Mount Kineo - Carriage Trail

Location: Mount Kineo, Moosehead Lake, Maine
Season Visited: Summer
Trail Length: 5.4 miles there-and-back
Time to Hike: 3 hours
Difficulty Level: 2 out of 5

I revisited Mount Kineo three weeks ago, and instead of taking the beloved Indian Trail up the mountain, I walked the length of the island with my husband and parents on the Carriage Trail.

As noted in my previous post about Kineo (linked above), the only way to get to the mountain is by boat.  All of the information is the same as it was three years ago, except that the price per person was jacked up to $12.  Or you can take your own boat, if you have one.  Donations at the island are encouraged, but I've never seen anyone actually pay.

From the dock, the Carriage Trail is on your left.  It's the only trail there, so you can't get lost!  In front of you is the majestic Mount Kineo.

The most dramatic view of the mountain is the first one.  After that you'll be spending time following the edge of the lake with the mountain on your right-hand side until it sinks into the forest.  On the map below you can see the Carriage Trail on the western edge of the island.

You'll pass through a variety of environments on your walk.  The trail begins with gravel, but eventually becomes a thinner dirt trail (around the time you pass Bridle Trail on your right) and sometimes a mud trail covered with thin boards.  Navigating the boards can be just a little tricky, as they are in pretty rough shape.

Rock slide.

The trail has blue blazes.

The end of Carriage Trail is Hardscrabble Point, featuring camping and even a primitive toilet!  Good times!

The way back is simply retracing your steps.

More boards.

You might even get lucky and see Maine's state bird, the adorable black-capped chickadee!

Overall, this is a very nice hike with lovely views throughout, and is a good way to explore the Kineo area if you're not confident in your ability to go all the way up the mountain.  Older people often explore this trail while their younger party members climb the Indian Trail.  The length may present a challenge to a very out-of-shape hiker, but you can of course turn around at any time.  I had no issues with it at four months pregnant, but I was definitely ready for a meal afterwards!

Keep on wandering.

Indian Trail

Location: Mount Kineo, Moosehead Lake, Maine
Season Visited: Summer
Trail Length: 1.8 miles from the base of the trail to the summit of Mount Kineo and back.  Add .8 miles to get to and from the trail head, making the trip a total of 2.6 miles.
Time to Hike: 2 hours
Difficulty Level: 4

Mount Kineo is a wonderful hike.  Nestled in the Northwest of Maine, this geological wonder is as historic as it is dramatic.  Thoreau hiked here in his exploration of the Maine woods, and I love knowing that I am following in his footsteps when I make the climb up Indian Trail.

There is more than one trail around Kineo, but it's generally accepted that Indian Trail is the best.  This trail is difficult - in a good way - and offers views that can only be described as spectacular.

Mount Kineo is only accessible by water.  A ferry in Rockwood takes you to the dock by the Kineo golf course for a fee of $10 per person.  It's worth it.  To find the boat launch, just drive to the town of Rockwood (15 miles northwest of Greenville) and follow signs for the landing.

Kineo from the Rockwood boat launch.

Once you've arrived at Kineo, you'll see the mountain looming right in front of you.  To your right is a golf club and to your left is Carriage Trail.  Take this trail for about .4 miles, which leads you to Indian Trail.

Chipmunk on Carriage Trail, pretending that it's a statue.

Looking up the mountain from Carriage Trail.

Look out for the sign for Indian Trail, and then start climbing!

The trail is steep and rocky from the very beginning.  Be prepared!

It won't be long before you start coming to lovely viewpoints.

There is a rock scramble at one point.  Have fun!

My sisters at the top of the scramble.

Looking southeast.  Golf club in view.

This is a nice clearing to stop at for lunch or a snack.

After this clearing you'll head back into the woods.  Views will be scarce at this point until you come to the highlight of the hike: the fire tower.

From the fire tower you will see miles and miles of absolutely beautiful woodland scenery.  Enjoy it.

The way back down is much easier than the way up (although there are some sections where you're briefly going up instead of down).  Most of the time you are simply re-tracing your steps, although you will come to a fork in the trail at one point that you may not have noticed on the way up.  This is Bridle Trail.  If you go left you will continue the way you came, but going right will also take you back down the mountain.  I've gone both ways and don't really have a preference, unless it's for Bridle Trail simply because it's something different.  If you're feeling very tired, you might want to just take Bridle Trail because it is relatively easier.  Either way, the hike down is lovely.

Find your way to the bottom and follow Carriage Trail back the way you came.

After hiking Kineo, you are bound to feel amazing (and also, more than likely, a little tired).  Enjoy the splendor of the mountain and nature around you, and don't forget all those who came before you who have also been drawn to Kineo.  Keep wandering, and enjoy your hike.

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