Appalachian Trail: 100-Mile Wilderness

“The name alone has such a wild, inspiring, and inviting feel,” says Scott Adams, a member of Backpacker’s regional panel. “And the fact that we East Coasters have a substantial chunk of rugged, uncrossed trail is amazing. We should all see that as an invitation.” The extra-burly route stretches from ME 15 in Monson to Abol Bridge in Baxter State Park.

Go from south to north and tack on a 14-mile climb of 5,268-foot Katahdin, Maine’s highest point. On the route, you’ll pass through tunnels of tight pines hiding moose, mirror-calm ponds, berry bogs, rushing streams, and craggy ridges with stay-awhile views. Go in late summer to avoid bugs and enjoy tales from thru-hikers. Allow nine to 12 days.

MAP AND GUIDE: Appalachian Trail Guide to Maine ($25, atctrailstore .org, includes maps)
CONTACT: (304) 535-6331, matc.org

-Mapped by Jeff Chow

Trail Facts

• Distance: 148.0

Waypoints

HUN001

Location: 45.331215, -69.535934

AT continues straight across ME 15. To access Monson, ME (the last major town on the AT that LOVES hikers), turn R for 4-mile jaunt into town. This small and friendly town is often packed with hikers, as it serves as the last major town for Northbound thru-hikers before Katahdin and 100-Mile Wilderness. Monson has a sign in the center of town indicating distances to Springer/Katahdin.

HUN002

Location: 45.340782, -69.523819

Bell Pond

HUN003

Location: 45.341499, -69.50843

Lily Pond

HUN004

Location: 45.351361, -69.498868

AT drops down a small gorge to Leeman Brook before scrambling back up to the trail to Leeman Brook Lean-to

HUN005

Location: 45.351517, -69.498749

Leeman Brook Lean-to

HUN006

Location: 45.352917, -69.488098

North Pond

HUN007

Location: 45.363033, -69.471748

Mud Pond

HUN008

Location: 45.368584, -69.467117

James Brook

HUN009

Location: 45.37338, -69.471885

Little Wilson Falls

HUN010

Location: 45.37595, -69.468414

Rock furniture; unofficial campsite near Little Wilson Stream

HUN011

Location: 45.393553, -69.466939

Thompson Brook

HUN012

Location: 45.397719, -69.469546

Bear right and ford Big Wilson Steam

HUN013

Location: 45.400017, -69.466316

Canadian Pacific Railroad

HUN014

Location: 45.398983, -69.459747

Trail to Wilson Valley Lean-to and water

HUN015

Location: 45.398834, -69.459267

Wilson Valley Lean-to

HUN016

Location: 45.399765, -69.448051

Jeep road

HUN017

Location: 45.419983, -69.431702

Wilbur Brook

HUN018

Location: 45.420715, -69.428703

Vaughn Stream; waterfall

HUN019

Location: 45.417667, -69.421303

Gravel road

HUN020

Location: 45.417084, -69.419716

Long Pond Stream

HUN021

Location: 45.420677, -69.410908

Trail to Long Pond Stream Lean-to

HUN022

Location: 45.420982, -69.410431

Long Pond Stream Lean-to

HUN023

Location: 45.413868, -69.399353

Trail to Barren Slide 250 feet (blue blaze)

HUN024

Location: 45.413274, -69.39674

Barren Ledges

HUN025

Location: 45.415649, -69.370415

Barren Mountain Peak; old fire tower

HUN026

Location: 45.420582, -69.354965

Trail to Cloud Pond Lean-to .4 mi.

HUN027

Location: 45.430168, -69.331451

Fourth Mountain Bog

HUN028

Location: 45.432499, -69.319435

Fourth Mountain: View to the north of Third Mountain

HUN029

Location: 45.444851, -69.293915

Monument Cliff

HUN030

Location: 45.449417, -69.28627

Blue-blaze West Chairback Pond Trail to West Chairback Pond; stream 100 feet N

HUN031

Location: 45.449665, -69.272652

Spring

HUN032

Location: 45.449402, -69.270332

Columbus Mountain

HUN033

Location: 45.453152, -69.262466

Chairback Gap Lean-to 9769 Great campsites behind the shelter. Water source is steeply downhill.

