We hiked up the mountain via the Mud Brook Trail and loop back down the Caribou Trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. No trail markings, but we were mostly able to follow (strayed off twice - once up, once down - but recovered without wandering too far from trail). The leaves had fallen on the trail and with hardly any markers it made it difficult to keep track of the trail. All in all, a wonderful hike with breathtaking views, would highly recommend, We hike this mountain every fall. Great hike with beautiful views! The idea (and map) for this hike again came from the indispensable Maine Mountain Guide’s recommended hikes (see our review of the 11th edition here), and did not disappoint. Great 460 views at summit and some great views just before summit. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips and is best used from March until November. Only warning is sun is setting early these days - make sure you leave plenty of time as the hike takes ~4 hours (with some time at the top) and it was pretty dark hiking at 4:30. Excellent views up top! The elevation gained from the Route 113 trailhead is about 1,950 feet. The trail is well worn when you reach the summit you’ll see a few small cairns but you need to really look for them. Also there needs to be more markers and/or cairns near the summit. Very steady incline, not as difficult as we thought! As others have said the trail markings are almost nonexistent. The trailhead may be found about 5 miles down the road on the left (east). East and West Royce Mountain via Royce Trail, Bickford Brook Trail to Speckled Mountain, Shelburne Moriah Mountain via Shelburne and Kenduskeag Trail, West and East Royce Mountains via the Royce Trail, Shelburne Trail to Kenduskeag Trail to Carter-Moriah Trail, Speckled Mountain via Spruce Hill and Bickford Brook Trails, Caribou and Gammon Mountain via Mud Brook Trail. It’s a lovely hike, but definitely challenging if you’re a casual hiker. The parking lot holds about a dozen cars and I don't think it ever really fills up except on massively busy summer holidays. Trail was in good shape - a bunch of blow downs from the tropical storm but only one that presented a moderate challenge. Trails up and down are fairly obvious but on top it is easy to lose with very faded yellow marks. Not a lot of stress or strain for several truly amazing viewpoints. Maine Office of Tourism, 59 State House Station , Augusta, ME, 04333-0059, Phone: (888) 624-6345. At the junction in the col between Caribou and Gammon, I turned onto the Mud Brook Trail for the final half mile. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Conditions are perfect right now - not much mud. Bugs bad at summit, but no problem moving along the trail. It was very frustrating on the summit, no idea where to go, many places looked like the right direction but led nowhere! The hike took me round trip 4 hours the guide book says 5 i was probably moving fast to get away from the bugs. I’d classify this as a moderate hike with 1900 feet of elevation and an estimated hike time of 5 … Mud Brook Trail meets and ends (or begins) with Caribou Trail (WP Trail Intersection) The intersection is at a small open flat spot that opens out widely and offers a brief respite from the tangled undergrowth that infested this section of the trail. Need good footing/balance crossing brook in several places, but lovely surroundings make the terrain and summit views worth the challenge. Trail is in good condition. Again, the views at the top are great. His legs are rather skinny and thin in comparison to the rest of his body. Please be prepared as this portions of this trail are rocky. It was relatively busy today, being Labor Day weekend. Took only 1.5 hours down Caribou Trail. https://blog.sundayriver.com/top-3-trails-for-hiking-with-dogs-in-the-bethel-area Usually very few people on the trails. 347 likes. Photo © Carey Kish. Best payoff for level of exertion. Get views of the Presidential Range and more from the craggy top of Caribou Mtn near Evans Notch. In October 2018, we hiked Caribou Mountain (2,850 ft) via the Caribou and Mud Brook Trails, a moderate 6.9 mile loop, which took us a bit over four hours. Be aware Mud Brook is poorly marked at the summit, and along the trail itself. (As an aside, Caribou Trail is definitely more interesting with a few easy water crossings, though I wonder if they are more difficult in spring.) Typically spectacular Evans Notch area hike. Took about 1.5 hours up. Overall a great hike the bugs were insane on the descent. and Mud Brook Trails. Great hike. The 2,850-foot peak of Caribou rewards hikers with a nearly 360-degree panorama that takes in the Mahoosuc, Carter-Moriah and Presidential ranges, Mount Royce, Baldface, Speckled Mountain, Pleasant Mountain, Mount Kearsarge, Mount Blue, Tumbledown, Bigelow and Sugarloaf, and countless more … The brook is crossed a half-dozen times before the saddle between Caribou and Gammon Mountain is reached. Agree that trail markers need updating. Generally easy hike, with some steep. Would recommend Caribou Trail up and Mud Brook Trail down, as Mud Brook is less steep and a bit easier on the knees. Trail up was very good but minimal trail blazes but easy to follow except last little bit at summit. The views are spectacular. Do not hike in off-season. I went up Mud Brook, which I recommend, as going down Caribou is easier on the knees. If you just do the Caribou Trail-Mud Brook Trail loop, it’s about 6.7 miles. We hiked the whole length of the Mud Brook Trail and returned back along the Caribou Trail so that we could hike in a loop and not retrace our steps. Caribou Mountain is located in the 14,000-acre Caribou … Caribou Mountain, ME Trails: Mud Brook Trail, Caribou Trail Date of Hike: Sunday, May 31, 2020 Parking/Access Road Notes: Nice parking off of 113... it does have a trailhead outhouse but it’s closed. The best way to hike Caribou Mountain is up the Mud Brook Trail and down the Caribou Trail. Lots of beautiful waterfalls along the caribou trail! The elevation gained from the Route 113 trailhead is about 1,950 feet. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Our descent was 2 hours. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips and is best used from March until November. CARIBOU MOUNTAIN: 5/3/13 This crystal-clear day cried out for good views. I prefer taking Mud Brook Trail up because it's more varied (lots of gentle sections along the brook, mixed with steeper climbing.) I feel it should be rated moderate instead of hard but I don't plan on hiking this one again. We are frequently here so we know the way. 360 views from the top. The trail is primarily used for hiking and trail running and is accessible year-round. Mud Brook and Caribou Loop. The idea (and map) for this hike again came from the indispensable Maine Mountain Guide’s recommended hikes (see our review of the 11th edition here), and did not disappoint. 360 degrees. It took us almost 3 hours to get to that point, and we had read that markings toward the top/end of the trail (headed toward connection with Caribou Trail) were not great. Went up Mud Brook, down Caribou, though I think either way would be fine. Rugged climb up from the lot on rt 113, came back on Caribou Trail to make a full loop. Some awesome deals from Salomon. Saw lots of moose droppings approaching the summit which made us nervous, especially since the trail got narrow. Only 2 complaints: the trail (especially up) is pretty straight and monotonous so it is kind of a boring first ~2 miles. Caribou and Mud Brook Trail Loop– 6.2 miles, Advanced Trailhead –70.97544, 44.33592 As today, abundant 19th century timber resources in Evan’s Notch included Eastern hemlock, red spruce and northern hardwoods such as American beech, sugar maple and yellow birch. A pleasant loop hike to the summit of Caribou Mountain, where there are excellent views using the Caribou Mtn. 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