Wright Trail

Enjoy a challenging, scenic hike up beautiful Goose Eye Mountain in the storied Mahoosuc Range. Experience open ridge views of some of Maine's most rugged terrain along with the pleasant company of Goose Eye Brook.
Trail Activity
Hiking
Length
9.60 miles, Round Trip
Difficulty
Advanced
Town
Riley Twp
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor, Rock/Ledge
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

Goose Eye Mountain, located in the wild and remote Mahoosuc Range, offers impressive summits with some outstanding attributes. Views are unobstructed and impressive in all directions. The massive Presidential Range is in the southwestern horizon and views to the west display parts of New Hampshire’s north-country. To the north and northeast lie the remainder of the Mahoosuc Range along and the bulk of the nearly 32,000 - acre Mahoosuc Public Lands and 3,192-acre Grafton Notch State Park. To the south, views of the Androscoggin River Valley unfold.

The Wright Trail is 9.6 miles round trip, takes approximately 8 hours to climb up and back, and and includes close to 2,600 feet of elevation gain. This trail leads hikers through mature forests to the bald East Peak of Goose Eye Mountain, where stunning views unfold in all directions. Expect a rigorous hike on this rugged trail leading first along Goose Eye Brook then up to the AT and open summit area. Approximately 2.3 miles from the Bull Branch Road trailhead, the trail splits into a north and south fork below a steep-walled basin, near the one designated campsite along the Wright Trail. The north fork trail section (not shown on the map) is in need of significant repairs; the south fork is the recommended route up and down. The South Fork trail segment (shown) joins the Appalachian Trail between the west (main) and east peak of Goose Eye Mt. Head southbound on the Appalachian Trail to reach the 3,870' main peak in under a half-mile.

Backpackers sometimes use the Wright Trail as a starting point for hiking along the Appalachian Trail.

View BPL's map and guide for Grafton Notch State Park and Mahoosuc Public Lands.

Other Information

The trail is completely within the 9,993-acre Mahoosuc Ecological Reserve, which, like all state Ecological Reserves, is specifically set aside to protect and monitor natural ecosystems. A fact sheet for this reserve can be found at online following the link above.

In hot weather, those looking for a place to cool off can seek out Frenchman’s Hole - a swimming hole in the Bull Branch of Sunday River. The pristine Bull Branch rushes down through steep terrain and drops through interesting geological formations on its way downstream. Look for Frenchman's Hole a little less than a mile south of the trailhead on the Bull Branch Road.

Trail Manager

Visit Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands online for more information and a printable map or contact:

Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Western Public Lands Office

Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Western Public Lands Office
PO Box 327
Farmington, Maine 04938
Phone: (207) 778-8231
Tim.Post@maine.gov
View website

Nearby Events

VIEW EVENTS CALENDAR

Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know your limits – it’s okay to turn back. Your home is the ultimate destination, not the summit.
Legend
Hide All

Trailhead Information

Take the Sunday River Road north of Bethel for 7 miles to the twin bridges in Ketchum. Turn right and proceed north 1 mile to Frenchman's Hole Day-Use Area. Continue to follow the gravel Bull Branch Road beyond Frenchman's Hole for a little under one mile. The trailhead is located on the left-hand (western) side of the Bull Branch Road.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
toracari
May 26, 2020
Hiked to East Peak on May 25, 2020. Trail between campsite and East Peak still about 50% snow covered and 2 feet deep in places. Hard packed snow supports you but treacherous post-holing or snowbank collapse at times. Wet in many other areas and 3-4 large softwood blow downs made the trail extra slow going this time of year. With steep northern exposure and softwood cover, I suspect it is not unusual for this trail to be one of the last trails around to be snow free each year. Well worth the hike but allow extra time and expect granular snow and wet trails on the upper section before June. Enjoy!
annealid
July 06, 2018
Did this in late June. Bugs were present but not oppressive. Views from the top, including some dramatic clouds, were great. This was a tough walk but that's what we were looking for. We forded several small streams, but didn't have to take off boots to do it.
hikersinger
November 14, 2017
Is Bull Branch Road open in winter to the trailhead?
jshikes207
June 04, 2017
Took Wright Trail up today and it was amazing. Flies were at a minimum until the descent. A few of the rocky steep sections had mud & water which made it tricky in spots. Well worth it.
maine bureau of parks and lands
June 13, 2016
Please be advised that the north trail segment referenced in the comment below is not maintained and is officially closed.
zuke
June 13, 2016
We took the Wright Trail from the Bull Branch Road, There is a North and a South Wright Trail that splits at the tent site about two miles in from the road. take the north trail up and the south trail down. tough, longish hike, but well worth it. Very few people up here compared to anywhere in NH.
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