Old Speck Mountain - 6.90 Miles - From Speck Pond Shelter and Campsite To Baldpate Lean-to (Shelter) - 9/12Speck Pond Shelter and Campsite to Baldpate Lean-to (Shelter)6.9 miles Total miles: 1924.9 Today dawned as another beautiful, sunny day, perfect for hiking. They are rugged, beautiful, and see very little traffic. Started off fairly early, a little drizzle early on transitioned into snow about half way up. Old Speck Mountain Old Speck once had an active fire tower, which has now been refurbished to provide 360-degree views of the surrounding area. Old Speck Mountain is a physical feature (summit) in Oxford County. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Old Speck Trail (7.6 miles round trip, advanced): Old Speck Trail is a challenging hike with spectacular views from an open observation tower at the summit. Will have to try this mountain again on a better day because I have heard the view is worth it. Climbing Old Speck Mountain (left) Day One: Grafton Notch to Full Goose Shelter. I took a Thursday off of work (I had to give two weeks notice) and was lucky enough to have a beautiful day! The trail meets with the Appalachian Trail before heading to a spur trail to the summit. Bear left onto ME26 and follow it for 12 miles to Grafton Notch State Park. Great hike up the 3rd tallest peak in Maine. There are various interesting sites along the way such as Screw Auger Falls and Moose Cave. The Mahoosucs are just to the northeast of the famous Presidentials in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. The hike was fairly rocky. The Success Pond Road starts in Berlin from Hutchings Street; it is dirt but is fine for most passenger cars. The Speck Pond Campsite is lovely and is highly recommended. These posts have been tagged with Old Speck Mountain ME, or are within 1.5 miles of it. Old Speck Mountain Climbing Notes Dr.Joe from UNITED STATES writes: My hiking partner and I hiked Old Speck yesterday on our way to capturing the last ten peaks of the New England Four Thousand Footers; we have completed all of New Hampshire and Vermont. Flanked to the southwest by Mahoosuc Arm and faces Baldpate Mountain to the northeast across Grafton Notch. Even the most experienced hikers can have difficulty here. Old Speck is a three hour drive for me, but the closest Maine 4000-footer. The primary coordinates for Old Speck Mountain places it within the ME 04261 ZIP Code delivery area.. It is the highest mountain in the range, and the 4th highest mountain in the state of Maine. The Speck Pond Trailhead is another 1.5 miles from Berlin, 0.8 miles down a right-hand side road. Also included in the range is the Mahoosuc Range, which is a deep gap in the range in Maine that is considered the hardest and slowest part of the Appalachian Trail. The trail is rated as difficult and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. Old Speck Mountain - Physical Feature (Summit) in Oxford County. The Appalachian Trail runs along the Mahoosucs for their entire length and provides a fine route for a tour of this scenic and rocky range. If you’re ready to spend a whole day on the trail, Old Speck is for you! Great way to spend a day. little difficult but reward, highly recommend. There is a caretaker in residence during summer months and fees run to $6 per person. Hiking up the steep summit trails rewards hikers with spectacular views, particularly on Old Speck Mountain which at 4,180 feet is Maine's third tallest mountain. Old Speck Mountain, ME: Trails: Old Speck Trail: Date of Hike: Monday, December 23, 2019: Parking/Access Road Notes: Parking area plowed, 1 car when I arrived at 9AM and 3 cars at 2PM. The best view comes before peak if you're not going to climb the tower. Old Speck Mountain O44070e8 1:24,000: Route #1 : Maintained Hiking Trail Trailhead: Grafton Notch (Paved Road) 1496 ft/456 m Vertical Gain: 2664 ft/812 m Distance (one way): 4.05 mi/6.52 km: Data Source: 1:25,000 (or larger) Topographic Survey Map; Dynamic Map The left fork stays lower longer but eventually climbs steeply to rejoin the Eyebrow trail. The trail from Mahoosuc Notch enters here as well.Speck Pond makes a lovely destination in and of itself, but the summit of Old Speck is not far away. With alpine skiing growing into a huge sensation, Maine was looking to host the 1976 Winter Olympic Games. 8.65 miles appx. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. The rocks tend to be slippery as you near the top. An alternate, longer route starts from the Speck Pond Trailhead and ascends to the broad, bare summit of Mahoosuc Arm. Old Speck Mountain (4170′) and Grafton Notch in Southwestern Maine Grafton Notch is a magnificent mountain pass in Southwestern Maine, a short drive from Gorham, NH, the last major trail town that Appalachian Trail thru-hikers visit before leaving New Hampshire. Here, evidence from the last glaciation is everywhere, and in- cludes scoured bedrock, Speck Pond tarn, erratic boulders and even the massive carved valley of … Nov 09 | Old Speck, ME via Eyebrow Up AT Down by: Doug / newenglandtrailconditions There are tent platforms, an AT-style shelter, and a composting privy. Old Speck Mountain day hike This day hike started at the parking area for the Old Speck/Eyebrow/Appalachian Trails on the west side of Maine Route 26 in Grafton Notch, about 12 miles west of US Route 2 in Newry, Maine.. Old Speck Mountain ME Weather Forecast. Our moving time was about 4.5 hours. Both are located on the Success Pond Road which runs from Berlin, NH, to Grafton Notch, ME. Surface Conditions: The views weren't bad overall. Old Speck