It is a cross-section through Fundy’s forest ecosystems with a thick evergreen stand, leafy hardwood groves It was very frustrating on the summit, no idea where to go, many places looked like the right direction but led nowhere! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. This is a rocky trail and you have to watch your footing for nearly the majority of the 7 mile trek to avoid twisting an ankle on the rocks and Caribou and Gammon Mountain via Mud Brook Trail is a 11.6 kilometer lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Bethel, Maine that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. You can experience 200 miles of unforgettable terrain complete with rivers, scenic views, wildflowers, and more. If you just do the Caribou Trail-Mud Brook Trail loop, it’s about 6.7 miles. It took us almost 3 hours to get to that point, and we had read that markings toward the top/end of the trail (headed toward connection with Caribou Trail) were not great. The elevation gained from the Route 113 trailhead is about 1,950 feet. Photo © Carey Kish. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trailhead may be found about 5 miles down the road on the left (east). I wouldn't have found the very narrow, leaf covered trail otherwise. Albany Brook Trailhead Albany Notch Trailhead Alpine Garden Trailhead Appalachia Trailhead Barnes Field Group Campground Burnt Mill Brook Trailhead Caribou East Trailhead Caribou West / Mud Brook Trailhead Carter / Moriah Tented about 0.2 miles beyond peak. ), pp. It can be accessed by a loop like via the Caribou and Mud Brook Trails from Route 113, or via an out-and back hike via the Caribou Trail from Bog Road. Beautiful views and not as crowded as Blueberry Mountain. The elevation gained from the Route 113 trailhead is about 1,950 feet. Would recommend Caribou Trail up and Mud Brook Trail down, as Mud Brook is less steep and a bit easier on the knees. We did the loop counter clockwise. Several water crossings here, with wet leaves and rocks throughout, but little running water down the trails. Again, someone painted 3 (maybe 4) yellow arrows that are very hard to see to point me in the direction I needed to go, other then that no markers at all until your almost back to the parking lot. Went up the muddy brook trail and down the caribou. There were some pretty fun water crossings to start, so just be careful and grab a walking stick to help you across. Maine Office of Tourism, 59 State House Station , Augusta, ME, 04333-0059, Phone: (888) 624-6345. Nothing to worry about. Trails up and down are fairly obvious but on top it is easy to lose with very faded yellow marks. We go up the caribou trail and down mud brook. The whole trail network is about 11.4 miles. 113 making a loop hike very convenient. No trail markings, but we were mostly able to follow (strayed off twice - once up, once down - but recovered without wandering too far from trail). Outlet Sale: Up To 50% Off. Our family of 5, kids ranging from 9-17 years old, really enjoyed this hike. Caribou Mountain in Evans Notch features a double-topped summit, and provides some of the best views in the area. At one of the brook crossings it looks like it continues up along side the brook but luckily someone had spray painted a yellow arrow (very faint) on a log, pointing me in the direction to cross. Not a lot of markers but you don't need them. Coribou is a very large, rotund, egg-shaped man, towering over his brother as well as the rest of their crew. (As an aside, Caribou Trail is definitely more interesting with a few easy water crossings, though I wonder if they are more difficult in spring.) Usually very few people on the trails. Just f.y.i. We took a bunch of short breaks and ate lunch at the summit and it took us about 5 hours or so! Caribou trail down was uneventful. CARIBOU MOUNTAIN: 5/3/13 This crystal-clear day cried out for good views. Not a lot of stress or strain for several truly amazing viewpoints. Headed up Mud Brook and down Caribou, definitely a better choice! Caribou Mountain, ME Trails: Mud Brook Trail, Caribou Trail Date of Hike: Sunday, May 31, 2020 Parking/Access Road Notes: Nice parking off of 113... it does have a trailhead outhouse but it’s closed. A pleasant loop hike to the summit of Caribou Mountain, where there are excellent views using the Caribou Mtn. This loop can be done in both directions. In all, the Mud Brook Trail carries you 3.6 miles back to the Caribou West/Mud Brook Trailhead for a total loop distance of 6.7 miles. Saw only one other hiker (clearly experienced based on gear) who set a good pace. Trip Report Archive. As others have said the trail markings are almost nonexistent. Trail up was very good but minimal trail blazes but easy to follow except last little bit at summit. In October 2018, we hiked Caribou Mountain (2,850 ft) via the Caribou and Mud Brook Trails, a moderate 6.9 mile loop, which took us a bit over four hours. Mud Brook Trail, Caribou Trail Date of Hike: Friday, July 31, 2020 Parking/Access Road Notes: Small parking lot at the trailhead that can fit 15 cars or so. Both trails share the same parking lot off Rt. Trip report archives compiled by year for posts tagged with Caribou Mountain ME (or within 1.5 miles of it). https://blog.sundayriver.com/top-3-trails-for-hiking-with-dogs-in-the-bethel-area Some awesome deals from Salomon. We took Mud Brook Trail up, which was awesome, it rolled along side the brook, and up through a beautiful and peaceful pine forest towards the top. Beautiful hike but because of the rain it was very muddy which was ok going up but treacherous coming down and the trail is not marked well and because of the leaves we got confused a few times. Conditions are perfect right now - not much mud. Just be careful of the steeper muddy sections with all the downed leaves. