| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Hedgehog Hill (Weld), ME |
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 | Trails: |
Multi-Use Trails, Hedgehog Hill Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, September 12, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Lots of parking at park headquarters |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail, Mud - Minor/Avoidable |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only issue is one spot where beavers have flooded the trail. You can follow their dam to bypass it to the south without too much issue. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Numerous blowdowns, but all easy to get past. There are no markings specifically for these trails |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Good for dogs! Note that dogs aren't allowed on some parts of the trail in winter. |
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 | Bugs: |
Minimal |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Today, we hiked on the Mount Blue State Park Multi-Use Trails to the summit of Hedgehog Hill. I had biked these trails in 2020, but this was my first time hiking them. These former ATV trails make a ~13 mile lollipop loop through the interior of the park. They are currently open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders during the summer, and they provide a backcountry experience not found in the busier parts of the park. Although I am not an equestrian myself, the loop seems especially well suited to horseback riding.
The trails are lightly used in the summer and trail users can expect some blowdowns and areas of tall grass. For that reason, these trails are probably best avoided during high tick times of the year. There is also a section of trail affected by beaver dam construction, but this can be avoided by an easy bushwhack along the dam to the south of the trail. For hikers, the trails are relatively easy going. I prefer doing the loop counterclockwise to save Hedgehog Hill for closer to the end of the hike. The picnic shelter at the base of Mount Blue provides a nice spot to take a break at roughly the halfway point of the hike. A lean-to with picnic table is also located at the junction with the spur trail up Hedgehog Hill. A section of the route also follows the gravel road to the Mount Blue Trailhead.
The highlight of the hike is definitely the ledgey summit of Hedgehog Hill. After climbing the wide sloping ledges to the summit, there are two picnic tables and a great view west. This vantage point through Byron Notch is a great place to enjoy the views of West Mountain, Old Blue, Elephant Mountain, Tumbledown, The Jacksons, and Blueberry Mountain.
It's a much different experience than other trails in the state park and surrounding area, and is worth checking out if you're looking for something a bit different! You could also do a shorter hike just to Hedgehog Hill starting from Temple Road or Mount Blue Road. |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-09-12 |
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 | Link: |
 https://api-v5.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-september-12-2025-197aea2?p=-1&sh=qriocr&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality |
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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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