Trails Used

Blueberry Mountain Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

Opting for a short local hike today, we headed over to Blueberry Mountain in Township 6 North of Weld. At 9:00, we were the first car in the parking lot. As we headed up, we were unsure whether or not we would be in the clouds when we reached the summit. The trail remains in pretty much the same condition that it has been for the last ten years, mostly clear and well marked, but somewhat eroded in steeper sections. We were still in the clear as we approached the summit, and we were treated to sunny skies at the top. It was a bit windy, and many of the surrounding peaks, including the Jacksons were in the clouds, but it remained sunny on top of Blueberry for the 2+ hours that we spent at the summit. Although the foliage was past peak, the colors were still beautiful, and the warm sun made it the perfect day for an extended summit stop. We saw one other group at the summit, and one more while we were descending, but it wasn't too busy at all for a holiday weekend!

Parking

plenty of parking

Water Crossings

no water crossings

Wildlife

none

Trails Used

Blueberry Mountain Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

The trail was in great condition. This is one of the few trails that has fine beach like sand all the way up and down the trail. There were some good views at the east lookout, the summit and the west lookout. Met roughly about 13 people on the trail, most were families with small and large kids with dogs. Actually good to meet some people on the trail compared to my last hike up Shelburne Moriah where I was the only one on the trail that day.

Parking

Parked on the trailhead at Long Pond Road. One other car there when I arrived at 9 AM, when I left in the late morning there were 4 other cars there.

Water Crossings

No water crossing issues

Wildlife

Only a few mosquitos and deer flies.

Trails Used

Blueberry Mountain Trail (North)

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

Just a lovely walk. The birds were singing quite loud too, especially a hermit thrush. Overall just a great peak with a nice trail from either side you choose. North was our choice today.

Water Crossings

Hopped over a few crossings.

Trails Used

Blueberry Mountain Trail, herd paths, woods road

Trail Conditions

Notes

Well, things have changed since the last time I was here. Water crossings all pretty high. Water running down trail most of the way. Took MUCH longer than expected due to footing and avoiding puddles/slipping on slabs. We each took a big fall at least once. However, woods were super-beautiful and we avoided the big showers. Had summit (actual summit) to ourselves. Explored old abandoned farm foundations on descent. Actual distance each was more like 2.8 mi (sign said 2.2 miles) each way based on woods road walking and herd path to actual summit. Saw nobody!!!

Parking

We parked on Page Rd where you used to turn left to park at the trailhead lot. Short spur to trailhead lot washed out last year - that portion of road totally gutted to actual old trailhead - I miss parking in that lot!! There is room for several cars along Page Rd.

Water Crossings

OK - rock-hoppable but very slippery - lots of water crossings with all the rain recently

Wildlife

none - it was too windy

Trails Used

Road walk, Stonehouse Trail, Lookout Loop, White Cairn

Trail Conditions

Notes

Nice view day on the Lookout Loop and White Cairn Trail..8 other hikers seen..some areas of the trails had lots of leafs hiding rocks and causing slips on the way down White Cairn Trail especially..

Parking

Room for 4 or 5 at the gate with some spots along the road..there were 4 upon return and 1 down the road a short distance

Water Crossings

Just small drainages no issues

Wildlife

Skeeters at the trailhead in the AM and blackflies when stopped later in the morning..one tick taken off pant leg..

Trails Used

Road walk, Stonehouse Trail, Lookout Loop, White Cairn

Trail Conditions

Notes

Nice view day on the Lookout Loop and White Cairn Trail..8 other hikers seen..some areas of the trails had lots of leafs hiding rocks and causing slips on the way down White Cairn Trail especially..

Parking

Room for 4 or 5 at the gate with some spots along the road..there were 4 upon return and 1 down the road a short distance

Water Crossings

Just small drainages no issues

Wildlife

Skeeters at the trailhead in the AM and blackflies when stopped later in the morning..one tick taken off pant leg..

Trails Used

Road walk, Stonehouse Trail, Lookout Loop, White Cairn

Trail Conditions

Notes

Nice view day on the Lookout Loop and White Cairn Trail..8 other hikers seen..some areas of the trails had lots of leafs hiding rocks and causing slips on the way down White Cairn Trail especially..

