| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Caribou Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Caribou Trail, Mud Brook Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Sunday, January 19, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Parked at end of plowing on Bog Road, across from Pooh Corner Farm. Someone with AWD, high clearance, and aggressive tires could have made it the extra 0.8 mile to the summer trailhead, but we like walking. :) |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
All frozen |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
A few blowdowns. A few branches. A few flicked off trail. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One with us had a grand time. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
This was a "lollipop" hike of the entire Caribou and Mud Brook Trails traversing the northern end of the lovely Caribou-Speckled Mtn. Wilderness, down to the unplowed Route 113 (almost), back up through the height of land, and down to Pooh Corner Farm. We saw no one else all day.
Started up the road in bare boots for the road and first part of Caribou Trail. Snowshoes 1 to 1.5 miles in because they made walking SO much easier and left a nice track.
Caribou Mountain itself is spectacular, even more so in winter! 360 degree views, lots of ledges, and a bit of a fun challenge finding the correct trail with tiny little cairns to guide the way. "Mud Brook" is a misnomer, for this trail is interesting and fun and beautiful.
We finally reached the western trailhead and laughed at the site of the restroom, cordoned off with yellow Caution! tape, as we took a long lunch break before tackling the 1500 foot climb back up Caribou Trail to the HOL. Snowshoes were not really needed down low as there was only an inch or two of snow, but knowing they'd eventually be needed, we just kept them on. There is much flagging in here for a probable timber harvest in the near future.
The multiple water crossings were all frozen over, but there were a couple of anxiety producing thin spots revealed by taps with our ski poles. Also, a couple of icy spots/bulges had to be negotiated. One crossing produced some confusion as no trail was obvious, but we plowed ahead and figured it out.
Upon completing the "lollipop," it was obvious some barebooters/spikers had come up from Pooh Corner and churned up the nice snowshoe track. Boo. We smoothed it out on our way down. Yay.
This is a gorgeous winter hike to an amazing sub 3000 foot peak! |
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 | Name: |
Snowflea & friends |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-01-20 |
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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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