Bucks Ledge Community Forest 5/1/2026

After a bit of rain yesterday, today went back to the dry, sunny, and windy weather that we have been seeing a lot of lately. We took advantage of another beautiful day by heading over to Bucks Ledge Community Forest in Woodstock. Starting from the main parking lot, we walked up the improved gravel road to the accessible trail and its viewpoint, from which are great views of Bucks Ledge. We then cut over to Mann Road, before ascending Bucks Ledge from the west.

Trailhead

Viewpoint on the accessible trail

Sampson at a trail intersection

At the top of Bucks Ledge

After pausing to enjoy the great views from the top of Bucks Ledge, we continued along the ridge line on the J n J Trail to the top of Moody Mountain. This section of trail was especially enjoyable with its multiple viewpoints along the ridge.

View along the ridge

The summit of Moody Mountain

View from the top of Moody Mountain

After another break at the top of Moody Mountain, we descended the steep trail to the logging road. Before heading up the north side of Lapham Ledge, I took a short out-and-back detour down the Echo Lane Trail, which I hadn't been on yet. It's an easy walk to Rumford Avenue and back, and makes a nice alternative entrance or connection with the elementary school. We enjoyed lunch at the top of Lapham Ledge and then headed back down to the car via the Bucks Ledge Alternate Trail.

Lapham Ledge summit sign

View from Lapham Ledge

Bryant Pond & Mount Christopher

It was an excellent day for a hike, and the trails are all in good shape. Even with a number of cars in the parking lot, we passed only one person on our entire hike, which is rare for this busy trail system!

AllTrails Activity

 

Oversett Mountain 4/24/2026

 Although it is a rather popular hike, today we had the trails on and around Oversett Mountain completely to ourselves! Located within the Crooked River Headwaters Conservation Easement in Greenwood, this trail network consists of very well marked and maintained trails along the Sanborn River, around Oversett Pond, and up Oversett Mountain.

Sanborn River Trail

Sanborn River

Oversett Pond 

We did today's hike as a figure-eight; starting by going clockwise on the Sanborn River Loop, taking the connector to the pond, going counterclockwise around the pond and over the mountain, and then finishing by connecting back to the Sanborn River Loop. 

Sampson at the top

View northwest

The trails were in great shape (I think there was only one blowdown the whole way!) and mud was minimal. We only saw one small patch of snow near the pond. It was great weather for hiking and there were beautiful views from the summit!

Oversett Pond

AllTrails Activity

 

Amos Mountain, Deer Hill Spring, Lord Hill, & Hawk Mountain 11/20/2023

With today's excellent weather, I decided to head over to the Oxford Hills and White Mountains to hike some new to me trail segments on a variety of mountains that I had been on before.

My first hike was a very short one in the Heald & Bradley Ponds Reserve. The Homestead Trail is a short trail which was a new addition to the latest edition of the Maine Mountain Guide. It was a quick out and back hike up this trail, which has some interesting foundations near its end.

Next up was another hike in the Heald and Bradley Ponds Reserve from a different trailhead. I hiked a loop up and over Amos Mountain, utilizing the Rogers Family, Heritage Loop, and Amos Mountain Trails. This was a nice little loop and I enjoyed the views west from the viewpoint on the Heritage Loop Trail.

I then drove a bit west into the White Mountain National Forest. I wasn't certain whether or not the gates on the Deer Hill Road would still be open, but they were, despite the coating of snow on the ground. This hike was another relatively short out and back, this time to Deer Hill Spring off of the Deer Hill Trail. Deer Hill Spring is a very unique spot, and the water was spurting up quite close to the edge of the pool today, so it was easy to observe up close.

My fourth, and longest hike, was nearby on Lord Hill. I drove up Forest Road 9A, a short distance past the split in the Conant Trail Loop, to park. I then made a loop via the Mine Loop and Conant Trail over Lord Hill. This was quite a nice loop through hardwood forests, with only one short steep part. I walked through the mine pit and enjoyed the view over Horseshoe Pond, before heading back down.

My last hike was up Hawk Mountain in Waterford. The dramatic south facing cliffs on this mountain make it one of my favorites in the Oxford Hills. Last time I visited, the Cyrus Trail was the only hiking trail that had really been cleared on the mountain. As of my hike today, it appears thatmost, of not all of the trails shown on the trail map are now cleared footpaths and not just overgrown skid roads. I ascended via the Cyrus Trail, as that was the portion of the loop described in the MMG which I had not yet done. If you aren't specifically trying to follow the guidebook's described route, I would recommend actually avoiding the described route, as the newer footpaths are far more interesting than the eroded Cyrus Trail and the fire road. I visited the summit (no cairn) and the spectacular viewpoint, before descending via the Africa & America Trails. This was a pleasant descent route which brought me past another small viewpoint looking west.

Bethel Community Forest West & Buck's Ledge Community Forest, Woodstock 10/11/2023

View from Buck's Ledge

Today I revisited two community forests in Bethel and Woodstock to complete some of the trails there that I had yet to hike.

Bethel Community Forest West Trailhead

This bridge was functioning as more of a dam than a bridge

First up was the Parks-Bennett Trail in the western part of the Bethel Community Forest. This trail makes a loop on the southern slope of Ellingwood Mountain, passing along a pretty brook and past an excellent viewpoint, known as "The Prow" along the way.

A cascade along the trail

Last time I hiked here, I hiked the Red Pine Ridge Trail, instead of completing the Parks-Bennett Loop.

The loop junction

This time, I hiked the entire loop clockwise, and paused for a while to enjoy the view from The Prow.

View from The Prow

View from The Prow

This cleared area with a view up the mountain is called "Porcupine Panorama"

I then drove over to Buck's Ledge Community Forest in Woodstock.

Start of the Lapham Loop

This property was recently conserved by the town, and encompasses three peaks: Lapham Ledge, Buck's Ledge, and Moody Mountain. I started up the Lapham Loop, and soon made it to the top of the ledge, where I enjoyed my lunch and the view.

View from Lapham Ledge

After lunch, I headed down the other side of the Lapham Loop to Mann Road. I then followed Mann Road to the west end of the Buck's Ledge Trail.

The start of the Buck's Ledge Trail on Mann Road

This trail steadily climbed to the top of Buck's Ledge, which had the best views of the day.

Summit sign on Buck's Ledge

View from Buck's Ledge towards Mount Abram

After taking in the view, I headed up the JnJ Backcountry Trail to the top of Moody Mountain.

Logbook at the top of Moody Mountain

The top of Moody Mountain

Although this is the highest peak in the forest, the views here are rather limited. I descended steeply to the old logging road, and followed the road back to the parking area, with a short bushwhack detour around where they were doing construction.

The old logging road

The lower part of the old road is being improved to provide a way for disabled people to enjoy views without having to hike.

View from the lower part of the old logging road