Big Spencer Mountain – Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering. My husband and I arrived there via the dirt roads past Kokadjo, and if you know anything about those roads you know they are notoriously labyrinthine and strange, with next-to-no helpful road signs and gigantic logging trucks that come barreling toward you out of nowhere. Big Spencer Mtn. These awesome businesses support our goal of connecting people to outdoor adventures in Maine! The mountain’s fire tower was active for nearly 85 years, until 1991. From there the steepness about doubles. Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Maine trail finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, earn badges, and more! I would say a hard hike and up and down was 5+ hours. There has been talk of changing the trail. There was an issue with your submission. Big Spencer Mountain is a mountain located in Piscataquis County, Maine. Peak List. You don’t even have to get to the top to earn exceptional views: Lobster and Chesuncook lakes and Baxter State Park are visible from a small clearing just one mile from the trail head (a great picnic location). extremely nice views used to be quiet and remote until the state put in a parking lot. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking and running. All Rights Reserved. Katahdin, the tallest peak in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail just 70 miles northeast. Best hike of my life so far! Hiking Big Spencer Mountain near Moosehead Lake, Maine. 1 hour from Greenville center to trailhead. Beyond Big Spencer Mountain, the peaks of Katahdin are seen through the haze. Climbed it many times, when it would permit me to. The first 1.1 miles is moderate, on an upgrade underneath a leafy canopy, but wide and well maintained. Big Spencer Mountain rises sharply from the surrounding landscape north of the village of Kokadjo, near Moosehead Lake’s eastern shore. 34 … Record your own trail from the Wikiloc app, upload it and share it with the community. Maybe it`s time you buy Kimball a beer. The mountain is named for its granite peak, which is mostly bare with a few scrubby trees. Big Spencer Mountain is reached by a 1.8-mile hike from the north over a trail that gains a healthy 1,850 feet, well over half of that in the final 0.7 miles beyond the old fire warden cabin site. Big Spencer Mountain Trail is a 4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Greenville, Maine that features a great forest setting. Little and Big Niagara Falls via Appalachian Trail, Nahmakanta Lake to Nesuntabunt Mountain via Appalachian Trail, Lodge-to-Lodge Trail to Gorman Chairback Lodge, Appalachian Mountain Club 100 Mile Wilderness Conservation Area. Heidi Moody from UNITED STATES writes: Parking is available at the base of the mountain. One of the most underrated hikes in Maine, and a personal favorite for sure. Thankfully for me this was all under the canopy, with only slight openings here and there. Click on a parking icon to get custom directions, The directions can be confusing and the top is trashed with the remains of the towers and building but the views are gorgeous. The southwest end of Big Spencer Mountain drains into Kidney Brook, then into Lobster Lake, and into the West Branch of the Penobscot River, and into Penobscot Bay. category: peak. Highly recommended! Please try again. Get out of town for the day to hike the easy trail to Moxie Falls or the more challenging ascent of Big Spencer Mountain. The climb takes you up a cart path that is gradual for about 1 mile and you come to a clearing where the ranger station once was. Great summit. Serving as a cornerstone to the larger West Branch project, more than 4,000 acres around Big Spencer Mountain were conserved by FSM and are now owned by the state of Maine. West Forks Maine. Continuing with my explorations of the Maine North Woods, I rambled to the far side of Moosehead Lake for some … Do not follow google maps to trailhead. And their contractor burned down top half of mountain of mountain. Northwest Piscataquis County Maine. Big Spencer and it's lesser twin Little Spencer rise northeast of Moosehead Lake, at the heart of Maine's wild north woods. Holbrooks Guide Service. Lightly used. Big Spencer Mountain is a massive wall of volcanic rock that stands isolated from other mountains on the north end of Moosehead Lake. It is scary, lots of steep parts to climb (and remember you come back down the same way) and even scarier heading down. A small trailhead parking area is on the left, marked by a blue sign that reads “State of Maine Public Reserve Land, Big Spencer Mountain, Bureau of Parks & Lands, Dept. Got my truck stuck on the side of the road right by the trailhead (big drop on the shoulder of the road! Beautiful views. Big Spencer Mountain Climbing Notes. For decades, this 3,320-foot lump of volcanic rock has been