explore all the trails in Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, you are in luck! Since the trails connect, you can easily explore each in one big loop.
Although you can begin the loop in either parking lot, I recommend starting it in the main parking area off Route 107. The 3.3-mile loop climbs to the Foster Pond Lookout before heading to the Bob Chase Scenic Loop. From there, the trail continues to the summit of Bald Pate Mountain before looping around on the South Face Loop. The loop connects back with the Bob Chase Scenic Loop before heading back to the parking lot.
Although this loop is one of the longest in the Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, it brings you to every stunning overlook, so it is worth the effort! And it will make you fall in love with the beautiful area.
If you want to hike in the Bald Pate Mountain Preserve, this guide is the perfect place to start planning your trip. It has everything you need to know about the best Bald Pate Mountain Trails.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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