Mountain is the fourth largest peak in Maine at 4,170 ft and one of the fourteen 4,000 footers in the state. Old Speck Mountain is a Mountain in ME. Camping is not allowed in the State Park which extends from Grafton Notch to the summit of Old Speck. Old Speck Mountain via Appalachian Trail is a 10.8 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Newry, Maine that features a great forest setting. Alternatively, the west side of Old Speck can be accessed from the Speck Pond or Mahoosuc Notch Trailheads. Old Speck is open for climbing all through the year. I was on the trail a bi Excellent hike! The parking area was plowed when I arrived at the trailhead for Old Speck Mountain in Grafton Notch State Park. Nice hike. This is one of the prettiest high-altitude ponds in New England. Not to worry, you're certainly not alone. The AT parking area is on the left side of the road and is large and well-signed. The most convenient trailhead for Old Speck is the AT Trailhead in Grafton Notch State Park. Never heard of the Mahoosucs? The trail is well maintained. I did this beginning of Sept, weather was perfect, took the Eyebrow trail up and did the Old Speck Loop trail on the way down. Sugarloaf Mountain. The Mahoosuc Notch Trailhead is 10.9 miles down Success Pond Road on a 0.3 mile side road on the right. There are three trailheads that access Old Speck. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' Old Speck is located within Grafton Notch State Park near the town of Newry. So plan to be out for a good chunk of time. All Rights Reserved. amazing. From Bethel, Maine, follow Rt 2 'east' for 6 miles to Newry. (10), Additions & Corrections The trail takes you to the summit of Old Speck Mountain and a fire tower where you can get panoramic 360 degree views. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and snowshoeing. Beautiful 360° views from the fire tower. Images Having finished the NH48 a couple years, we have started our quest for the NE 67. It is a complete playground for some and an arduous workout for others.Old Speck reigns supreme in the Mahoosucs rising 2500 feet above Grafton Notch and Maine State Route 26. Amazing views. Old Speck Mountain is a 4,170 foot mountain in the Mahoosuc Range in Oxford County, Maine. Ice was tricky - we ended up putting on spikes near the summit, shortly before the trail junction. Old Speck Mountain, the northeastern terminus of the Mahoosuc Range, has long been a popular hike along the Appalachian Trail. --The Dude. Customized by TrailsNH to a focus on what's most important for your outdoor adventure. The top of the tower offers a nice view of the surrounding mountains. Appalachian Trail: Beaver River Road to Carolo Col Shelter, Mahoosuc Notch Loop via North Pond Road to Appalachian Trail, Baldpate from the East (Andover) Side via Cataracts Trail and Frye Brook Trail. Taking in the view towards Sunday River Whitecap from the fire tower on the Old Speck Mountain in Maine s Grafton Notch S.P. Parking is free and no permits are needed. The Speck Pond caretaker will collect camping fees from you ($6 per person per night) during peak season (June 1-October 15). Solid. Its not for everyone but I highly recommend climbing the observation tower, the 360° view will not disappoint. The latest NOAA Point Forecast for Old Speck Mountain ME closest to the elevation of 4170 feet. Old Speck Mountain is a 4000 footer in Maine. A shelter and tent platforms allow hikers to spend the night here and explore further. For example, the Old Speck Mountain, Oxford County: 4,170 feet. At 4,240 feet, Sugarloaf is Maine’s second tallest peak. The summit is a rewarding few tenths of a mile to the left along gradual, forested ridge. Old Speck is the tallest and northern-most mountain in the Mahoosuc Range which stretches for 30 miles across the Maine-New Hampshire frontier. It is the highest mountain in the range, and the 4th highest mountain in the state of Maine. Descent is along the AT back to Grafton Notch. Old Speck Mountain Trail Conditions and Trip Reports are crowdsourced from many hiking websites across the Internet. It is widely claimed that the single hardest mile of the entire AT occurs at Mahoosuc Notch a few miles south of Old Speck. Amazing hike, challenging but rewarding. The trail then descends for a mile to the breathtakingly scenic Speck Pond. Plenty of parking. We'll be hiking up via the Eyebrow trail which leads to a ledge overlook with views of Grafton Notch and the surrounding peaks. We enjoyed climbing the fire tower at the top. Old Speck Mountain is a 4,170 foot mountain in the Mahoosuc Range in Oxford County, Maine. Absolutely breathtaking 360° views once you climb up the old fire tower. Old Speck Mountain is a 4,170 foot mountain located in the Mahoosuc Range in Oxford County, Maine. tough incline to oldspeck slippery descent to bull run campsite. Hike a rewarding 1.1 miles from the Pond over a small hump and up a bare, glaciated rock ridge to the summit and the viewing platform. Did not get any view from the summit tower bc I was in a cloud. Old Speck Mountain Trail is a 7.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Newry, Maine that features a waterfall. Outside of this area, however, camping is allowed. This is a much harder proposition, however, and it is easy to get diverted onto the remains of an old fire trail which descends in a leg-numbingly no-nonsense manner to the Notch. Never heard of the Mahoosucs? Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. (32), Comments Dogs are also able to use this trail. The trail is rated as difficult and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. Old Speck Mountain, Mahoosuc Arm, Mahoosuc Notch, ME: Trails: Old Speck Trail, Mahoosuc Trail, Notch Trail: Date of Hike: Sunday, May 24, 2015: Parking/Access Road Notes: The trailhead in Grafton Notch was nearly full on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. (1 ). The Standard Route up Old Speck follows the AT most of the way. In Maine’s Lakes and … Old Speck Mountain via Appalachian Trail is a 6.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Newry, Maine that features a great forest setting. It is also possible to descend the bare northeast ridge directly and then cut left to regain the main trail. Climb the tower. No fee required as the "iron ranger" is covered with a black plastic bag and duct tape. Was not too crowded on a Monday. Trail was very crowded with day hikers and AT thru hikers. It is also part of the Eastern White Mountains that stretches from New Hampshire to Maine. Overall the trail is quite steep, coming down the loop trail can be a bit unsteady as its normally a bit slick near the river that runs parallel to the trail. "That rug really tied the room together." From here, sunsets are spectacular and the view south into the famous Mahoosuc Notch is impressive. The trails leading to the summit are quite steep, but hikers will find stunning views of the surrounding Mahoosuc Range at the top. The Old Speck Mountain, Mahoosuc Range, Appalachians, United States Mountain weather forecast for 1270m. Lower was avoidable with effort and just clear enough to make us hesitate in putting them on. No red tape. It is also part of the Eastern White Mountains that stretch from New Hampshire to Maine. The mountain, the 4th highest in Maine, is the northeasternmost and highest of the Mahoosuc Range, the northeasternmost part of the White Mountains. Plan your road trip to Old Speck Mountain in ME with Roadtrippers. (34), Climber's Log Entries Whichever path you choose, you will soon be climbing steeply through beautiful coniferous forest with intermittent views to the east into Grafton Notch. One blow down but otherwise trail was in good shape. Detailed 6 day mountain weather forecast for climbers and mountaineers. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail was very busy with hikers of all ages and dogs. Old Speck is the 4th highest mountain in the entire state of Maine. The GPS coordinates are 44.609244 (latitude), -70.892372 (longitude) and the approximate elevation is 3,786 feet (1,154 meters) above sea level. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. There is now a fee of $2 per person (via an iron ranger) at the Old Speck Trail parking lot due to budget cuts. beautiful. More perfect weather! (The fourth highest peak in Maine.) A small observation tower was built on its summit in the last ten years and provides spectacular views in all directions from the lofty Presidentials to the south to the jumbled, nameless peaks of northwestern Maine to the north. Maine Route 26 cuts through the valley south of Grafton Notch as seen from the summit of Old Speck Mountain. Took the AT trail up as opposed to the eyebrow trail and it was about 4 hours to summit and then three hours back down to the car. Ran into a AT thru hiker who shared a little of his experience on the trail, which was an added bonus! From the parking area, follow the white-blazed Appalachian Trail … Old Speck is the tallest and northern-most mountain in the Mahoosuc Range which stretches for 30 miles across the Maine-New Hampshire frontier. It is also part of the Eastern White Mountains that stretches from New Hampshire to Maine. We dropped a car at the Rattle River trailhead off Rt 2 in Gorham, NH and drove north to Grafton Notch State Park in Maine to start our hike southward. In early 1967, Old Speck Mountain in Grafton Notch … Snow may persist on the trails into June; crampons may be helpful in the early season. A video compilation from our hike to Old Speck Mountain in Maine. Located in a remote alpine region about a … Mahoosuc Notch and the rest of the Mahoosuc Range from Mahoosuc Arm above Speck Pond. Definitely a tough hike for the not so experienced hiker like myself but so worth the views! Deer Hunting season is in November and hikers are advised toward extra caution. Old Speck Mountain Old Speck Mountain, also known as Old Speckle Mountain, is a mountain located in Oxford County, Maine, United States.The mountain, the fourth-highest in the state, is the northeasternmost and highest of the Mahoosuc Range, the northeasternmost part of … Not to worry, you're certainly not alone. The Mahoosucs are just to the northeast of the famous Presidentials in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. I highly recommend the Eyebrow trail on the way up and AT on the way down. An easy loop trail leads around the pond and over Mahoosuc Arm. Located just north of Sunday River, Old Speck is one of the tallest mountains in Maine at 4,180 feet in elevation. Hiked with Dan and Sammy. Map and location information for Baldpate Mountain in Maine: Baldpate Mountain is one of the Summits in Oxford County, ME and can be found on the Old Speck Mountain USGS topographic quad map. Old Speck is in Grafton Notch State Park and we started at the Appalachian Trail parking lot. A good amount of ice melted while we were at the summit. Rebecca / Flickr. Its highest peak is Old Speck Mountain in Maine at 4,170 feet. When you at last reach the ridge 3.5 miles from the trailhead at 4000', the AT bears right. So worth the views. 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