Denmark Mountain Hikers

Hike Report
Chandler Gorge
April 24, 2026

The Denmark Mountain Hikers scheduled two hikes for April 24 both using the Baldface Circle Trail. Both groups met in the parking lot on Rte 113 opposite the trailhead around 9:30 AM to organize under sunny skies with chilly temperatures in the 30’s and intermittent wind. One group planned to hike to the shelter and the ledges just above it; the other planned to peel off at the Chandler Gorge loop and hike down into the gorge.

Chandler Gorge Report: Jeff Sturgis
Hiking to the gorge were Jeff Sturgis, Jacob Schor with Ruby and Piper, Tom Dugas, Kathy Huchthausen, Jean Murch, Dale Nelson, Robin Marciello and Sandy

The first landmark is the junction of the Baldface Circle Trail loop with the short spur to the right down to the Emerald Pool. Both groups arrived there after .7 miles and 30 minutes of hiking. After a short rest, we all hit the trail again with the shelter group soon disappearing in the distance. Those of us in the gorge group took our time as we knew our day would be shorter than our ambitious companions. The trail rose gradually, but just after the junction with the Slippery Brook Trail, it became quite steep for about a quarter of a mile. At 10:35 AM we paused at the junction with the Chandler Gorge Trail resting for the short hike down into the gorge.

Sometimes spring hiking just after snow melt can be tricky as the ground is often
covered by wet leaves which obscure the trail. We took our time and relied on the
yellow blazes to stay on the trail when the terrain was ambiguous. Soon we reached the rim of the gorge and started our descent. The trail slabbed steeply down the side of the gorge and was somewhat difficult as the leaves were slippery and covered rocks and roots on the trail. We took our time and cleared off the leaves as much as possible to improve our footing. We found a convenient spot for our lunch next to the swift running Chandler Brook that flows through the gorge. While the sun continued to shine during our hike, it really didn’t warm us up much as the temperatures never climbed above the low 40’s and the intermittent wind continued to chill us even as our exertions warmed us up.

Signs of Spring were poking through wherever one looked:

After about a half hour, we finished our lunch and split into two groups. Three of us returned to the Baldface Circle Trail the way we had come, and the other group of four climbed up the narrow gorge and then looped back to the Baldface Circle Trail. The trail climbs steeply along the edge of the gorge offering striking views down into the rushing water while offering less than secure footing.

Once past the dramatic views, the trail veers to the right up a steep pitch to rejoin the Circle Trail, which the group did and then quickly made it’s way back down to the intersection. The two groups reunited at the Baldface Circle Trail and Chandler Gorge Trail junction at11:30 AM and we started our descent back to the trailhead on Route 113.

We reached the junction with the Emerald Pool spur at noon, and here we split up again with five headed down to Emerald Pool and Jacob and Jeff skipping the pool and heading straight back to the parking lot. However, Jacob and Jeff, engrossed in a scintillating conversation, missed a left turn and blissfully followed an old woods road down towards Route 113. At one point their conversation focused on how much nicer the trail was than they remembered it while trudging uphill; their memory was of having stumbled over rocks and roots the whole way but that now the trail felt far smoother, carpeted evenly with pine needles. Finally it dawned on them that they weren’t on the same trail and so, realizing their mistake, they retraced their steps. Instead of finishing ahead of everyone else in the group, they sheepishly walked into the parking lot at 1:00 PM finishing as the last of the group. The sky had clouded over and the breeze and falling temperature promised deteriorating weather, so we were glad
having finished when we did, hoping that the weather would hold for our comrades in the shelter group who would be descending the trail behind us. We finally headed home
looking forward to a stop at the Stowe Corner Store. However, we were disappointed as it was closed; sadly, there was no fish chowder to take home for supper!

South Baldface Shelter Hike Report: Greg Moulton

Six Denmark Mountain Hikers hiked to the South Baldface Shelter, and a little beyond, in Chatham, NH on Friday, April 24, 2026.  Hiking today were Greg Moulton, Greg Dean, Pat Marchetti, Laura Sullivan, Janet Arens, and Turtle, on her first hike with the group. 

We started on the Baldface Circle Trail at 9:35 AM.  Temperatures were in the 40s, under partly cloudy skies.  It would warm into the 50s during the hike, with lots of sunshine, and a cool breeze.  There was no snow or ice visible on the trail during the entire hike, so maybe winter is finally over, at least at lower elevations.  The trail starts on an old woods road, mostly level and easy walking.  Further on there were sections of steady climbing, but nothing really steep or difficult.

Laura and Janet wanted to do a more ambitious trip, and hike the complete Baldface loop, so they decided to go rogue!  When we reached the junction with the Slippery Brook Trail, they branched off on that trail.  This would allow them to do the loop, while avoiding the steep ledges below South Baldface.  The rest of us, now reduced to a gang of four, wished them well and continued on the Baldface Circle Trail. 

At 11:40 AM, we arrived at the shelter, a nicely built open lean-to.  We hung out there for a while, eating lunch and exploring the area around the shelter.  After 25 minutes, we proceeded up beyond the shelter, across some easy-to-moderate ledges to the base of the steep ledges.  Some of us couldn’t resist going a little further. 

Here’s Greg M:

“I want to go up there, it doesn’t look too bad.”

“Uh, it’s steeper than it looked…”

“I’m slipping…”

“Uh, I guess I’ll just butt-slide back down.”

So much for brave mountaineering!

We decided that our initial spot on the easy lower ledges was just fine.  There was a beautiful view of the mountains in Evans Notch:  Caribou, Speckled, East and West Royce and others.  Behind us, to the west, we could look up at the aforementioned steep ledges of South Baldface, and even spotted some snow toward the top.  We stayed there for a while, admiring the view and eating more snacks.  At 12:30 PM, we headed down.  On the descent, we took the side trail to Chandler Gorge.  This is a dramatic narrow rocky gorge, with beautiful waterfalls and pools.  Back on the Baldface Circle Trail, we took another side trip to Emerald Pool, another impressive scenic spot. 

We then got back on the main trail and headed out, reaching the parking lot at 3:00 PM.  Greg M’s GPS showed 6.8 miles with 1706 feet of elevation gain, in 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Next Week’s Hike

Hike to Noyes Mountain on May 1

May 1 – Easy – Noyes Mountain (1,440 ft) Greenwood, ME  – 3.0 mi RT, 600 elevation gain.  RT hiking time 3 hours.  RT driving 2 hours

Directions to the Noyes trailhead: 

From the south: turn off of ME-26 in Norway onto ME-118 north. Turn right onto the Greenwood Road, after 3.3 miles on ME-118. Turn right onto Richardson Hollow Road after another 5.2 miles. The parking lot will be on the left near a field after 0.8 miles.

From the north: turn off of ME-26 in Locke Mills (5 miles from Bethel) onto Howe Hill Road. This road immediately crosses a bridge and then a set of railroad tracks; take the left just past the tracks onto the Greenwood Road. After 7 miles bear left to stay on the Greenwood Road. After another 2.7 miles, turn left onto Richardson Hollow Road. The parking lot will be on the left near a field after 0.8 miles.

The address of the trailhead parking lot is either 172 or 182 Richardson Hollow Road, Greenwood, Maine