HUN034

Location: 45.453201, -69.262299

Chairback Gap Lean-to

HUN035

Location: 45.453384, -69.262184

AT turns W on bog bridge; water

HUN036

Location: 45.456635, -69.255653

View N on bald; look into the valley where the AT makes a giant U-turn dipping down into the valley before heading back up the mountains in the opposite direction

HUN037

Location: 45.45665, -69.254051

Rock scramble down Chairback Mtn.

HUN038

Location: 45.468067, -69.278168

Trail to East Chairback Pond .2 mi.

HUN039

Location: 45.473801, -69.29438

Logging Road

HUN040

Location: 45.478966, -69.288452

West Branch Pleasant River requires you to ford across the 80-foot width at the sandy banks; trail to parking

HUN041

Location: 45.480568, -69.287933

Blue-blazed trail to Pugwash Pond and Hay Brook; Hay Brook Falls; parking

HUN042

Location: 45.48455, -69.304283

Intersection of Gulf Hagas Trail and Pleasant River Road: AT turns E

HUN043

Location: 45.483967, -69.304848

Screw Auger Falls

HUN044

Location: 45.492867, -69.306686

Gulf Hagas Cut-off Trail

HUN045

Location: 45.530533, -69.314499

Trail to Alternate Tent site before finally crossing Gulf Hagas Brook

HUN046

Location: 45.531033, -69.315117

Carl Newhall Memorial Lean-to

HUN047

Location: 45.540535, -69.32003

Gulf Hagas Mountain

HUN048

Location: 45.544617, -69.307083

Sidney Tappan Campsite

HUN049

Location: 45.544899, -69.296333

West Peak

HUN050

Location: 45.552551, -69.272415

Hay Mountain

HUN051

Location: 45.556232, -69.263733

White Brook Trail

HUN052

Location: 45.556183, -69.2509

Blue-blaze to White Brook Road

HUN053

Location: 45.554432, -69.246284

White Cap Mountain; short side trail to the left leads to a great view of Katahdin

HUN054

Location: 45.561134, -69.234703

Logan Brook Lean-to; look for the waterfall water source that disappears under the rocky base

HUN055

Location: 45.579102, -69.224648

Gravel Road

HUN056

Location: 45.596058, -69.198959

Trail to Lean-to

HUN057

Location: 45.596851, -69.198303

East Branch Lean-to

HUN058

Location: 45.596985, -69.193733

East Branch Pleasant River

HUN059

Location: 45.607883, -69.173286

Mountain View Pond Outlet

HUN060

Location: 45.610283, -69.1689

Trail to spring

HUN061

Location: 45.615391, -69.152626

Little Boardman Mountain

HUN062

Location: 45.616516, -69.131119

Kokadjo-B Pond Road

HUN063

Location: 45.616032, -69.127136

Trail to Sand Beach on Crawford Pond

HUN064

Location: 45.616482, -69.126648

Sand beach on Crawford Pond

HUN065

Location: 45.62265, -69.12233

Old dam; pond outlet-Cooper Brook

HUN066

Location: 45.635418, -69.095901

Stream

HUN067

Location: 45.64035, -69.087532

Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to; waterfalls and good swimming immediately in front of shelter

HUN068

Location: 45.641873, -69.086527

Stream clear water

HUN069

Location: 45.644966, -69.079369

Stream

HUN070

Location: 45.652565, -69.04982

Stream

HUN071

Location: 45.651016, -69.031799

Jo-Mary Road

HUN072

Location: 45.653915, -69.009865

Blue-blazed to Cooper Pond

HUN073

Location: 45.666534, -68.990784

Trail to Mud Pond access with outlet streams nearby

HUN074

Location: 45.678001, -69.00428

Antlers Campsite; Lower Jo Mary Lake

HUN075

Location: 45.678234, -69.005234

Privy

HUN076

Location: 45.685417, -69.01992

Beaches around lake

HUN077

Location: 45.686565, -69.016098

Potaywadjo Ridge Trail .9 mi.

