Hike New England - Blueberry Mountain (Evans Notch)

Blueberry Mountain (Evans Notch)

Mountain:		Blueberry Mtn. (Evans Notch) (1781')
Trails:		Bickford Brook Trail, Blueberry Ridge Trail
Region:		ME - Central Southwest White Mountain National Forest, Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness
Location:		Batchelders Grant, ME
Rating:		Moderate
Features:		Summit, views, ledges, brook, loop hike
Distance:		7.6 miles
Elevation Gain:		2190 feet (cumulative)
Hiking Time:		Typical: 5:00
Outing Duration:		Actual: 6:15 Typical: 7:15
Season:		Fall
Hike Date:		10/13/2007 (Saturday)
Weather:		Sunny, pleasant temperatures
Author:		Dennis Marchand
Companion:		10 SDHers and 1 dog

Route Summary

We made a loop by heading up Bickford Brook Trail, veering right to follow Blueberry Ridge Trail over Blueberry Mountain, and then rejoining Bickford Brook Trail at an upper junction and taking that trail all the way back down:

Follow Bickford Brook Trail for 0.7 mile.
Turn right onto Blueberry Ridge Trail.
After 0.1 on Blueberry Ridge Trail go straight across Bickford Brook, ignoring the spur path to the left (before the crossing) that is part of the Bickford Slides Loop.
Continue another 0.6 mile, passing the junction with White Cairn Trail (keep going straight on Blueberry Ridge Trail).
Just after this junction, an overlook loop, 0.5 mile long, goes off to the right and rejoins Blueberry Ridge Trail just before the junction with Stone House Trail. This overlook loop has excellent views to the south. You can follow either this route or stay on Blueberry Ridge Trail to complete the hike loop described in this report.
Shortly before reaching the junction of Blueberry Ridge Trail and Stone House Trail, you will pass over the high point of Blueberry Mtn.
At the junction of Blueberry Ridge Trail and Stone House Trail, go left to follow Blueberry Ridge Trail.
Continue another 2.2 miles to the end of Blueberry Ridge Trail, then turn left onto Bickford Brook Trail.
Follow Bickford Brook Trail all the way back to the parking area (go straight when you encounter the lower junction of Bickford Brook Trail and Blueberry Ridge Trail).

Place	Split Miles	Total Miles
Bickford Brook Trailhead on Rt. 113 (600')	0.0	0.0
Jct. Bickford Brook Trail/Blueberry Ridge Trail (950')	0.7	0.7
Jct. Blueberry Ridge Trail/White Cairn Trail (1750')	0.7	1.4
Blueberry Mtn. (1781')	0.1	1.5
Jct. Blueberry Ridge Trail/Stone House Trail (1750')	0.1	1.6
Jct. Bickford Brook Trail/Blueberry Ridge Trail (2590')	2.2	3.8
Jct. Bickford Brook Trail/Blueberry Ridge Trail (950')	3.1	6.9
Bickford Brook Trailhead on Rt. 113 (600')	0.7	7.6

Map of hike route on Blueberry Mtn. (map by Webmaster)

Trail Guide

We went to Evans Notch to hike Blueberry Mtn. What a nice drive on a beautiful day. The drive along Rt. 113 to the notch is very rural and colorful and it seems so relaxing to be there. There's a wonderful farmhouse for sale if anyone is interested. It had lots of wild turkeys in the yard.

This is a relatively easy 7.6 mile loop hike with not a lot of elevation gain. Blueberry Mountain (1781 feet high) at the top is one long ledgy ridge with numerous views along the way.

It's possible, by adding another mile, to tackle the "giant" (2906 feet) Speckled Mountain with excellent views all around. We didn't do this part but if you want to, then from the upper junction of Bickford Brook and Blueberry Ridge Trails, continue another 0.5 mile along Bickford Brook Trail to the summit of Speckled Mountain, then retrace your steps back to the junction and continue along "our" loop.

Luzi (photo by Mark Malnati)

Ten dayhikers and one dog (Midas) had a great day hiking Blueberry Mountain. We took Blueberry Ridge Trail up and looped down by the Bickford Brook Trail. No need to spot cars. I'm glad the weather man was wrong again: we had blue sky with lots of sun, nice temperature and not so windy.

This hike had more steepness then I remember from the last time; is it my memory or did the mountain grow? There's a beautiful outlook on top overlooking Shell Pond, our lunch spot. Then onward and upward. This has a nice ridge walk with many good views.

On the way down Midas got lost for a bit but a happy ending for Mary when she found him. We spent a little over 6 hours on the trail but we had a nice long lunch and many more stops for the views and breathing.

We were hoping for one last ice cream stop after the hike, but it wasn't meant to be. Time to find a new post-hike indulgence.

Shell Pond (photo by Mark Malnati)

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ME - Central Southwest

Driving Directions

The trailhead leaves from the Brickett Place parking area on the east side of Rt. 113.

When heading south on Rt. 113, Brickett Place will be approximately 12 miles south of the junction of Rt. 2 and Rt. 113 and will be on the left-hand side. If you see WMNF Cold River Campground on the right, then you have gone 0.2 mile too far. Note that this upper portion of Rt. 113 is closed in winter.

When heading north on Rt. 113, Brickett Place will be approximately 20 miles north of the junction of Rt. 302 and Rt. 113. When you see WMNF Cold River Campground on the left, go another 0.2 mile and turn right into Brickett Place.

Midas (photo by Mark Malnati)

Other Notes

WMNF Recreational Pass

A parking permit is required to park at White Mountain National Forest trailheads and parking areas. You can purchase a WMNF permit from the forest service and other vendors and can also pay-by-the-day using self-service kiosks located in many parking areas.

For more information on parking passes please refer to the White Mountain National Forest website.

Rates:

$5 per day
$30 for a year-long pass
$40 for a year for a household

Baldfaces (photo by Mark Malnati)

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