BillDC
New member
This hike is short and not very challenging, but does offer rewarding views. Borestone Mountain is located in the Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary. The place is managed pretty well and the trails are generally in good shape. In season there is a charge for entry, but since it is still off season, we hiked without a charge. To get there, we took the Elliotsville Road from Monson out 7.7 miles to a bridge that crosses Big Wilson Stream. Crossing the bridge, take the left road and follow it to the trailhead for Borestone Mountain at around 8.5. Park on the left in a small parking lot immediately across from the entrace.
Just after the entrance, the Base Trail leaves left. In past hikes years ago, the only way in was to walk the road. We took the Base Trail (about .8 miles) which meanders through open forest and dumps you out back on the main road. Follow the road by the bathroom facilities and take the left road toward the visitors center. All turns have signage. After a short distance on the road, you approach Sunrise pond and the visitors center which was closed due to not being in season yet. The summit trail (about .7 miles) starts just beyond the visitors center.
The trail wraps around the south shore of Sunrise Pond and then starts climbing. The climb is a bit steep with many stone steps being placed in these steep stretches to aid in the climb. After some steep sections, the trail levels off through open forest for a short time and then reaches the last steep section. This section is largely a rock scramble with some iron bars and railings to help the climb. The trail arrives at the open West peak with great views of the area. We continued an additional .3 miles to the East peak where the trail ends. At the East peak, there is a replica of the 1917 Fire tower map table showing what peaks you can see from the mountain. A fire tower was built on this mountain in 1913 and was located on the East peak. It was closed in 1950 at the request of the landowner and was removed shortly after. Several old bolts still in the rock at the East peak mark the location.
This is a nice short hike with good views of the Moosehead area. Some photos can be found at the below link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/BillDC3/BorestoneMountainME5212012?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Just after the entrance, the Base Trail leaves left. In past hikes years ago, the only way in was to walk the road. We took the Base Trail (about .8 miles) which meanders through open forest and dumps you out back on the main road. Follow the road by the bathroom facilities and take the left road toward the visitors center. All turns have signage. After a short distance on the road, you approach Sunrise pond and the visitors center which was closed due to not being in season yet. The summit trail (about .7 miles) starts just beyond the visitors center.
The trail wraps around the south shore of Sunrise Pond and then starts climbing. The climb is a bit steep with many stone steps being placed in these steep stretches to aid in the climb. After some steep sections, the trail levels off through open forest for a short time and then reaches the last steep section. This section is largely a rock scramble with some iron bars and railings to help the climb. The trail arrives at the open West peak with great views of the area. We continued an additional .3 miles to the East peak where the trail ends. At the East peak, there is a replica of the 1917 Fire tower map table showing what peaks you can see from the mountain. A fire tower was built on this mountain in 1913 and was located on the East peak. It was closed in 1950 at the request of the landowner and was removed shortly after. Several old bolts still in the rock at the East peak mark the location.
This is a nice short hike with good views of the Moosehead area. Some photos can be found at the below link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/BillDC3/BorestoneMountainME5212012?authuser=0&feat=directlink
