| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Ellingwood Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Esker Loop, McCoy-Gray Birch Trail, Forestry Trail, Chapman Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking! |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All unbridged crossings are easily hoppable |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are very well marked and maintained |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great hike for dogs! |
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 | Bugs: |
Not an issue |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Our primary objective for our hike at McCoy-Chapman Forest today was to hike the new Forestry Trail, but we ended up getting more new trails than we bargained for!
We started from the main parking area and went counterclockwise on the Esker Loop. After returning to, and crossing, North Road, we started down the McCoy-Gray Birch Trail to the new Forestry Trail. This new lollipop loop trail is roughly a mile round-trip and passes through a selectively harvested area. Along the way there is interpretive signage about how the forest was harvested in a way to benefit bird species.
After returning to the McCoy-Gray Birch Trail, we headed up Ellingwood Mountain to the viewpoint near its summit. The trail is in good shape and has seen a lot of recent maintenance. Along the way, we spotted something unexpected, a new extension of the Chapman Brook Trail rejoining the McCoy-Gray Birch Trail. We decided that we would check it out on the way back! The view at the top was even more restricted than usual due to the clouds on some of the taller mountains, but we still lingered a while and enjoyed lunch.
On the way back down, we turned right onto the new section of the Chapman Brook Trail. The new section of trail ascended alongside a pretty brook through a rugged gorge, very reminiscent of the section along Chapman Brook. This section of brook also had multiple pretty waterfalls. The trail then turned away from the brook and followed a contour across to join Chapman Brook just above the former end of the trail. This new section of trail is very attractive, and it makes even more loop opportunities available in the trail network.
We then descended back to the parking lot on the Chapman Brook Trail. No matter how many times I hike it, I am blown away by the beauty of the countless cascades, boulders, and crystal clear pools on this section of Chapman Brook; it's really one of those trails that you have to walk slowly to enjoy all of the sights along the brook.
The trail network at McCoy-Chapman Forest keeps getting better, and we were happy to see three other groups out enjoying the beautiful trails and weather! |
|
 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-08-21 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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