HUN078

Location: 45.685833, -69.012718

Trail to Sand Beach

HUN079

Location: 45.706001, -69.007416

Trail to Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

HUN080

Location: 45.706768, -69.007347

Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to

HUN081

Location: 45.706734, -69.008385

Potaywadjo Spring; 15-foot diameter bubbling sand spring

HUN082

Location: 45.709015, -69.011597

Road

HUN083

Location: 45.713085, -69.011864

Twitchell Brook

HUN084

Location: 45.713768, -69.011528

Views across Pemadumcook Lake in Maine

HUN085

Location: 45.729633, -69.027634

Road

HUN086

Location: 45.731133, -69.028069

Maher Trail/Maher Tote Road to White House Landing: Take this road and the blue-blazed trail to White House Landing, a popular resupply spot for hikers through the 100-mile wilderness. Blow the horn only during daylight hours to be picked up.

HUN087

Location: 45.735451, -69.05468

Trail to Nahmakanta Stream Campsite (100 feet)

HUN088

Location: 45.734901, -69.054916

Nahmakanta Stream Campsite

HUN089

Location: 45.735935, -69.103432

Road

HUN090

Location: 45.737049, -69.107246

Picnic Area

HUN091

Location: 45.737232, -69.107902

Nahmakanta Lake Beach

HUN092

Location: 45.736198, -69.115051

Gravel beach

HUN093

Location: 45.736767, -69.121735

Prentiss Brook

HUN094

Location: 45.744049, -69.137718

Sand Beach and Trail to spring

HUN095

Location: 45.746052, -69.142136

Wadleigh Stream

HUN096

Location: 45.746948, -69.144447

Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

HUN097

Location: 45.756935, -69.165184

Nesuntabunt Mountain; trail to view of Katahdin

HUN098

Location: 45.759815, -69.164681

View of lake

HUN099

Location: 45.763248, -69.175385

Road

HUN100

Location: 45.770084, -69.1782

Crescent Pond

HUN101

Location: 45.773449, -69.185097

Trail to viewpoint

HUN102

Location: 45.779449, -69.172737

AT crosses bridge on road over Pollywog Stream

HUN103

Location: 45.781265, -69.164116

Chute-like Falls

HUN104

Location: 45.784267, -69.162369

Stream

HUN105

Location: 45.799015, -69.170281

Rainbow Stream Lean-to

HUN106

Location: 45.817917, -69.16375

Trail to Rainbow Lake Dam; excellent view of Katahdin

HUN107

Location: 45.822884, -69.13633

Trail to Rainbow Spring Tentsite 100 feet spring

HUN108

Location: 45.819099, -69.105904

Trail to Rainbow Mountain 1 mi. "easy" good views of Katahdin; track follows part way up to partial views of The Big K

HUN109

Location: 45.812168, -69.09417

Rainbow Lake

HUN110

Location: 45.805866, -69.082115

Trail to Big Beaver Pond

HUN111

Location: 45.810184, -69.067314

Stream

HUN112

Location: 45.817501, -69.037613

Stream

HUN113

Location: 45.817951, -69.019867

Hurd Brook

HUN114

Location: 45.818718, -69.00943

Spring

HUN115

Location: 45.835434, -68.971367

AT turns E on road, Golden Road

HUN116

Location: 45.835251, -68.96734

Abol Bridge

Leeman Brook

Location: 45.351361, -69.498718

North Pond

Location: 45.351334, -69.4842

Little Wilson Falls

Location: 45.373396, -69.471735

Little Wilson Stream

Location: 45.375868, -69.468784

Big Wilson Stream

Location: 45.397734, -69.469396

Vaughn Stream

Location: 45.420715, -69.428551

Long Pond Stream

Location: 45.4171, -69.419432

View from Barren Ledges

Location: 45.413297, -69.396601

Screw Auger Falls

Location: 45.483947, -69.304807

White Cap Mountain

Location: 45.554449, -69.246129

View from White Cap Mountain

Location: 45.554466, -69.24617

Crawford Pond

Location: 45.616488, -69.126529

Privy

Location: 45.640732, -69.087616

Stream

Location: 45.641865, -69.086409

Woods

Location: 45.644451, -69.082901

Mud Pond

Location: 45.665946, -68.990407

Privy

Location: 45.678234, -69.005234

Views across Pemadumcook Lake

Location: 45.713765, -69.011489

Pemadumcook Lake

Location: 45.713769, -69.011414

Views

Location: 45.822818, -68.994141

Views of Katahdin

Location: 45.835266, -68.967179

Views of Katahdin

Location: 45.837403, -68.960913

Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park

Location: 45.837448, -68.960953