Horn's Pond

West Peak from the West Horn

Horn's Pond from the West Horn

Memorial to Myron Avery, a Maine native active in Appalachian Trail development 

Trail head at Stratton Brook Pond

Bigelow Preserve Public Reserved Land

is located in Wyman Township, Bigelow Township, and Dead River Township in Franklin and Somerset counties.  Just east of the village of Stratton in the town of Eustis, about 40 miles north of Farmington, it includes over 36,000 acres of public land. The preserve encompasses the entire Bigelow Range, which includes seven summits. The highest of these at 4,150 feet is West Peak, one of only 10 Maine summits over 4,000 feet in elevation.  

The trails have magnificent views of Sugarloaf Mountain (photo at right) and the 20,000-acre Flagstaff Lake and the Dead River that passes through it, bounding the preserve on the north.

Sugarloaf Mountain; Flagstaff Lake, with Jim Eaton Hill in the center

The preserve offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking the Appalachian Trail. Access to the Appalachian Trail is gained over gravel roads off Maine combined Route 16 and 27 in Carrabassett, and by the Long Falls Dam Road from North New Portland.

Myron Avery Peak from West Peak

The Bigelow Range Trail from Stratton village leads to Cranberry Peak (3,213 feet), then joins the Appalachian Trail beyond Cranberry Pond.  The combined trail continue approximately 13 miles to the southeastern tip of Flagstaff Lake.  Two side trails (Horn's Pond and Fire Warden's) lead south to Stratton Brook Pond, then along a dirt road to Routes 16/27.

Stratton Brook Pond: Bigelow (left); nearby mountains (right)

Brady Williams photos, August 18, 2003