Kid Tracks Column: Go west with your young hikers

This is the time of year when Maine offers some of the most beautiful, colorful days to be out hiking. But this is also the busiest hunting season of the year thanks to deer, pheasant, ruffed grouse and bear. Since 50,000-plus deer hunting permits were issued by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife this year, a lot of hunters will be roaming the woods in November during deer firearms season.

But do not let that stop you from hiking this month. The western mountains of Maine offer some great views of fall foliage with trails that are short, easy hikes for little ones as well as more challenging climbs for older kids. Stay safe by wearing your orange – or hike on Sundays, a state-mandated no hunting day.

Sawyer Mountain, Limington

This hike is about 3 miles round-trip with a 500-foot elevation gain. For children who have the endurance for a steady uphill climb, this trail offers a sense of hiking a “big” mountain with the self-esteem boost that comes from a manageable challenge. And being only 40 minutes from Portland, it’s a nice option for busy urban families looking for an afternoon hiking adventure close to home.

WHY WE LIKE IT: There is an old cemetery along the trail that is quite interesting. From the “no math” stones that have inscriptions that include the person’s age at passing in years, months and days, to the misspelling my younger daughter spotted on our first visit, it’s worth a quick, respectful stop. And when we hike here, we often bring along crayons and paper to make rubbings of both the cemetery stones and fallen leaves on the trail.

GETTING THERE: The trailhead is located at a sharp turn on Route 117, 2.5 miles south of the junction of Routes 25 and 117, or 2.4 miles north of the junction of Routes 11 and 117. There is a small parking area where trail maps are available in a map box. GPS Coordinates: 43.752, -70.729

Bald Pate Preserve, Bridgton

There are looping trails of varying distances within the preserve that are well marked. It’s an easy mile with about a 300-foot elevation gain to the summit of Bald Pate Mountain from the trailhead.

WHY WE LIKE IT: One year the girls were interested in learning about coniferous (evergreen) trees for a 4-H project they were working on and this area had several easy to identify examples. There are also great views of the surrounding mountains that are very colorful at this time of year. In October, and more often in November, we’ve spotted snow on Mount Washington from this area.

GETTING THERE: From Route 107 in Sebago, the trailhead is about 7 miles from the intersection of routes 114 and 107. The trailhead sign is a little hard to spot on Route 107 when coming from the southern direction because it’s positioned at an angle that is easier to see from the other side of the road. GPS Coordinates: 43.968, -70.710

Douglas Mountain, Sebago

This is a nice introduction to mountain climbing for little ones with the incentive of seeing the stone tower at the summit. For a first hike on this mountain, I’d suggest the Ledges or Woods trails because they are the shortest routes to the summit. Park at the trailhead and walk back out to Douglas Mountain Road. Take a left and follow the paved road up the hill to the old trailhead (about ¼ mile). There is no sign to direct you to the Ledges Trail from the new trailhead but once you find the old trailhead, the Ledges Trail (on the left with the stone pillar) and the Woods Trail (on the right) are easy to follow to the summit. The hike from the parking lot to the tower at the summit is about a half-mile total. The Eagle Scout Trail, the one at the trailhead, is a bit longer.

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Ledges Trail is a short ¼ mile to the top of the mountain with several spots with rocks to climb and views to enjoy during the climb. The kids always feel a sense of accomplishment hiking to the top, which was do-able when they were preschoolers. And the stone tower at the summit still has not lost its appeal for them. A map identifying the mountains at the top of the tower helps orientate visitors to the view. And if you want to wow the kids with your worldly knowledge, the inscription, “Non sibi sed omnibus” on the boulder near the tower, translates to: “Not just for myself, but for all.”

OTHER: There is a $3 trail use fee per car. The parking area is locked at 6 p.m.

GETTING THERE: From Route 107 in Baldwin, take Douglas Hill Road to Dyke Mountain Road.  GPS Coordinates: 43.876, -70.696

Douglas Mountain

Map created by EveryTrail

Jockey Cap, Fryeburg

This is another short hike, about 1/4 mile, with only a 200-foot elevation and offers a sense of accomplishment for young children. A great view of the surrounding mountains make this trail a good choice for the fall foliage season.

WHY WE LIKE IT: This area is a popular rock-climbing destination so many times we’ve seen climbers in full gear scaling the face of Jockey Cap. There are also boulders that form a couple of small caves for kids to explore and climb along the trail. There is also an interesting, molded mountain map at the top to identify the various mountains in view.

OTHER: There are some very steep drop-offs once you’re on the top of Jockey Cap, so parents should stay close to young children to be sure they don’t get too close to the edge.

GETTING THERE: From the intersection of Routes 113 and 302 in Fryeburg the trailhead is exactly one mile. The trailhead is between the Jockey Cap Country Store and the Jockey Cap Motel. GPS Coordinates: 44.022, -70.962

Burnt Meadow Mountain, Brownfield

This mountain has three summits that are all about the same elevation and offer great views of the surrounding area. Hiking to the summit, about 1,100-foot elevation gain within 1.2 miles, is a solid challenge for older kids.

WHY WE LIKE IT: There are plenty of places within a mile of the trailhead to sit and soak up the sun and enjoy the mountain views while eating a picnic lunch. We’ve actually never climbed to the summit on this mountain because the goal each time we’ve visited has been more about finding a nice place to relax and enjoy the view. The trail is good for little ones if the goal is hiking the first half-mile and staking out a place to spread out the picnic blanket, which was our first introduction to the trail when the girls were 5 and 7 years old.

OTHER: The start of this trail is to the right of the trailhead parking area. Don’t be confused with another spread of trees that looks like a trail. The real one is marked with light blue trail blazes.

GETTING THERE: The trailhead is on Route 160, about three miles from the junction of routes 113 and 5 in Brownfield. The trailhead is not well marked and is easy to miss unless cars are already parked there. GPS Coordinates: 43.9177, -70.8830

Burnt Meadow Mountain

Map created by EveryTrail

Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine November 2008