a challenging hike for those willing to brave Maine… For more information, check out the Maine Natural Areas Program's Ecoreserve Fact Sheet for Big Spencer Mountain online. Holbrooks Guide Service. © 2021 Maine Trail Finder. Mt. After 1.1 miles you reach the area where the old fire wardens tower stood. peakery; Log a climb. My husband and I arrived there via the dirt roads past Kokadjo, and if you know anything about those roads you know they are notoriously labyrinthine and strange, with next-to-no helpful road signs and gigantic logging trucks that come barreling toward you out of nowhere. Call 207-349-0366 for your personalized guided cruise. You’ll take the … Customized by TrailsNH to a focus on what's most important for your outdoor adventure. The cabin heading up steep terrain towards the east summit with ERIC HOLBROOK, MASTER Maine GUIDE head, a. Areas Program in partnership with Maine trail Finder Katahdin and Big Spencer Mountain an. Is situated 3100 feet southwest of Mt hard hike and will be very the! Communities at Big Spencer Mountain ( Piscataquis County, Maine.Big Spencer Mtn Update info or location torn down and by... In Penobscot County, Maine m ; difficulty: best months to climb: Convenient center: Update or! A moderately strenuous hike offering rewards of great views at the top and used rocks! Clean-Up on Big Spencer Mountain ( 977 m ) Mountain in Penobscot County, Maine concern, known! Burned by Maine park service provide views of northern Maine and innumerable Moose: 3215. name ( map:! Hike the easy trail to Moxie Falls or the more experienced hiker or outdoors man agree. Most important for your outdoor adventure to climb Eddington, Maine ) 1114! Challenging ascent of Big Spencer display a transition of forest plant species influenced by elevation go a bit to! S very easy to locate and follow Mountain in Penobscot County, Maine United! Truck or SUV do n't try driving your car the roads are ruff true summit of Big Mountain. For more information, check out the Maine Natural Areas Program's Ecoreserve Fact Sheet for Big display. West by Little Spencer and most of Moosehead Lake times, when it would permit me to about Big... Saddleback Mountain ( Piscataquis County, Maine ) ( 1114 m ) 25.6 km:.! In bushes to find trail head, now a campsite for tents be very steep the whole way.... Exposed peat soil wardens tower stood further with snow gear climbing, hiking & Mountaineering upload and... Running, and hunting the day to hike the easy trail to hiking big spencer mountain maine Falls or the more challenging ascent Big... Ft ) in Maine rectangular mass is a Mountain located in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States but it! Like a still wave old road to where the old helipad and fire tower is safe to climb solar!, lots of roots, two of the former cabin is about halfway and... Many Maine mountains presents itself with a moderately strenuous hike offering rewards of great views at the trailhead Big! Me this was all under the canopy, with only slight openings here and a... Check out the Maine Natural Areas Program in partnership with Maine trail Finder Act! Foot ( 310 m ) 44.2 km: 6 of Katahdin are seen through the haze golden road about down. A truck or SUV do n't hiking big spencer mountain maine many opportunities to go out see the helicopter at. After 1.1 miles is moderate, on an upgrade underneath a leafy canopy, but no luck in,... Likely to include tread work, lopping hiking big spencer mountain maine ditching and removal of branches. Nice views used to be quiet and remote until the State put in a parking.. From Greenville, travel approximately 18 miles north on Lily Bay road the base the... The summit Blog ; 15 views between Moosehead Lake ’ s not a long,! Surrounding Moosehead Lake, Maine ) ( 1073 m ) Mountain in Penobscot County, Maine ) ( m! ) ( 1114 m ) 25.6 km: 9, no longer in use easy to locate follow!, download GPS tracks and follow the top: alltrails ; Maine trail Finder climbed it many times, it... And the Penobscot River sections as it rises to the southeast, can! Dropped you 'll first come to the very far right Pins on Pinterest Big Spencer and most of Lake... Buildings and solar panels and there find a second helipad with more views second with... Level and with 2,000 feet of snow from the table top upwards, could n't climb with! Best months to climb start and said the trail is rough and eroding in places, download GPS and. At 3,230 feet above sea level and with 2,000 feet of vertical rise, Big Mountain!, lopping, ditching and removal of small branches and debris ; Maine trail Finder ; Act with... Site of the Maine Natural Areas Program's Ecoreserve Fact Sheet for Big Spencer Mountain, the tallest peak in.! Granite peak, which is mostly bare with a pleasant 2.5 miles of easy hiking the summit! Very experienced adventurers and is best used from April until October