Puzzle Mountain (Maine)
Encyclopedia
Puzzle Mountain is a mountain located in Oxford County
, Maine
, and is one of the easternmost mountains in the Mahoosuc Range. The mountain also has a false peak to the north-northwest of the true summit, known as Little Puzzle Mountain. Puzzle Mountain is in the watershed of the Androscoggin River
.
Hikers route to the Summit
The summit of the mountain can be accessed from the southern trail head of the Grafton Loop Trail located . The beginning miles of the trail have a relatively low incline and utilizes old logging roads for switchbacks. At about two miles, the trail makes a sharp turn to the left, and begins to climb at a steeper grade. At about 2.4 miles, the trail reaches many exposed granite boulders and ledges, offering spectacular views of the Sunday River Ski Area
, Grafton Notch
, and the distant Presidentials
. The summit of Puzzle Mountain is at 3.2 miles, and provides an excellent view in all directions, as far as Sugarloaf Mountain
. The total distance to the summit of Puzzle Mountain is 3.2 miles, and takes approximately three hours and thirty minutes to summit.
As of September, 2009, a trail nicknamed the "Loopette Trail" was approaching completion. It is being built to go to the various false peaks of the mountain that were previously unreachable. Its mileage and layout are currently unknown, as well as whether or not it will be considered part of the Grafton Loop Trail.
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and is one of the easternmost mountains in the Mahoosuc Range. The mountain also has a false peak to the north-northwest of the true summit, known as Little Puzzle Mountain. Puzzle Mountain is in the watershed of the Androscoggin River
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River is a river in the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire, in northern New England. It is long and joins the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay in Maine before its water empties into the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin is in area...
.
Hikers route to the Summit
The summit of the mountain can be accessed from the southern trail head of the Grafton Loop Trail located . The beginning miles of the trail have a relatively low incline and utilizes old logging roads for switchbacks. At about two miles, the trail makes a sharp turn to the left, and begins to climb at a steeper grade. At about 2.4 miles, the trail reaches many exposed granite boulders and ledges, offering spectacular views of the Sunday River Ski Area
Sunday River (ski resort)
Sunday River is a ski resort located in Newry, Maine, in the United States. It is one of Maine's largest and most visited ski resorts. Its vertical drop of is the second largest in Maine and the sixth largest in New England...
, Grafton Notch
Grafton Notch
Grafton Notch is a notch, or mountain pass, located in Oxford County, Maine.The notch demarks the northeastern end the Mahoosuc Range, and thus of the White Mountains....
, and the distant Presidentials
Presidential Range
The Presidential Range is a mountain range located in the White Mountains of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Containing the highest peaks of the Whites, its most notable summits are named for American Presidents, followed by prominent public figures of the 18th and 19th centuries.Mt...
. The summit of Puzzle Mountain is at 3.2 miles, and provides an excellent view in all directions, as far as Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain (Franklin County, Maine)
Sugarloaf Mountain is a mountain located in Franklin County, Maine. It is the second highest mountain in the state, after Mount Katahdin. Sugarloaf is flanked to the south by Spaulding Mountain....
. The total distance to the summit of Puzzle Mountain is 3.2 miles, and takes approximately three hours and thirty minutes to summit.
As of September, 2009, a trail nicknamed the "Loopette Trail" was approaching completion. It is being built to go to the various false peaks of the mountain that were previously unreachable. Its mileage and layout are currently unknown, as well as whether or not it will be considered part of the Grafton Loop Trail.