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips and is best used from March until November. 360 views from the top. Loped back to lot the next day using Caribou Trail. and Mud Brook Trails. October, 2010 I’d say this hike is moderate, rather than difficult. Recommended by AMC's Maine Mountain Guide, available at local Eastern Mountain Sports stores. We recorded 7 miles r/t. It was relatively busy today, being Labor Day weekend. I’d classify this as a moderate hike with 1900 feet of elevation and an estimated hike time of 5 … and Mud Brook Trails. But still not too bad. I hiked up the Mud brook trail to the summit of Caribou and returned using the Mud brook trail to the Caribou trail. The idea (and map) for this hike again came from the indispensable Maine Mountain Guide’s recommended hikes (see our review of the 11th edition here ), and did not disappoint. The Caribou summit and much of the surrounding area are part of the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness. We did the loop, ascending via the Caribou Trail from 113 and descending on the Mud Brook Trail. CARIBOU MOUNTAIN: 5/3/13 This crystal-clear day cried out for good views. 360 degrees. Outstanding views. We hiked up the mountain via the Mud Brook Trail and loop back down the Caribou Trail. Great hike, we finished the loop in 3 hours and 45mins. Generally easy hike, with some steep. We took the Caribou Trail back down, which was a little more tricky, walking on rocks for a good part of the way. A pleasant loop hike to the summit of Caribou Mountain, where there are excellent views using the Caribou Mtn. Our ascent was 3 hours, but that included stops along the way. The views are spectacular. Caribou and Mud Brook Trail Loop– 6.2 miles, Advanced Trailhead –70.97544, 44.33592 As today, abundant 19th century timber resources in Evan’s Notch included Eastern hemlock, red spruce and northern hardwoods such as American beech, sugar maple and yellow birch. Caribou and Gammon Mountain via Mud Brook Trail is a 7.2 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Bethel, Maine that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. Trail starts out rather flat, uninteresting and muddy but gets more rooty and rocky as you near the summit. Only 2 complaints: the trail (especially up) is pretty straight and monotonous so it is kind of a boring first ~2 miles. Caribou Trail Loop. The idea (and map) for this hike again came from the indispensable Maine Mountain Guide’s recommended hikes (see our review of the 11th edition here), and did not disappoint. The leaves had fallen on the trail and with hardly any markers it made it difficult to keep track of the trail. I got turned around and lost a few times at the summit, otherwise its great. Agree that trail markers need updating. Great 460 views at summit and some great views just before summit. Many muddy pits along Mud Brook, mostly avoidable. The hike is almost always done as a loop hike of both the Caribou Trail and the Mud Brook Trail. In October 2018, we hiked Caribou Mountain (2,850 ft) via the Caribou and Mud Brook Trails, a moderate 6.9 mile loop, which took us a bit over four hours. I’d say this hike is moderate, rather than difficult. At the junction in the col between Caribou and Gammon, I turned onto the Mud Brook Trail for the final half mile. Great views from top. Very busy at all trailheads but we only ran into people later due to traveling backwards from most and starting early, Perfect 4 hour hike with minimal rock scaling. I went up Caribou and down Mud Brook. One of my all-time favorite hikes in the Whites seems to get more beautiful each time. We hiked the whole length of the Mud Brook Trail and returned back along the Caribou Trail so that we could hike in a loop and not retrace our steps. Typically spectacular Evans Notch area hike. The Caribou Trail never gets too difficult as it ascends into the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness, but it does pass through some beautiful hardwood forest. This hike really impressed me. Although woodland caribou once wintered in the area, you are more likely to see moose on this very popular trail. It’s a lovely hike, but definitely challenging if you’re a casual hiker. Description The Caribou Loop Trail ties together rugged Black and Caribou Mountains to create over 6 miles of backcountry hiking in Downeast Maine. It is a little over 12 miles, I was thinking since it was a loop the total was 6.6 but in actuality a bit over 12. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Jul 31 | Caribou Mountain, ME via Mud Brook Trail, Caribou Trail by: NHhiker95 / newenglandtrailconditions. Follow Mud Brook Trail down and along the watercourse back to the trailhead. Moderate, loop, 6.9 miles, 1,900 feet elevation gain; Maine Mountain Guide (10th ed. Great hike and foliage. Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness. I prefer taking Mud Brook Trail up because it's more varied (lots of gentle sections along the brook, mixed with steeper climbing.) I first hiked this trail 20 years ago, the trail was marked very clearly back then. Excellent views up top! Caribou Trail does have some very pretty waterfalls, but after a flat-ish intro, it's kind of a relentless and monotonous moderate climb, which is why I prefer coasting down this route. I hiked up the Caribou trail are some of the trail got narrow ’ s a lovely hike, a. Hike, we finished the loop, 6.9 miles, 1,900 feet gain! 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