From Tumbledown Pond, the Tumbledown Mountain Trail follows an exposed route over bedrock trail to the top of the ridge beyond, then drops steeply into a notch to meet the upper end of the Loop Trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Trail is washed out and muddy near the top as well but I’m sure later in the season it will be fine. The trailhead is 3.7 miles from the east end of Byron Road by a large parking area just uphill from a brook crossing. We took the Parker Ridge trail up to Tumbledown Pond which was longer but much easier than either the Brook Trail or Tumbledown Trail. The Trail to the right goes up to Little Jackson. It's about a mile in to Tumbledown Rock where we start climbing. - See 19 traveler reviews, 12 candid photos, and great deals for Weld, ME, at Tripadvisor. An awesome hike. It is pretty overgrown in spots, I assume not many people take this route and it must not be officially maintained anymore? bogblogger wrote a review Nov 2016. A total of 10 miles on my watch. At this point you have the option of returning via Brook Trail (1.8 miles), or Parker Ridge and Little Jackson Connector (1.8 and 1.1 miles respectively) back to the trailhead and parking. For more travel adventures, check out our website https://roadtrippingpt.com/ The 3,068-foot western summit is .8 miles from the pond, along a beautiful open ridge. The descent from Little Jackson to the base of Tumbledown was much more difficult. we went up loop trail do not recommend taking a dog lots of very steep rocks and the chimney is impossible with out some helping dog friendly people. C'est la jonction avec Parker Ridge Trail. Some neat striations in the rock on Parker Ridge. 142 B ass 142 CART Center First hike of the year. Some of the elevations over rocks are hard for short folks. It will kick your butt. Not much to see except for a small building and a helicopter landing platform. This was an amazing hike. Took the little Jackson connector trail back to the trail head. Morgan Road to Little Jackson was fine for them and the Parker Ridge Trail return was pretty good. This trail is over mostly open ledges. From this point, despite what this map indicates, you must backtrack down to the Pond Link junction. Super fun bushwack to get to the Little Jackson summit, we got lost at the start of the climb but after that hiccup the path was pretty easy to make out and there were plenty of cairns to guide us. To reach the tarn right below the summit of Tumbledown, you have essentially four options: the 1.9-mile Brook Trail, the 2.9-mile Parker Ridge Trail, the 2-mile Loop Trail, and the 3.4-mile trek up the first part of Little Jackson trail over to Pond Link. Pretty technical climbs/rock climbing and slick when wet. Hiking Tumbledown Mountain in Maine. We took the Tumbledown Brook trail to the top. The Tumbledown Mountain and Little Jackson Mountain trail network is composed of six trails and two trailheads for advanced hikers wishing to see some of the most unique features in Maine. Activities: Hiking. Lots of tracks so I was able to manuever down this trail without a lot of trouble. Park headquarters on Center Hill Road, including snowmobile, multi-use, equestrian, ski and snowshoe trails. Planned to hike over to the pond however the trail was not well marked and we got significantly off trail! Parker's Ridge Trail. The trail approaches from the southeast and initially rises moderately but steepens as it passes over three ledges. I began hearing about this early this spring, but (for some reason)just didn't get to this one...despite the fact that we hiked something almost every weekend. Two trails diverge from this trailhead. The trail itself initially follows an old logging road before steeply ascending the mountain to Tumbledown pond. This trail is not marked well at all and I ended up wandering around a bit as the snow was up to 4 feet deep in areas and was softening up so I ended up postholing a lot. The Parker Ridge Trail (1.8 miles) is another option from the Brook Trailhead. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from April until September. Click here for a guide to trail etiquette, DOC Map of the Weld Region I consider this to be one of the 10 best hikes in all of New England. Dana Thurston of Raymond on the Tumbledown Ridge Trail with Tumbledown Pond and Little Jackson Mountain in the background. 3. 360 views at the top make it worth it. The Loop and Brook Trails have their trailheads on the North side of Weld-To-Byron Road, and the Parker Ridge Trail has its trailhead at the end of Morgan Road. A few weeks ago (May 13th), I hiked Tumbledown Mountain (3054 feet) which is located in Western Maine. Pond Link is the easiest of the trails, and sees very little foot traffic. Tumbledown and Little Jackson via Parker Ridge Trail is a 8.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Weld, Maine that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. You can take the trail to Little Jackson and cut over to Tumbledown Pond using the Pond Link Trail but we haven't done that yet. Tumbledown Mountain is a scenic gem in the Maine Appalachians. It appeared that no one else has tried Jackson so I didn't have tracks to follow. After about a half-mile of easy hiking, Tumbledown Mountain’s Parker Ridge Trail departed left and Little Jackson Trail began climbing steadily in … I'd heard about this mountain, with its fairly short trails, both easy, and quite difficult and it's beautiful mountain pond suitable for swimming. The trail eventually comes out into the open and traverses Parker's Ridge. This modest 3,000-foot mountain offers a big New England mountain hiking experience. Tumbledown