| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Moxie Mountain, ME |
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 | Trails: |
Moxie Mountain West Trail, bushwhack, road walk, Moxie Mountain South Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Monday, September 7, 2026 |
|
 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The road to the west trailhead is in good condition, except for a small bridge about 100 yards before the trailhead. Most vehicles will want to park before this bridge. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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|
 | Water Crossing Notes: |
no unbridged crossings |
|
 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
both trails are in excellent condition with no blowdowns! |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
Great for dogs! |
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 | Bugs: |
none |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Yesterday, we hiked one of the most unique mountains in the state, Moxie Mountain in Caratunk. I had previously hiked both trails up the mountain, but our goal yesterday was to connect the two trailheads to make a loop. The road in to the West Trailhead was in good shape, except for a bridge about 100 yards before the trailhead. Instead of taking the longer ATV trail which connects the two trailheads, we opted for a bushwhack route along the east side of Deer Bog which was about 2 miles shorter. The bushwhack was quite easy, except for the last 100 yards or so through thick brush to get to the logging road that we were aiming for.
After reaching the road, we followed it east along the base of the mountain. It was easy road walking, and there were some great views up towards the South Cliffs on the mountain. We reached the South Trailhead, and began ascending. The first part of the trail passes through a red pine plantation which had been recently harvested. The trail becomes quite steep and has some fun sections with optional scrambling. After a short detour on the viewpoint spur, we continued to the summit, where we saw the only other group of people that we ran into during the day.
We enjoyed the views near the summit for a bit, before returning to the junction with the trail from the west trailhead. We took this trail to the South Cliffs, where we had lunch and spent well over an hour relaxing. The views from the South Cliffs are spectacular, and the gravelly composition of the lunar-like surface is unlike anywhere else that I've seen in the state.
After our break at the South Cliffs, we continued descending back to the West Trailhead. It was great to revisit Moxie Mountain, and it was great to be able to make a loop using both trails on the same hike! |
|
 | Name: |
Sam Shirley |
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 | E-Mail: |
newenglandskier13@aol.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2026-09-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https://walkingmaineswildside.blogspot.com/2026/09/moxie-mountain-982026.html |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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