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Trail Description:
The trails around Atherton hill are fairly easy to follow. there are 2 severely eroded sections of the trail. One on the way to the summit, and the other, coming down from the summit. The ride begins at the gravel pit. Ride down the steep drop in front of you and head in the direction of the fire tower just visible above the trees. You will follow a loose sandy trail up to a T intersection at the edge of the woods. Follow the trail around to the right, "hugging the woods" over some partially visible old tires and a pile of shingles. (It gets better) You will gradually move away from the gravel pit and enter the woods. Follow the main trail avoiding all side trails and begin an arduous climb. (about mile 1) At the top of this climb, you will rerach a cleared area, beyond which the trail splits. Go right. Again, stay on this trail until you come to the first severely erroded section of the trail. There is a grassy trail branching off to the left here (but continue straight) The trail coming in on the right is the trail you will come down after reaching the top of Atherton Hill. Continuing straight, you will eventually reach a powerline. Continue under the powerline picking up the trail on the other side. Passing some exposed rock, you will reach the site of what was once a schoolhouse. Continue until you reach a junction with a dirt road (Nash Rd.) Turn right and pedal about a quarter mile to a cross road. Continue straight and stay on the dirt road, passing a trail branching off to the left. As the road starts to turn upward into a driveway, look to the left for a woods trail. Turn onto this woods trail and at every fork, stay right. Eventually, you will reach the same powerline. At this point, look for a narrow trail which goes into the woods straight ahead of you. This can be tough, because there are numerous trails branching off here, but this trail is slightly up to the right from where you just came out. Its through a narrow opening in the trees. Continue on this, passing a trail on the left coated with pine needles. The trail zig zags through a stone wall and ends in a clearing. There is no view, because the fire tower was torn down in 2000, but its an excellent "get away" from the bustling city of Portland. From the top, continue in the direction you were going, and descend the southern slope of the hill. Watch out! it gets eroded! You will drop down to an intersection, the one you passed earlier. Turn left and retrace your way to the gravel pit.
How to get there:
From the Portland Area, take route 100 to Cumberland. At the blinking l.ight, right before the Ames farm Center (It used to be Allens) and Copp Motors, bear left. Pass the West Cumberland Fire Department on the left and cross the MAine Turnpike. Make the first right after the bridge on Forest Lake Road. Make a left on Forest LAne. this road eventually turns to gravel and you will past a series of camps and forest lake. Rounding a sharp corner, you will arrive at the trail head (A three way intersection at the gravel Pit.)
| Posted by: BertieorBirdie on 1/16/2012 |
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This was so hlefpul and easy! Do you have any articles on rehab?
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| Posted by: Cathy on 10/3/2004 |
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Instead of taking 1st right off Blackstrap(after turnpike overpass), take the next road further up across from church/cemetary. This is GoosePond Rd.....much more direct route!Believe me, I live at the "sharp corner".
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