Speckled Mountain

By CAREY KISH

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

E-mail this story
Find more trails

Trail name: Speckled Mountain Nearest town: Peru Region: Western Lakes/Mountains Length: 5 miles Difficulty: Intermediate More: To find the trailhead, take either Thuel Hill Road or Heath Hill Road off Route 219. Turn onto Redding Road and continue to the small trailhead parking area just beyond Shagg Pond. DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map No. 11 is helpful. Maps: Get driving directions from MapQuest. View a topo map from Maptech MapServer.

Dozens of interesting and scenic mountains with miles of lightly traveled trails dot the Oxford Hills from the Androscoggin River west to the Maine-New Hampshire border. And poking around on the back roads of the region tracking down new hikes and revisiting some of my old favorites is always a fun summertime adventure.

Mount Zircon and Speckled Mountain, both in the town of Peru, are a couple of 2,000 footers that I visited not long ago. They offer short, moderately challenging walks with far ranging views from their open peaks. Bag them both in a one healthy day or make an enjoyable weekend out of them. There are a number of private campgrounds in the area if you choose the latter option.

The hike to Speckled Mountain is a "two-fer," given that you must climb over Bald Mountain to get to it. But the walk along the dramatic cliffs of Bald makes it well worth the extra effort. Allow about three hours for this five-mile out-and-back hike.

To find the trailhead, take either Thuel Hill Road or Heath Hill Road off Route 219. Turn onto Redding Road and continue to the small trailhead parking area just beyond Shagg Pond. DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map No. 11 is helpful.

Follow an old road into the woods gradually uphill for a half-mile. As Little Concord Pond comes into view, take a sharp right onto a foot trail and another sharp right soon after, climbing up through the rocks.

The trail levels off near the ridge crest in a stand of mature red oaks. Scramble out to the cliff top overlooking Shagg Pond with views beyond to the White Mountains. Continue in and out of the trees on the edge of the precipice, before bearing left at the cliff's end and descending steeply on eroded trail to a saddle and small stream.

Climb gradually along the rolling ridge, the impressive cone of Speckled visible ahead through the trees. Pass a confusing area of yellow and red paint markings, but stay on the right path by following blue blazes and rock cairns.

Ascend a series of ledges and slabs, alternating through openings in the forest canopy and dense conifers green with moss. Make the final long, steep climb to the summit ridge, and then walk easily along to the "maypole" marking the top at 2,183 feet.

Carey Kish of Portland is a Registered Maine Guide and enjoys exploring off the beaten path all over Maine. He can be reached at: maineoutdoors@aol.com.