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About


Elephant Mountain
Township C, ME

Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.
Bushwhacking up Elephant Mountain
Bushwhacking up Elephant Mountain

Route: Logging road, bushwhack, (Elephant Mountain), bushwhack, logging road

On our way up to Rangeley, we stopped at Elephant for our first objective. Starting at about 2,700 feet in elevation, we followed a wide, grassy logging road to its landing, then followed a narrower logging road at the far back corner. Following herd paths through these cuts, we ended up crossing the upper old logging road near a swamp, then bushwhacked to the canister atop Elephant Mountain.

While we had a herd path for a bit on the initial descent, we lost it in some thick junk and ended up bushwhacking again for awhile, until picking it up above the upper logging road. From there, it was relatively smooth sailing back to where we had parked.


Hike Ratings
Getting To Trailhead: Moderate
Destination: Elephant Mountain
Length: Moderate
Steepness: Difficult
Navigation: Difficult
Views: Minimal
Crowds: Minimal


Hike Stats
Date Hiked: Friday, July 8, 2011
Parking Elevation: 2,690'
Destination: Elephant Mountain
Time Elapsed: 00:50
Trailhead Elevation: 2,700'
Summit Elevation: 3,772'
Vertical Gain: 1,092'
Hike Time Elapsed: 02:37
Hike Vertical Gain: 1,142'


The beginning of the logging road walk
The beginning of the logging road walk

Hawkweed along the logging road
Hawkweed along the logging road

Slight views toward the Grafton Notch area from near the summit of Elephant Mountain - Click to enlarge
Slight views toward the Grafton Notch area from near the summit of Elephant Mountain

Topographic map of Elephant Mountain


Directions to trailhead: Take Route 5 North from Bethel, Maine (will correspond for US 2 for awhile). At the end of Route 5 in Andover, take a right onto Route 120. After crossing a bridge, Route 120 will take a sharp right turn. Almost immediately after that turn, take a left onto South Arm Road (0.6 miles from Route 5).

Starting at 0.0 miles on South Arm Road, the Appalachian Trail crossing will be passed between 7.4 and 7.5 miles. Just before 9.7 miles, Clearwater Brook will be crossed (sign). Just after this bridge, take a right onto an unmarked logging road (Old Country Road). If you cross Grindstone Road, you went too far on South Arm Road.

Starting at 0.0 miles, head up the logging road. Bear left at 0.4 miles onto the unmarked Elephant Mountain Road. Bear right at 1.1 miles to stay on Elephant Mountain Road. Just prior to 3 miles, the road will go downhill briefly, prior to climbing back uphill at 3.0 miles. There is limited room for parking here. The herd path starts on a grassy logging road on the left, marked with a cairn.

Back to Elephant Mountain Profile




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