Cedar Swamp Mountain–Birch Spring, 14 sights

15 mi · ▲ 2,913 ft · 6 hr 27 min

Cedar Swamp Mountain–Birch Spring, 14 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back near Hulls Cove, ME. The route passes Witch Hole Pond, Halfmoon Pond, Eagle Lake and 3 more before reaching Cedar Swamp Mountain at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 2,913 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi72 – 1,148 ft · steepest grade: 28%15.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 44.40846, -68.24673
Nearest town Hulls Cove, ME

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cedar Swamp Mountain–Birch Spring, 14 sights

15 mi · ▲ 2,913 ft · 6 hr 27 min

Elevation 73–1,148 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 44.40846, -68.24673

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:01 AM · sunset 7:04 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: stop 85 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 400 ftContinue straight onto Hulls Cove Visitor Center Connector, heading SW.
  4. 0.5 miBear right onto Paradise Hill Carriage Road, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miPass Witch Hole Pond.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  7. 50 ftTurn right onto Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road, heading SE.
  8. 1 miPass Halfmoon Pond.
  9. 150 ftTurn right onto Witch Hole Connector Carriage Road, heading SE.
  10. 1.1 miPass Eagle Lake.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Eagle Lake Carriage Road, heading SE.
  12. 1.2 miBear left onto Eagle Lake Trail, heading S.
  13. 200 ftContinue straight onto Connors Nubble Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Bubbles Trail, heading W.
  15. 1 miTurn right onto Bubbles Divide, heading SE.
  16. 0.3 miPass Jordan Pond.
  17. 200 ftTurn right onto Jordan Pond Path, heading SW.
  18. 350 ftTurn right onto Deer Brook Trail, heading SW.
  19. 0.6 miPass Sargent Mountain Pond.
  20. 450 ftTurn right onto Penobscot Mountain Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.2 miTurn left onto Sargent South Ridge Trail, heading W.
  22. 0.4 miPass Birch Spring.
  23. 450 ftSharp right onto Amphitheatre Trail, heading S.
  24. 50 ftBear left onto Sargent South Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  25. 500 ftReach Cedar Swamp Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 500 ftBear right onto Amphitheatre Trail, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftSharp left onto Sargent South Ridge Trail, heading W.
  28. 0.5 miTurn right onto Penobscot Mountain Trail, heading N.
  29. 0.2 miTurn left onto Deer Brook Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.7 miTurn left onto Jordan Pond Path, heading NE.
  31. 300 ftTurn left onto Bubbles Divide, heading NE.
  32. 0.3 miTurn left onto Bubbles Trail, heading NE.
  33. 1 miContinue straight onto Connors Nubble Trail, heading NE.
  34. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Eagle Lake Trail, heading N.
  35. 200 ftBear right onto Eagle Lake Carriage Road, heading NE.
  36. 1.2 miBear left onto Witch Hole Connector Carriage Road, heading N.
  37. 1.1 miTurn left onto Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road, heading N.
  38. 1.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  39. 50 ftTurn right onto Paradise Hill Carriage Road, heading NE.
  40. 0.2 miBear left onto Hulls Cove Visitor Center Connector, heading NE.
  41. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NW.
  42. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

54% gravel21% dirt6% rock1% paved18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:01 AMSunset 7:04 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.0 mi in (~219 min). Leave by 3:05 PM for the 7:04 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: stop 85 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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