Crooked River Headwaters
Description
The 12,600 acre Crooked River Headwaters (CRH) is Mahoosuc Land Trust's largest conservation easement. It is home to numerous small mountains, 5 remote ponds, headwater streams and incredible beaver activity. No fewer than 5 headwaters streams start within the conserved land, and later join the Crooked River providing clean drinking water to 1 in 6 Maine residents and the City of Portland. Special management areas were designated around all streams and wetlands to provide additional buffers to these important habitats and the clean water they filter.
The property is best accessed at two separate trailheads with hiking and mountain biking opportunities at Long Mountain and Bacon Hill; and hiking at Round Mountain.
Special Features
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Public access is permanently protected to Furlong Pond, Upper Speck Pond, and Overset Pond, as well as hiking trail access to the summit of Pulpit Rock from Papoose Pond Campground offering unique views west into Stoneham, Maine. Note this trail requires a ford of the Crooked River and is best hiked in the warmer months. Additional hiking trail access is available at Long Mountain and Round Mountain trailheads.
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Impressive beaver dams, ponds, and lodges dot the property
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Numerous snowmobile and ATV trails crisscross the land offering unique opportunities for longer distance point-to-point adventures in all 4 seasons.
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Early successional forest in many places offers excellent moose habitat. CRH can be a great place for someone’s first moose sighting!
Round Mountain
Long Mountain
How To Get There
Parking for the Long Mountain and Bacon Hill trails is located in Albany Township off Vernon St, 1 mile north of its intersection with Hunts Corner Road.
Parking for Round Mountain is located in Albany Township off Hunts Corner Road right around the corner from Long Mountain.
The Pulpit Rock Trail has no formal parking. Inquire at Papoose Pond campground or look for parking off the side of Hunts Corner Rd across from Papoose Pond campground. The trail begins by following a woods road east from near the southern end of Hunts Corner Rd, it will bring you out under the high voltage powerlines, turn south (right) and follow the powerlines. You will need to ford the Crooked River, depth and temperature vary significantly, do not enter water if moving rapidly or containing flood debris. After fording, continue south and look for a 4-foot opening in the wood line on your left. A small trail with flagging tape climbs steeply for ½-mile to the view west from Pulpit Rock Summit.