Trails Used

road walk, cell tower access road

Trail Conditions

Notes

While the short trail up to the 1,337' Glassface Ledges from Rumford Center is a popular hike, far less people visit (or even know about) the main peaks of Glass Face Mountain to the northeast. The cluster of four small bumps that make up the main peaks of Glass Face range from 1,880 to 1,920 feet in elevation. At least one of the peaks used to have a communications tower on it. After doing some scouting of potential access route on the way back from other trips, today we headed to Rumford Center to attempt to make our way up to the top of Glass Face. We parked near the start of Blackberry Lane on Andover Road. Blackberry Lane is one of the roads within the sprawling network of roads maintained by the Red Hill Road Association above Rumford. The road is gated and can only be driven by property owners. We started our hike up the road, eventually connecting to Bobcat Lane and Hawk Lane. Although not particularly interesting, the roads made for fast and easy hiking. Hawk Lane eventually narrowed and became a grassy two track road as it approached the top of the mountain. I was hoping to find a trail or way to bushwhack east off the top part of the road to the highest peak on the mountain, but the property in that direction was posted "no trespassing." The road gained the 1,882' peak where there are remains of the former communications tower. Most of the tower structure itself has been removed, but the adjacent buildings which housed the generator and equipment remain. I was surprised to find a cleared viewpoint northeast. There were pretty good views across Rumford and towards the Weld area, but they were unfortunately limited by the wildfire smoke today.

Parking

Parking is not allowed at the gate on Blackberry Lane, but I parked very close by at the bridge on Andover Road

Water Crossings

all were bridged

Wildlife

not bad

Trails Used

Glassface Ledges Trail

Trail Conditions

Notes

This morning, we headed over to Rumford with a list of potential hikes to check out. After striking out on all three possibilities (so many gates and no trespassing signs!), we decided to go on a little hike up Glassface Ledges. The short, but rewarding jaunt up the Glassface Ledges Trail is a popular local hike. Although I drive by it all of the time, I realized that it had been seven years since I actually hiked there. Leaving from Hastings Landing in Rumford Center, the trail passes through a cemetery before climbing moderately 0.8 mile to the clifftop viewpoint. Beyond the viewpoint, a herd path continues another 100 yards or so to the 1,337' peak. As we sat at the viewpoint, the low clouds rose, revealing beautiful views of the Androscoggin River Valley. After enjoying the view for a bit, we headed back down to our car. After revisiting Howard Pond Overlook last year and now Glassface Ledges today, it makes me think I should go back and rehike the Mystery Mountain Trail sometime soon. Out of the five Rumford area ledge-top viewpoints of the Androscoggin Valley, it is now the one that I have gone the longest without hiking.

Parking

parking at Hastings Landing

Water Crossings

some muddy areas

Wildlife

ticks