The trailhead can be found on Route 26 across the street from its intersection with Mills Road.
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For the first half of either hike, you'll be traveling on a logging road reaching an intersection with a snowmobile trail after about 0.6 miles. This tends to be the sunniest, hottest part of the hike in the summer, but in other respects it's an easy walk.
Lapham Ledge
A right turn onto the snowmobile trail brings you up a gradual incline at first through a shady and well groomed trail. The trail naturally gets steeper near the top. When you reach the three overlapping ledges at the top of the trail you'll be treated to some georgeous views of Lake Christopher, Bryant Pond village, and the surrounding countryside.
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| View of Lake Christopher from Lapham Ledge |
Buck's Ledge
The trail to Buck's ledge is another couple of hundred feet along the logging road on the left. The trail here is narrower, more winding, and steeper. I prefer this hike in spite of its larger challenge due to the exceptional views it offers of North, South, and Round Ponds, the Mt. Abram Ski Area, and the surrounding countryside.
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| View of South Pond (Left) and North Pond (Right) from atop Buck's Ledge Mt. Abram and Round Pond can be seen in the background. |
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| North Pond from Buck's Ledge |
You can pretty easily do both of these hikes in one day if you like. As beautiful as they are, we almost never run into anyone else on the trails or at the summit. It makes for a nice quiet outdoor experience, right off a main road. Enjoy your hike!
If you're planning to go, download a printable Lapham Ledge and Bucks Ledge Trail Map.
Thanks for this! My father lives right across 26 from the trailhead, and we did this as a family hike last summer. I look forward to trying the Piazza Rock hike you describe on our visit this summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Mike. We really love these Hikes! I have a post in process that might be interesting to you. It's about the Perham family mineral quarries in the Greenwood area. One of them, the Harvard Quarry is a nice short day hike, although a bit steep. There are some great scenic views from the land around the quarry. Also, I don't know how old your kids are, but when mine were young, they used to love to look for "gems" in the quarry. It's nothing like as nice a hike as Piazza Rock, but it is closer to your Dad's home. Will try to finish it up this week.
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