| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Woodchuck Hill, ME |
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 | Trails: |
camp roads, Blue & Gold Trail, road walk, Red Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, August 10, 2026 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Plenty of parking at the Little Fitts Pond boat launch |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
no unbridged crossings |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trail sees basic maintenance, but has blowdowns and brush in the trail corridor. Trails are very well marked. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
not allowed in the camp area when camp is in session. Good hike for dogs, but they may need assistance at the ladders. |
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 | Bugs: |
not an issue |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Monday's hike up Woodchuck Hill in Clifton was a lot more interesting than I expected such a small peak to be! The Blue & Gold Trail makes a lollipop loop over the hill, starting from Camp Roosevelt on Little Fitts Pond. When camp is in session (it ended for the summer last week), hikers are asked to check in at the camp office and no dogs are allowed in the camp area.
We parked in the large lot at the boat launch and started walking through the camp to reach the start of the trail. Upon reaching the trail, we followed it as it rose gently over a low ridge and then descended to Snowshoe Pond. The trail sees basic maintenance, but it is maintained to the standard of a backcountry trail, so some blowdowns remain uncut and there is brush overhanging the trail in places. However, it is very well marked and I enjoy lesser used trails such as this one! At Snowshoe Pond, the trail passes near some interesting ledges on the shore, which are a nice spot for a break. We then passed a large glacial erratic next to the pond, before reaching the Bangor Water Works Road (no public motorized access).
After spotting where the trail continued on the other side of the road, it wasn't long before the short, but very steep, ascent up Woodchuck Hill began, which I found to be the best part of the trail. The trail passed a shallow, but spacious caves and then started switchbacking its way up steep ledges. One of these ledges required two wooden ladders to ascend. This section of trail also had views back across Snowshoe Pond towards Blackcap.
The wooded summit didn't have any views at its very peak, but we found a few viewpoints by poking around a little bit below the peak. One viewpoint a bit off of the trail offered views of the mountains on Mount Desert Island in the distance. Another, this one just off of the trail and where we had lunch, offered views past the wind turbines on Pisgah Mountain to the hills in Donnell Pond Public Land.
After the summit and viewpoints, the other side of the loop descended much more gently than the side that we ascended on. We reached Bangor Water Works Road and closed the loop by following it back to the initial trail crossing. After hiking back to near the camp, we opted to take the Red Trail, which made a long arc to the north, skirting around the camp area. Although the Red Trail wasn't particularly interesting, it was a nice alternative to walking the camp roads. Woodchuck Hill turned out to be an enjoyable under-the-radar hike, and I look forward to returning at some point to hike Blackcap! |
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 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-08-11 |
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 | Link: |
 https://walkingmaineswildside.blogspot.com/2026/08/woodchuck-hill-8102026.html |
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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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