Bethel Community Forest - West

This trail highlights the 432 acres of former Chadbourne Tree Farms land on a loop trail along streams, through diverse forests, and up to sweeping views, as Inland Woods + Trails begins the campaign to acquire this land from The Conservation Fund. 
Trail Activity
Hiking Walking Snowshoeing
Length
3.70 miles, Round Trip
Difficulty
Moderate
Town
Bethel
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

The 3.2-mile Parks Bennett Trail, named for the previous landowners, explores the 432-acre Bethel Community Forest-West. The Red Pine Ridge Trail is a 0.5 mile side loop, traversing through red pine stands ending at a lovely view point, Ellingwood Ledges. These trails take hikers through a variety of landscapes-- diverse forests, along a mountain brook, and to three high points with views in several directions. The trails serve as a preview of the Bethel Community Forest-West so be aware it includes some rough, uneven footing, and there are no blazes on trees to mark the way. The trail is well marked with blue flagging tape, and signs alert hikers at intersections and highlights of features along the trails.

Parks-Bennett Trail

The Parks-Bennett Trail begins on the right side of the parking lot at 753 North Road. It heads north along an old woods road for a short stretch before entering the woods and crossing a stream. The trail then switchbacks onto a ridge overlooking the stream. It  gradually gains elevations as it goes through a coniferous forest above the stream for 0.6 miles to a junction with the Red Pine Ridge Trail. The description for the Red Pine Ridge Trail can be found below. After another 0.2 miles the Parks-Bennett Trail arrives to the junction of the loop portion of the trail.

Hikers are encouraged to take in the Parks Bennett loop in a counter-clockwise direction but either direction is suitable. Traveling counter-clockwise, the trail passes a series of small cascades, and switchbacks up the hillside. After 0.2 miles, the loop meets the upper junction of the Red Pine Ridge Trail. From this junction it is 0.2 miles to the Ellingwood Ledges view point, the high point of the Red Pine Ridge Trail.

Continuing past this junction, the loop follows the stream for a short stretch before crossing it just above a cascade. The forest then changes to hardwoods and climbs modestly to an intersection of two old woods roads. The trail continues up a modest pitch following a logging road to emerge at a panoramic viewpoint, Porcupine Panorama.

After heading south and west across the viewpoint, the trail descends through a mature evergreen forest and passes tightly below a rock outcropping. The trail then skirts a swamp, continues through the forest, and then ascends to The Prow, a stunning westward vista with views of the Presidential range and Androscoggin Valley. The trail winds below the ledge before contouring back across the forest through a mix of forest stand types. It then crosses a stream back to the origin of the Parks-Bennett Loop. The loop is 1.2 miles and 0.8 miles from the parking lot.

Red Pine Ridge Trail

The Red Pine Ridge Trail is 0.5 miles beginning and ending at different points on the Parks-Bennett Trail. It offers an alternate route up the eastern slope of the property. After leaving the Parks-Bennett Trail 0.6 miles from the parking lot, it travels along an old woods road at a gentle grade for 0.15 miles. It then turns right to begin switchbacking up the hill side through red pine stands. After 0.25 miles, the trail crosses semi-exposed ledges with limited south western views. The trail then steadily climbs through blueberry bushes to the Ellingwood Ledges view point. The ledges offer a unique view into the Maine portion of the White Mountain National Forest and beyond. The trail then descends gently for 0.2 miles to the upper junction with the Parks-Bennett Trail.

Other Information

The Conservation Fund purchased the Parks Bennett tract in 2020 as part of its broader purchase of over 15,000 acres of Chadbourne Tree Farms land. The Fund purchased the tract with the intent of selling it to Inland Woods + Trails as an addition to its Bethel Community Forest holdings. In this interim time Inland Woods + Trails has permission to construct and maintain this hiking trail.

For more information about the Bethel Community Forest and how to help with the campaign to purchase the land, please email Gabe Perkins or call (207) 217-7262.

For a safe and enjoyable hike, please be prepared. For more information on how to get ready for your hike and what to bring, visit Hike Safe. Inland Woods + Trails is also happy to answer your questions about this trail network. 

Trail Manager

For additional information, visit the Inland Woods & Trails website, or contact:

Inland Woods + Trails

Inland Woods + Trails
PO Box 572
Bethel, ME 04217
Phone: 207.200.8240
info@woodsandtrails.org
View website

Nearby Events

VIEW EVENTS CALENDAR

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Respect trail closures.
Legend
Hide All

Trailhead Information

The trailhead is located on the North Road, 3.5 miles west of the ME-2 bridge crossing in Bethel. There is a sign on the side of the road denoting the trailhead,  with a large parking lot located just past the Ellingwood Mountain Road on the right side of the road. 

The GPS address for Bethel Community Forest- West is 753 North Road in Bethel.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
kmoq
July 07, 2024
Hike to this one for the first time today. The trail might be lightly used but is pretty consistently marked with blue flagging. It does cross the stream a few times, including when you first get to it from the parking area. We did the loop counterclockwise. I think it was a good choice because it saved one of the better vistas (The Prow) until later in the hike.
ck1rad2002
July 03, 2024
Can find parking lot but once u get to stream there r no markers, unhappy
These awesome businesses support our goal of connecting people to outdoor adventures in Maine!
Hang Tight!
Nearby services are loading
No Results
No Services Found
SHARE THIS TRAIL

Add Trail Log

Please wait…
Join In on the Fun!
Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Maine trail finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, earn badges, and more!
Your log in attempt was not successful. Please try again.
    Lost your password? Reset your password
    Don't yet have an account?
    There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.
      * Indicates required field
      Already have an account? Login here
      Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account.
      There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.

        Success! A new password has been emailed to you.

        Log in now

        Please wait…