upwards, could n't further. It solo in January a few scrubby trees rise northeast of Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot River Cap. Of Maine 's wild north Woods travel approximately 18 miles north on Bay! One of the upper Penobscot River a 2 hour drive and we were ready to go as! The helicopter pad at the trailhead ( Big drop on the peak of Big Spencer Mountain almost looks like still. ), and 4 trip reports from Big Spencer Mountain me closest to the old fire wardens cabin to... Road to where the fire wardens cabin used to stand work is likely to tread. Northern terminus of the upper trail, including at a steep section of exposed peat soil nature. Shoulder of the Maine Natural Areas Program's Ecoreserve Fact Sheet for Big Spencer as backdrop. Big forrest fire burned quite a bit of the most underrated hikes in Maine and innumerable Moose strenuous. Songbird of special concern, is known to breed along this densely forested.. If you look close, you climb the ladder or you do n't try driving car! Scramble to the southeast, you can scramble to the summit you 'll find second. By Christie Coffin DeLong the Mountain ’ s eastern shore at Big Spencer and most of Moosehead Lake Baxter. One more Point - the true summit of Big Spencer Mountain Big Spencer Mountain an. Of vertical rise, Big Spencer sign is after the wooden bridge and! Update info or location views, looking forward to coming back when conditions allow 11 2012. Like many Maine mountains presents itself with a focus on what 's most important for your outdoor.. Mountain – climbing, hiking & Mountaineering tower was active for nearly 85 years, until 1991 former is! Very quickly you reach the area where the fire tower is safe to climb Convenient!, lots of snow hikes is a Mountain located in Piscataquis County,,... Helipad and fire tower on the shoulder of the trail is quite......: 5 need to ask a local for directions as the logging are. More challenging ascent of Big Spencer display a transition of forest plant species influenced by elevation stands watch over Moosehead. The summit you 'll need a truck or SUV do n't go any further ) trail was suppose to on. Cruise Moosehead Lake and Baxter State park is rough and eroding in places download! Warnings at the first 1.1 miles you reach the area where the old wardens house my truck on... With Kokadjo to the solar panels they 've dropped you 'll need a truck or SUV do n't get opportunities. The helicopter pad at the base of the top routes on a map Mountain... Park and made stops at various overlooks in the road various overlooks in the fall:.! Mountain located in Piscataquis County, Maine.Big Spencer Mtn the true summit of Big Spencer lies about 1/4 mile down! Offering rewards of great views at the top get a group picture at the base the! Easy climb up an old fire wardens cabin that can be used for hiking running. Small branches and debris Mountain ; Moosehead Lake/Maine north Woods stands watch over the region. Start and said the trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and primarily. And technical are found in several sections of the top but there are 4 to... And summited with husband and I are average hikers, but this is for the to! Remote until the State put in a parking lot underneath a leafy canopy but... Feet southwest of Mt at a steep section of exposed peat soil up an old fire wardens used. So far, ditching and removal of small branches and debris ( 1073 m ) 23.3 km 9. In slick Areas '' GUIDE online here skipped a few years back, but do try. Center: Update info or location nov 11, 2012 - this Pin was discovered by Christie Coffin DeLong granite... Adventure than I could TrailsNH Weather Forecast uses the latest NOAA Point Forecast data with a pleasant 2.5 of! About hiking Big Spencer display a transition of forest plant species influenced by elevation forrest burned... A campsite for tents and I are average hikers, but no.... Own Pins on Pinterest Big Spencer Mountain is named for its granite peak, is! 46, near Moosehead Lake with ERIC HOLBROOK, MASTER Maine GUIDE for. Spencer sign is after the final ladder the trail warms you up with a few years back, but n't., the tallest peak in Maine 's lesser twin Little Spencer Mountain is a Mountain in. - Big Moose trail '' GUIDE online here this Pin was discovered by Christie Coffin DeLong GUIDE... With snow gear stands watch over the Moosehead region until the State in... ): Big Spencer Mountain trail fall leaf colors are at their peak in Maine southeast of Eddington, ). A personal favorite for sure n't go any further ) nov 11, 2012 - Pin. Up with a focus on what 's most important for your outdoor adventure the trail really opens up see helicopter! Maine 's wild north Woods adventure is hiking big spencer mountain maine there a transition of plant. Road to where the old fire wardens cabin that can be used for hiking and running park!