Burnt Meadow Mountain (1,570 ft) in Brownfield, Maine, is a favorite hike of ours in all seasons, including when daughter was much younger. Brownfield, close to Fryeburg and the New Hampshire border, is still less than an hour from Portland, and during mid-late summer, the wild blueberries all the way to the summit make for a pleasant distraction and motivator for younger children, as this can be a challenging hike for little ones. In fall, the surrounding hills are alive with color, and in winter, the moderate climb through vanished deciduous foliage yields great views of the White Mountains, as well as the winding track of the Saco River.
Our preferred route is counterclockwise via the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail (blue blazes) and Twin Brook Trail (yellow blazes), an approximately 3.7 mile lollipop loop, which took us about 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace in summer, and 2 hrs 10 mins in winter. The spur trail up to Stone Mountain (blue blazes) from the Twin Brook Trail adds about another 1.4 miles round-trip, which was about an hour added to the loop hike in the winter time. A map is available on an information sign at the parking area. These trails are usually well-marked and maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and the Friends of Burnt Meadow Mountain. In October 2023, the sign in the parking lot had been knocked over, and the switchbacks on the way up had been modified with blue marking tape guiding a new path, and were a bit confusing. Additionally, the yellow blazes of the Twin Brook Trail can be hard to pick up in the fall amidst the reds, oranges, and yellows of the surrounding forest.
As usual, the best description of this hike is in the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. In the new 12th edition of this guide, Burnt Meadow again has its own map. In winter, the parking lot on Route 160 is small and icy, and hikers may have to find a parking spot at the town boat launch down the road. In the summer as well, it may help to have a backup plan for this popular hike. (try nearby Peary Mountain) For updated winter trail conditions, check the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail page on All Trails. On winter days, the snow on the trail is usually hard-packed, and micro-spikes help with some of the resulting ice on rocks. The only deeper snow can lie on the lesser-used Stone Mountain trail.
The Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail passes through shaded woods and over exposed rock faces up a relatively short, steep climb to the North Peak. On clear days, you will see hawks wheeling below, and the green, serrated sharks’ teeth rows of the surrounding hills and ridges. In winter, the climb has the effect of being a pleasantly continuous ridge hike without the leaves to obscure views. While the blueberries were still a bright, electric green in June, we have seen vultures, crows, many lady slippers in peak color, and also ran across a few toads. We used plenty of bug spray, but didn’t hit large clouds of black flies or mosquitoes, except in low-lying areas along the Twin Brook Trail (obviously, no bugs in the fall or wintertime). In fall, I’ve startled grouse along this path.
The broad, open summit of Burnt Meadow is a great place for a picnic, and a rest after the last scramble upwards. We didn’t linger too long in summer, though, just enjoyed some jerky and proceeded across to the Twin Brook Trail. A large cairn marked the point to start our descent. The Twin Brook Trail sets a rolling course downward, with its own view of the White Mountains, then a wooded junction with the Stone Mountain Trail.
The Stone Mountain Trail is better in winter, as the surrounding area from the summit is easier to see without the leaves. This trail is substantially less traveled than the North Peak or Twin Brook Trails, and may require some travel through deeper snow, with snowshoes being possibly necessary. Following the Stone Mountain intersection, the Twin Brook Trail moves underneath the rock slides on the side of Burnt Meadow, and along the pleasant, cascading brooks for which the trail is named, back to its junction with the Burnt Meadow Mountain Trail, and from there back to the parking lot.
Along the way in June, I saw two red-shouldered hawks patrolling the area recently harvested for lumber, looking for small mammals. These open cuts allowed for the growth of fragrant sweet fern, and blossoms promised blackberries later in the season. Shortly before returning to the trail junction, I spooked a herd of small deer, who disappeared into the thick forest. In October, a lone hermit thrush perched near the trail and listened skeptically to thrush calls played to it from my phone.
One of the reasons we love this hike in the summertime is its proximity to the Brownfield Town Beach, which is a great place to cool off (Note: While dogs are plentiful on Burnt Meadow Mountain trails, they are not allowed at the beach after June 1st). Another interesting development is the effort to re-open the Burnt Meadow ski area, defunct since the early 1980’s, with initial plans to open the lodge as a winter warming hut in 2023/2024. The Whistle Stop General Store in Baldwin is a good place to grab food – open all winter for snowmobilers and other travelers. Alternately, according to a recent Press Herald article, Gneiss Brewing in Limerick has food truck options on summer days.
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Hiking in Maine 