Appalachian Trail #5 (Caribou Valley Road to Stratton)

The 282 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine is generally considered the most difficult of the fourteen states that the A.T. traverses. While the elevations seldom top 4,000 feet , the terrain is often difficult and there are frequent rock scrambles through very rugged terrain.  Even the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) does not recommend the Maine A.T. for novice hikers.  There are limited bridges in the State due to the spring snowmelt and the streams on the trail require frequent fording.  Slippery and sometimes hazardous weather can occur at any time, and the Maine A.T. is frequently remote to say the least.  In some sections, don’t expect to hike more than a mile an hour and get used to steep ascents and descents.  That said – the Maine A.T. has some of the most stunning and remote wilderness on the entire trail.  It is often cited as a favorite State for many A.T. thru-hikers.   

This hike over the Crocker Mountains follows the Appalachian Trail for 8.1 miles near Stratton, Maine. It can be done from either the ME 27 or Caribou Valley Road trailheads but plenty of effort is required to summit regardless of the direction. The Crocker Cirque Campsite is located about a mile from Caribou Valley Road, and it is the best campsite in this area. It is situated in a glacial bowl near a small pond with tent platforms, a spring, and a privy. From the pond, there are views toward the Crocker Mountains and the A.T. with peaks that sit over 1300 feet above the site. It’s a very scenic campsite, but don’t underestimate the difficulty of the terrain in this area.  Caribou Valley Road – which is located one mile from the turn-off to the Sugarloaf Ski Resort – is a dirt road and ~15 minutes drive that dead ends at a creek and junction with the A.T.