Beautiful Katahdin Trail Named One of the Best Mountain Hikes in the US

Maine's tallest mountain has received high praise for one of its prestigious hiking trails.

The influential travel site, Condé Nast Traveler, has named Mount Katahdin's Chimney Pond Trail one of the 21 best mountain hikes in the country. That's quite the praise from the site that's known for its reputable rankings and reference guides.

Standing at 5,269 feet, Mount Katahdin is the gem of Maine and the official northern end (or start) of the Appalachian Trail. Located in Baxter State Park, thousands of Mainers, tourists, and Appalachian Trail hikers summit Baxter Peak every year, making it one of Maine's most beloved spots.

The Chimney Pond Trail is one of the most iconic in the Katahdin system. While it does not summit the peak, it does take hikers and campers from the Roaring Brook Campground to the incredible Chimney Pond Campground. This campground is located right at the base of the peak, making the views quite something.

The trail is a 6.3 mile out-and-back route that is highlighted by rocky terrain, wooded bridges, incredible scenery, and plenty of wildlife. The popular hiking site AllTrails.com lists Chimney Pond Trails difficulty as Moderate. The trail also has a very solid 4.7 (out of 5) ranking on the site.

Here is a little from Condé Nast Traveler on why it selected the Chimney Pond Trail for its prestigious list.

...expect a colorful wilderness and amusing attractions, from boulder stairs and wooden planks to waterfalls and wading moose. Although this hike with roughly 1,500 feet of elevation gain doesn’t summit Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest peak, some would argue that reaching Chimney Pond, ringed with mountains, is just as rewarding.

The Chimney Pond Trail finds itself on this list with some of the most iconic and popular mountain trails in America, like Half Dome, Angel Rocks, and Highline Trail It also includes a few other dynamite New England trails, including Bear Mountain Trail, Lye Brook Falls Trail, Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, and the Bellows Loop Trail. That's quite a solid representation for New England. Only Rhode Island was left out.

Kudos to Condé Nast Traveler for including the Chimney Pond Trail on this list of best mountain trails. It's a true Maine original that should be celebrated much more. Honestly, hiking all of Katahdin really should be on every Mainer's bucket list.