The Easy Hike– Shell Pond, Lovell, ME – 2 mi RT, 187’ elevation gain. RT hiking 1.5 hr. RT driving 1.5 hours. (HL – Jeff Sturgis)
We last hiked this trail in November of 2025. That was our first time walking this loop. We enjoyed it so much we said we would be back there soon. Below is a link Jeff’s description of how to get to the trail head that we sent out then. Link to Shell Pond Trailhead directions
The Two Ways to Access Shell Pond
- In theory I will know which of these two possible trailheads we go to before I send this out:
- Stone House Road (West Side / Most Popular): This parking area places you right next to the locked gate. From here, you walk past the historic Stone House and the old grass airstrip to reach the Shell Pond Loop. This side also provides the shortest route to Rattlesnake Pool via the connected White Cairn and Stone House Trails. That pool is so named because it is filled by a stream comes down from Rattlesnake Mountain drains down from Rattlesnake mountain via Rattlesnake Brook. There were once rattlesnakes that sunned themselves on Rattlesnake Ledges. While rattlesnakes were apparently hhunted to extinction in Maine a hundred years back, I’m not sure about New Hampshire.
The Difficult Hike– Caribou Mountain (2,828 ft), Evans Notch, ME – 6.8 mi RT, 1,950 ft. elevation gain. RT hiking 5 hours. RT driving 2 hours. (HL – Greg Moulton)
Caribou Mountain is a scenic 2,828-foot peak located in the Evans Notch region of the White Mountain National Forest within the Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness in Maine.
Trailhead: Located off State Route 113 in Evans Notch.
The main parking area for Caribou Mountain is the Caribou West / Mud Brook Trailhead, located directly off Maine State Route 113 in the White Mountain National Forest.
- Trailhead Name: Caribou West / Mud Brook Trailhead
- Coordinates:
44.3315, -71.0118(Type this directly into Google Maps or Apple Maps) - Parking Fee: A White Mountain National Forest day pass or recreation fee may be required.
- No Cell Service: Cellular coverage is completely spotty to nonexistent throughout Evans Notch. Download your offline maps, coordinates, and trail guides before leaving home. Of course a similar reminder applies to Denmark and the church parking lot.
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