Ridge Trail (0.7 miles, Connector): Starting at the outlet of Tumbledown Pond, this trail connects the ends of the Brook and Parker Ridge Trails with the end of the Loop Trail and, further on, the West Peak of Tumbledown Mountain. From the pond, continue 0.6 miles on Tumbledown Mountain Trail to the junction with Loop Trail. We didn't see any other person until we reached the west peak of Tumbledown. Travel 1.2 miles, following blue blazes, to the junction with Pond Link Trail on the left. Take a back-up battery for your phone because you will drain the battery even in airplane mode trying to relocate the trail and taking lots of photos. Now we are headed up the East peak via the Tumbledown Ridge Trail. Took a side trip to Jackson Mtn. After nearly 3 miles on Parker Ridge you will return to the Jackson’s trail. Only a few slippery spots. We made it to the bald peak across from the lake easily, but on our way down around the far side of the pond we must have missed a left turn because we ended up looping around the pond to the top of the Parker Ridge Trail, despite following what looked like a good trail. We will be back to investigate what we did wrong but it was a beautiful hike! Trail up to Tumbledown was again moderate and the return loop was not well marked. Photo by Carey Kish. Appalachian Trail: Saddleback Mountain & Poplar Ridge, Saddleback Mountain via Bald Mountain Trail, Tumbledown Pond via Parker Ridge Trail Loop, Long Pond and Sabbath Day Pond via Appalachian Trail, Tumbledown, Little Jackson, and Jackson Mountain, Tumbledown and Little Jackson via Parker Ridge Trail. After about a half mile of easy hiking, Tumbledown Mountain’s Parker Ridge Trail departed left and Little Jackson Trail began climbing steadily in a predominantly deciduous forest. This was done by the Maine Conservation Corps, which the State also hired to work on the Parker Ridge Trail and on the Little Jackson Trail in 2012. The Parker Ridge Trail on Weld’s Tumbledown Mountain is a steep climb, but the views of the east and north peaks, with their dramatic cliffs, make it worth the effort. I descended along Parker Ridge Trail, which has some more amazing views as well as some really astonishing geological features. EASY 1.7 mi. Take a sharp left onto this road. Sep 27 | Little Jackson, Tumbledown, ME via Jackson and Parker Ridge trails by: Rick Boudreau / newenglandtrailconditions. Lots of soft snow between Tumbledown and Little Jackson. Photo by Ryan Linn. Tried walking in the moose footprints but still fell through a lot. Well marked but easy to get off trail. There a review here that says not to bring a dog. Great hike, trail is not well marked between Little Jackson and Tumbledown but otherwise a great day. Although we saw a lot of people on the Brook Trail and at the lake, we hardly saw a soul when we took the Parker Ridge Trail down. A parking area is provided along the Byron Weld Road. Trail Work Not just uninterrupted views, but a variety: rolling hills, lakes, peaks, and cool rock formations - not to mention the challenging trails. Directions This is Parker Ridge trailhead. It’s gradual at first but then turns challenging as you climb over ledges to reach the top. Empruntez le sentier Little Jackson Connector, balisé de blazes bleus, jusqu'à la prochaine intersection. 5. The trail is primarily used for hiking and camping and is best used from May until October. That segment would have been better for them had they not been as tired as they were. Trail Etiquette As you can see, a few wet areas too. Great trail but bad time of year for it. It's a best bang for the buck hike. Definitely will go back in a month or so when the snow is completely gone. The downhill side of Little Jackson as you head towards Tumbledown gets steep fast and begins the tough portion of the hike. The Parker Ridge Trail, though also steep, is a more beautiful and a less rocky descent. In the past, to access this route, hikers had to travel into the woods on a private road called the Morgan Road, and park near a place locally known as "Tumbledown Field." These posts have been tagged with Tumbledown Mountain ME, or are within 1.5 miles of it. The Loop and Brook Trails have their trailheads on the North side of Weld-To-Byron Road, and the Parker Ridge Trail has its trailhead at the end of Morgan Road. I also carry a compass and paper map so I wasn't too concerned. The descent was again sparsely travelled. Anything else was constructed unofficially and is therefore considered unreliable. Views are spectacular. It is a short walk in from the parking area. A short spur ascends to West Peak also. Best bet is to arrive at the parking area (near Brook Trail) early although there is a lot of parking on the side of the Byron Road. Following Tumbledown Brook, this trail provides the quickest, most direct route up to Tumbledown Pond. I descended along Parker Ridge Trail, which has some more amazing views as well as some really astonishing geological features. This modest 3,000-foot mountain offers a big New England mountain hiking experience. 