Bald Ledge – October 17
October 17– Easy – Bald Ledge Preserve Trail (1,187 ft), Porter, ME – 1.4 mi RT, 400 ft elevation gain. RT hiking 1 hour. RT driving 2 hours.
Directions to the Danforth Lane Trailhead coming from the north: From Brownfield take Main Street/Brownfield Road/Eaton Road for 5.5 miles from the junction with Route 5/113 towards NH, turn south (left) on Porter Road for 2.2 miles. Porter Road becomes Kennard Hill Road – follow it for 1.6 miles to Danforth lane. The Francis Small Heritage Trust trailhead is ¼ mile off Danforth Lane where there is a parking at the trailhead.
Five of us hiked Bald Ledge last May in the rain. On that hike we discovered a new trail that descends the other side of the ledge and goes south to a new trailhead on the Colcord Pond Road. After summiting, we continued and descended the new trail. Kitty and Jane caught a ride back to the Danforth Lane Trailhead; Jacob, Dale and I continued on some old discontinued roads that circumnavigate along the east side of the ridge and ledge and, after 2.7 miles, we reunited with Kitty and Jane at the Danforth Lane Trailhead. So, we have two options: those who wish to can choose to go to the summit and return on the Baldhead Preserve Trail for an easy in and out hike of 1.4 miles or, those who wish for a longer hike can continue down the new Bald Ledge Summit Trail and hike a loop around the ledge for a hike of 2.7 miles.
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