Parking

Room for 4 or 5 at the gate with some spots along the road..there were 4 upon return and 1 down the road a short distance

Water Crossings

Just small drainages no issues

Wildlife

Skeeters at the trailhead in the AM and blackflies when stopped later in the morning..one tick taken off pant leg..

Also on this trip

Trails Used

White Cairn Trail, Blueberry Mountain Loop, Blueberry Ridge Trail, Bickford Slides Trail, Bickford Brook Trail, Red Rock Trail, Stone House Trail, Rattlesnake Pool Spur

Trail Conditions

Notes

Beautiful spring day today! High 50s- low 60s all day and excellent visibility 50+ miles. Still quite a bit of patchy snow visible on the Presidential range. I would highly recommend Bickford Slides trail for those who love waterfalls, as that trail had about as many awesome waterfalls in 0.5 miles as you can get. The snow is almost fully gone in this area, but there was still a few small patches of snow, mostly on the upper section of Bickford Brook trail. It was all avoidable or minimal enough it could be walked over easily. In this section there was also a lot of Moose droppings, but no Moose unfortunately. The West side of Blueberry Mountain on Blueberry Ridge Trail had a decent amount of slippery wet rock, and care will be required in this section to stay on your feet. A lot of loose leaves throughout (A lot of Beech) and this can make some sections a little slippery, but for the most part this wasn't an issue. 6 new completed Redline trails today!

Parking

I was the 5th car at 10:30 and there were two cars when I returned at 4. There is a small lot for 3 or so cars at the Stone House gate, but room for a few more cars to park on the right side of the road just before the gate.

Water Crossings

Bickford Slides trail has a few crossings but all were rock-hoppable, and the crossing of Bickford Brook at the start of Blueberry Ridge Trail was easy enough to hop over as well. There are bridges on the crossings on White Cairn trail and Stone House trail.

Wildlife

Some flies were zipping around at the summit of Speckled but nothing that was a nuisance

Trails Used

Blueberry Mt trail out and back from the southeast

Trail Conditions

Notes

Blueberry may have been delisted but it is still an awesome hike with multiple open vistas. We went past the summit to the open ledges that looked west to VT.

Water Crossings

There are a few spots near the summit where there are large pools of standing water on the trail. All are rock or log hoppable except one. With the upcoming rain, these could get deeper/longer.

Trails Used

road walk : White Cairn Trail : Blueberry Ridge Trail : Loop Trail : Bickford Brook Trail

Trail Conditions

Equipment

Notes

No traction is necessary if you hike only to Blueberry Mountain. I was able to hike all the way to Speckled Mountain without traction. On descent, I wore some old microspikes. There were a lot of dry leaves on both the White Cairn Trail and the Stone House Trail (somewhat slippery). The relocation section of the Stone House Trail with its many switchbacks has no blazes and requires attentiveness to remain on the trail through the deciduous forest. All of the exposed ledges are bare rock with secure footing. There is standing water or running water in the low spots on the dips in the terrain on the Blueberry Ridge Trail. The snow cover was intermittent uphill of Blueberry Mountain up to about 2500 feet where it became more consistent. Even up high, there were some bare ground in places. The softest snow was on the Bickford Brook Trail uphill from the upper junction with the Blueberry Ridge Trail in the relatively flat stretch in the open forest. Thankfully, the snow wasn't too deep. There were several piles of fresh moose droppings in this section. Great views from the ledges and the summit. Make sure to visit Rattlesnake Pool (green water and a cascade) and Rattlesnake Flume just off the Stone House Trail. Also, some good views of area lakes/ponds. Met two hikers from southern Maine on the White Cairn Trail and a hiker from Porter Maine on the Blueberry Ridge and Bickford Brook trails.

Parking

Stone House Road was passable to the parking by the gate 1.1 miles in from route 113. There were some snow/ice, mud, shallow ruts, and dips so drive with care.

Water Crossings

no significant water crossings

Wildlife

A few flies.

Trails Used

Blueberry Mt. Trail northern approach

Trail Conditions

Notes

Great day to be out. We saw no one. No snow left. Only issue we had was ice on the slabs from running water freezing overnight. Probably melted later in the day.

Parking

Road before gate has washed away so you have to park along side the road.

Water Crossings

A couple very small brooks.

Wildlife

None yet