6/16/19 - A friend and I tried to do the loop pictured here clockwise. There is a pit toilet at the beginning of the Brook Trail. This is a wonderful hike, great payoff in views for one that is relatively short. All in all the loop we took was 9 miles, moderate to hard grade at times. It's mostly level on the way in, some up and down but just a pleasant hike. Easy first mile gives way to much steeper climb over boulder fields and numerous waterfalls. TCA made significant financial contributions to help pay for MCC’s work on these projects. Had a great time doing this loop a couple of months ago, went up the loop trail to the west peak first and went around up to the Tumbledown summit and over to the Little Jackson trail and back down on the Brooke trail. The trail in the wooded section between Tumbledown and Little Jackson could use some work. The Pond even this time of year is disappointingly crowded, but if you take the loop depicted here from Morgan Road up to Little Jackson Mountain, you will see few people until you clear Tumbledown and are nearer the lake. Also, the trailhead for all but the Loop Trail is located off Byron Rd. Many people do this as an annual hiking event. Easy first mile gives way to much steeper climb over boulder fields and numerous waterfalls. Morgan Rd is a single lane dirt road and was in great shape. A link to these last two trails has been created from the start of the Brook Trail, although you can still reach them via the Morgan Road. You make no turns off of Byron Rd to access the trailheads. I tried to head up to Jackson but the snow was too deep and the trail is not very well marked. This, however, was not the case. It is much more than a bushwack, but can be follow once you've found it. Tumbledown Mountain in Weld, Maine. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/Maps/FullSize/mtbluetumbledownmap.pdf Alpine tarn at summit is highest elevation pond in Maine. This hike starts at the Brook Trail trailhead off of Byron Road, ME. Advanced): According to the Appalachian Mountain Club, this is the oldest trail to ascend Tumbledown Mountain. I descended along Parker Ridge Trail, which has some more amazing views as well as some really astonishing geological features. Windy but not too cold. We'll take the Brook Trail to Crater Lake (Tumbledown Pond), before descending along the Parker Ridge Trail. The trail between Little Jackson and Tumbledown (the unofficial part) was totally unmarked and difficult to follow when you were in tree line. I recommend doing it clockwise, otherwise you'll be coming down the steepest sections. As we hike, we'll discuss all things Tumbledown: geology, trees and plants, history, wildlife, and current issues facing the mountain. I descended along Parker Ridge Trail, which has some more amazing views as well as some really astonishing geological features. Losing the trail is particularly easy in the Fall when the leaves are down and cover the worn path to make it blend into the wilds. It is roughly 2.5 miles in length and takes approximately 2 hours to hike at a brisk pace. Description: Tumbledown Mountain has a network of six trails on it and the adjacent Little Jackson Mountain. Trail was in great shape with only one tree down BUT was snow covered (2-4 feet) on the top third of the trail. Got turned around a couple of times looking for the trail. It says it is a popular hiking spot, but I only met two hikers on the trails that day. Parker Ridge Trail: This trail is the oldest route to the pond. I descended along Parker Ridge Trail, which has some more amazing views as well as some really astonishing geological features. The 3,068-foot western summit is .8 miles from the pond, along a beautiful open ridge. You will lose the trail more than once, I promise you, so check your AllTrails position frequently any time you dip down into the tree line again, which happens several times. It's about a mile in to Tumbledown Rock where we start climbing. Joyce and I are at Tumbledown's Loop Trailhead. moderate): pond Link Trail Tumbledown pond With the trail segment enables loop using the Little J ackson Trail and the Brook Trail or the Loop Trail. It's mostly level on the way in, some up and down but just a pleasant hike. In just over a mile you will arrive at the summit of Tumbledown near the pond. Morgan Rd is not accessible by vehicle. One mountain kept coming up; Tumbledown. Views are spectacular. Not a bad ascent to the point between Little Jackson and Jackson Mtn. Parker Ridge Trail seems to be the "highway" most visiting the Pond take up and back down. This trail goes over East Peak and to the junction of the Loop Trail. Parker Ridge Trail Open face ledge walking views are beautiful all the way up. This link has the official trail map: The Parker Ridge Trail, though also steep, is a more beautiful and a less rocky descent. You will climb steeply away from the pond to an open ridge with stunning views. I had my dog with me and had a blast. Best views for the longest time of any hike in the State. No ass-kicking, memorable steeps for long distances or anything that will traumatize you, but the up and down never ends once you get to the tree line and take the ridges. Tumbledown Mountain. Send Coffee!! This was done by the Maine Conservation Corps, which the State also hired to work on the Parker Ridge Trail and on the Little Jackson Trail in 2012. I don't think there's another mountain in this part of the world that offers such amazing views of itself as Tumbledown. This gnarly hike navigates the chimney-like fissure known as Fat Man’s Misery via iron rungs and is recommended for ascent only. You can tell that the Brook Trail is used extensively. Dana Thurston of Raymond enjoys the view from the Parker Ridge Trail on Tumbledown Mountain. We used the AllTrails map a few times as we did wander off trail. Heading up Parker Ridge, with a view of Tumbledown Pond and Mountain. Snow was frozen so I was able to walk on the surface but wished I had brought my microspikes. So, we figured that it would be quite easy to find the trail head. Only saw 4 people at Tumbledown Pond, otherwise, I had the place to myself. Heading up Parker Ridge with a view of Tumbledown Pond and Mountain. 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