| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Bald Mountain, Eagle Rock, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Waterfall Trail, Bald Mountain Trail, Mt. Chase Trail, Eagle Rock Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, June 22, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The dirt road in is narrow and I think there was one spot that was washed out a bit and a little rough and rocky but mid clearance will definitely be okay and low clearance may be fine too. Room for several cars in the grassy area where the trails begin. No one there when I arrived just past noon and just one other at 3:30pm when I returned. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Wet Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock, Standing/Running Water on Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable, Mud - Significant |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Crossings were low and the one on Bald Mtn Trail was fine but at least one of the ones on Waterfall was a bit sketchy. Low water or not, if you slipped on the ledge, which seemed slick, you'd be at risk of going down a rather dangerous slip n' slide that certainly looked like it could end in death. I think I crossed just upstream to give myself a little wiggle room. I certainly would not attempt it in high water. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Waterfall and Bald Mtn trails aren't blazed but are marked with surveyors tape in spots. Mt Chase Trail has some blue blaze. I don't recall frequency, but it's easy to follow. I don't recall if the spur to Eagle Rock was marked or signed and there's two entrances to it just a few yds apart. Some small but not delimbed stepovers that I think were near the start of Bald Mtn Trail and I'm sure many others as well that I just didn't take photos of. I can't imagine it's officially maintained. One mid-sized and not delimbed blowdown on Waterfall Trail in the flatter section above Bald Mtn Trail. Large blowdown at the jct of Waterfall and Mt Chase Trail but there's a path going around. I don't recall any blowdowns on Mt. Chase Trail other than that one. Trails aren't really signed or the signs are very old and unreadable and/or have names that don't match the guidebook such as "Orgi Trail". |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
The scramble described below on Bald Mtn Trail they couldn't do. Other than that, I think they'd need help with or could do the ledge on the spur to Eagle Rock but otherwise should be okay on Mt Chase Trail and Waterfall Trail. Maybe watch them on the sketchy water crossing mentioned above. |
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 | Bugs: |
Despite wet weather, I think they were still out. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
1st hike of the day before hiking nearby Owls Head. I'd redlined Mt Chase years before but the spur to Eagle Rock wasn't needed in the old edition and I didn't do it and Waterfal Trail and Bald Mtn Trail were also added to the newest edition. Waterfall Trail to Bald Mtn Trail got pretty steep and was slow going. Soon after getting on Bald Mtn Trail, the trail became difficult to follow. Expect to go down some and look watch carefully for the flagging. The real challenge came when following the contouring path to the rocky outcropping. While I don't think there was a cairn anywhere the guidebook says there was, the path off the old tote road was easy to see and follow initially. Eventually, the path seemed to merge with an old road and began to descend to the right which I though was odd. Plus, I wasn't seeing the mossy outcropping and a turn left. I retraced my steps to where I last saw flagging before the path seemed to merge with a road, found what MIGHT be the path continuing uphill to the left (definitely signs of some human traffic)but this was headed due north to the sag west of Bald Mtn and thus a left at a rocky outcropping wouldn't make sense. I FINALLY found my way and the path continued due east on the contour as the guidebook says. It was extremely faint and very hard for me to see. Both the road heading downhill and open woods and what seemed like a path heading uphill to the left seemed more obvious. The mossy outcropping was obvious (when there's not snow over it lol) and I turned left. While I don't think there was really any discernible path at first leaving the mossy outcropping, it soon becomes evident, and though no more flagging, was followable all the way to the unmarked (and, of course, socked in) summit. As the path leads NE to the summit, you come across what the guidebook calls an "outcropping wall". This was small but nearly vertical and without great hand or footholds. I just stared at it awhile wondering how the heck I was supposed to get up it. And though small, if you fell you could nonetheless hit your head and hurt yourself pretty badly. Looking at it, you wonder if the trail actually goes that way but a cut tree stump you can just barely see at the top of it unfortunately reassures you that it does. I managed to finagle my way up there but on my way down, I bushwacked around it. No established herd path around. I also lost my way and somehow got a little off trail on the "easy" to follow part closer to Waterfall Trail and bushwhacked a short ways back up to the trail.
Once back on Waterfall Trail, expect to continue climbing steeply for a bit before moderating. Upon reaching Mt Chase Trail, the trail is gentle for a bit as it passes the old fire warden's cabin, then is steep and eroded as it climbs to the jct with the spur to Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock had some very wet and slick ledge that I had to negotiate. I'm sure the views atop are great when there aren't clouds, lol. I considered going to the summit of Mt Chase (which has great views!) but without Crocamole with me who'd never been there and it seeming like things wouldn't clear that quickly, I just headed down the wet and eroded trail. I met a group heading up and perhaps they had better luck by the time they reached the summit. Gaia had me at 4.6mi, 1600ft of gain, 3hr18min. This was a slow one and took much longer than expected. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-07-05 |
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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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