Round Top Trail
| Location: | Watson Pond Road Wildflower Estates Belgrade Lakes, ME |
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| Phone: | (207) 495-6039 |
| Website: | Website |
| Clients: | Distance: 3.9 miles round-trip Trailhead: The trailhead and parking area are located at the corner of Watson Pond Road and Wildflower Estates, 4 miles south of Watson Pond Road's junction with Route 27. Disclaimer: Because trails and conditions change and a map or trail description cannot describe every feature, the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) cannot accept responsibility for trail conditions or for trail information. BRCA does not accept liability or legal responsibility for any injuries, damage or losses caused by using our maps or trail descriptions. Trail Designations: Paths designated as hiking trails are suitable for foot traffic only. Unimproved trails vary in condition, but some are suitable for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and snowmobiling. |
| Services: | Description: The Round Top Trail, which ascends 1,133' Round Top Mountain, winds through a diverse forest of young and old hardwoods and conifers. The trail, marked with blue blazes, leaves the parking lot in a westerly direction and within 200 yards crosses a large slab of granite originally quarried for an old foundation. The trail is moderate, meandering though the woods after an initial rise. The trail opens up briefly for a view of Round Top Mountain and then drops to a junction with the Kennebec Highlands Trail at 1 mile. The Round Top Trail crosses the Kennebec Highlands Trail and climbs more steadily northward from here. As the trail approaches the summit of Round top Mountain, views open up to the east and south. Near the top, at 1.7 miles, a spur trail leads to the northwest (see description below). The main trails continues north, passing an easterly overlook with views of Long Pond, Belgrade Lakes Village, and Great Pond, and then descends to a second overlook at an open area with large rock slabs. The trail continues steeply down, between and over large rocks, and joins the Kennebec Highlands Trail at 2.1 miles. Turn right (south) onto this broad gravel trail, bearing right at a three-way junction, marked by snowmobile trail signs at 2.9 miles. 100 yards past the junction, watch for a rock cairn on the left (east) side of the logging trail, just before a Y-intersection of snowmobile trails. The cairn marks the Round Top Trails's initial junction with the Kennebec Highlands Trail. Turn left (east) and follow the trail back out to the parking lot. The Round Top Spur Trail leads 0.3 miles to the north end of Round Top Mountain and two overlooks with spectacular views of Round Pond and Watson Pond. Looking northward and east, the first view includes Round Pond below with French Mountain, Mt. Phillip, North Pond and Great Pond. The spur trail ends at a second overlook, which includes the additional view of Watson Pond and Sanders Hill and a view of Vienna Mountain through the trees to the northwest. |
