Trail Descriptions
Trails At The Summit
The BIG A (universal access design)
Easy. 1 mile. 20 minutes.
Circles the summit area, through the shrublands and around the field.
Fisher Trail (hiking and biking)
Moderate. 0.2 mile. 10 minutes down/15 minutes up.
Many switchbacks; but no rocks.
Dense hemlock forest shades this trail behind the horse stable. Very few other plants grow under the dense shade of the hemlocks.
Blueberry Bluff (hiking)
Difficult. 0.3 mile. 10 minutes down/15 minutes up.
Steep, exposed bedrock; rocky sections.
Beautiful views to the south, including Pawtuckaway Mountain and the ocean. Scrub oak and blueberry hold on to this warm, exposed slope of thin soil.
Witch Hazel (hiking and biking)
Moderate. 0.1 mile. 5 minutes down/5 minutes up. Some rocks.
Look for the beautiful old hemlock and uncommon chestnut oak along the trail. At the top of the trail, witch hazel is a common tree with wavy-edged leaves and straggly autumn blossoms.
Sweet Fern (hiking and biking)
Difficult. 0.2 mile. 5 minutes down/10 minutes up.
Steep, exposed bedrock; slippery when wet (not recommended in rain).
This former ski run is being reclaimed by young, hardy plants including gray birch and the aromatic sweet fern.
Vulture’s View (hiking)
Difficult. 0.5 mile. 20 minutes down/30 minutes up.
Steep, exposed bedrock; slippery when wet (not recommended in rain).
Beautiful views to the northwest; sometimes you can see as far as Mount Washington, 90 miles away. Exposed granite is evidence of ancient geology and modern erosion.
Trails Near the Base
Ring Trail (hiking and biking)
Moderate-Difficult. 1.5 mile. 40 minutes. Western portion is a gradual ascent; a few rocky areas. Eastern portion is steep and rocky.
Follow the Ring Trail to climb half-way up the mountain. The Ring Trail crosses old ski runs of the Big A. You will walk through a variety of forest types including hemlock, white pine, beech and several oak species.
Goosefoot (hiking and biking)
Moderate-Difficult. 0.5 mile. 20 minutes. Some steep, exposed bedrock; some rocky areas.
A long, secluded walk to the base of the mountain. Goosefoot is a small tree, common along the trail’s edge, with leaves shaped like a goose’s foot. It is also known as striped maple because of the white stripes on the thin trunk.
Wintergreen Trail (hiking)
Moderate. 0.4 mile. 15 minutes down/20 minutes up.
Moderate slope with slight erosion. Hemlocks dominate the cooler, northwest facing slope that leads to Mountain Road. Wintergreen is a small, dark-leaved plant that is common on the forest floor. Look for its white flowers in the summer and red berries.
