| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Rainbow Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Appalachian Trail, snowmobile trail, Rainbow Mountain Trail, Big Beaver Pond Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, July 14, 2024 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The parking area the guidebook seems to refer to just west of Abol Bridge is nothing more than a pullout with room for several cars. This was just east of the road that leads to the Ice Caves. There was honestly plenty of room to pull off the road right at the trailhead but since you've got to walk from the parking area anyway... no cars there when I arrived at 5:15am and a large bus and maybe one other there when I returned shortly before 3pm. People park there to fish on the bridge. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, 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: |
While the guidebook indicated that the crossings of Hurd Brook would require a wade, I found them to be readily rock hopable. I could see them being difficult or even dangerous in high water perhaps, but they were easy yesterday. The inlet of Rainbow Lake (described as a stream in the guidebook) the trail crosses was, though much narrower, if anything, was more difficult, though still readily rock hopable. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
There were several blowdowns, but overall, the blowdown situation wasn't too bad. I recall there was a small-mid sized stepover/straddler not too long after the Hurd Brook Lean-to. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good trails for dogs. Lots of water and no scrambling |
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 | Bugs: |
They were coming out in the afternoon but nowhere near as bad as BSP the day before. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
None |
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 | Comments: |
The AT is obviously blazed in white. I think blazing was regular if not necessarily frequent on this section. Rainbow Mtn Trail is blazed in blue. The Big Beaver Pond Spur I didn't think was blazed until I noticed dark blue blaze near the pond. While it wasn't blazed anywhere close to the entire way back, the blaze seemed more frequent and like it went on longer on the return trip. There were several blowdowns, but overall, the blowdown situation wasn't too bad. I recall there was a small-mid sized stepover/straddler not too long after the Hurd Brook Lean-to. The only other specific blowdown I recall was a larger one down across the trail that I somehow managed to get over though there's also a herd path around it. I don't recall exactly where it was but it was further west of the other one. I'm sure there were at least a few others that I'm forgetting about as well. The spur to Big Beaver Pond was signed as was the trail to Rainbow Mtn but you don't really see the signs coming from the east so be careful not to miss them!
3rd day in Millinocket. First hike of the day. This was a long but easy and very pleasant OAB along the AT with some side trips to Rainbow Mtn for some MMG redlining. The first few miles to Hurd Brook Lean-to are pretty flat and go through some nice woods. From there to Rainbow Mtn, there is a little more gain but the climbing is quite easy and, again, you pass through some beautiful woods. Rainbow ledges are slightly steep but obviously scenic though I was surprised that they weren't longer. I'd gotten the impression that they were quite expansive. Also, while there were views to be had, I didn't find them as open as the guidebook seemed to indicate. Maybe they're growing in? The descent is easy, and then it's a long, mostly flat walk from there to the trail to Rainbow Mtn. Note that the sign for Big Beaver Pond Spur is facing west so it's easy to walk by. I decided to save it for the return trip.
0.1mi beyond the inlet of Rainbow Lake (and outlet of Little Beaver Pond), the trail seems to fork and it's not entirely clear at first glance which the trail is. The right fork is the trail but out of curiosity I took the left fork too. It quickly became less travelled and much more of a herd path but it greatly piqued my curiosity. Does it lead to a view of the lake, Little Beaver Pond, a second path to Big Beaver Pond, an abandoned section of the AT? There were many cut trees though it became more obscure. After seeing a sign "Caution Bridge" at about a 1/2mi from the AT, it seemed likely that this was an abandoned snowmobile trail. But that doesn't quite make sense to me either; a snowmobile trail in a wilderness area? That ends on the AT with nowhere to go (unless it went across the lake?)? Even with the trail grown in, it really doesn't seem wide enough to be a snowmobile trail either. If anyone knows, I'd be very curious to hear. It heads south from the AT and I followed it for a 1/2mi just beyond the inlet to Big Beaver Pond. Again, it starts, 0.1mi west of an inlet of Rainbow Lake the trail crosses and it's also opposite a camping area. It would be easy to walk by in the other direction as it's a very sharp turn but is impossible to miss if coming from the east.
I loved the walk along the water from here to the trail to Rainbow Mtn. It was windy yesterday and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore was beautiful. The trail to Rainbow Mtn was overgrown at times and could be trimmed back. I don't know if I'd call the grade steady as the guidebook does; lots of steep pitches followed by flat sections and easier grades. It seems to end at a rock with a large blue AT symbol on it. Great ledges with some blueberry and lots of huckleberry bushes though the view to Katahdin wasn't quite as wide open as I thought it would be.
On the return trip, I took the spur to Big Beaver Pond which is needed for redlining. It is like a herd path and becomes quite obscure as it begins to descend to the pond. There's also some incredible mud as you near the pond so watch your footing. Note that there are some blazes as you approach the pond. I had a much easier time following the trail on my way back following the blazes actually. Though I walked by it on my walk in, there's also a spur to Little Beaver Pond which is very short and worth the couple hundred feet walk. Gaia had me at about 22mi, 3100ft of gain, 9.5hrs. About 2000ft of elevation was on the trip out, and 1000ft on the return trip. |
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 | Name: |
Liam Cooney |
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 | E-Mail: |
liamcooney96@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2024-07-15 |
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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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