Completed in the summer of 2007, the Grafton Loop Trail now offers about 34 miles of hiking along a trail that connects a series of scenic peaks and other natural features in Grafton Notch, Maine. Yet, the project would never have come to pass without a cooperative effort among private landowners, the state of Maine, and nonprofit organizations such as the AMC. The group's goal is to develop multi-day hiking opportunities that offer alternatives to heavily used sections of the Appalachian Trail.
For the AMC, this is the first major trail constructed by the club since the building of the Centennial Trail in the Mahoosucs in 1976. The eastern half of the Grafton Loop was completed and opened to the public in June 2003. The remainder of the trail (another 21 miles) opened in June 2007.
"The Grafton Loop Trail will provide a unique, multi-day backpacking opportunity amid some of Maine's most spectacular mountains. In addition, this much-needed trail will help protect mountain resources by providing an alternative to the heavily used Appalachian Trail," says Andrew Norkin, the AMC's White Mountain Trails Manager.
Eastern Half
The eastern half of the GLT, as it is sometimes known, consists of a 21-mile arc that leaves Route 26 in Newry, Maine, and returns to the road in Grafton Notch State Park via four miles on Appalachian Trail (AT). Seventeen miles are newly constructed trail, which traverse four mountain peaks and include five primitive campsites. Approximately two-thirds of the trail's length is on private lands with the remainder located on public lands managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
Construction of this leg of the trail involved many individuals and organizations, including the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, the Maine Conservation Corps and the AMC.
Western Half
The newly-opened western half is a 13 mile stretch, beginning on Route 26, south of the eastern half's trailhead. Traversing the Bear River, Bald Mountain and Miles Notch, this part of the trail ends on the summit of Old Speck Mountain at its junction with the Mahoosuc Trail/AT.
Now that construction of the western half of the trail is complete, the loop contains about 34 miles of new trail connected to an eight-mile segment of the AT. The completed trail is located on both sides of Route 26 and links with the AT on Baldpate Mountain and on Old Speck. (See a map of the area.)
Unique partnerships preserve sustainable forestry
The GLT project has been a cooperative effort between landowners, nonprofit organizations, community interests, and the State of Maine. The group seeks to educate hikers about sustainable forest management practices and the wise use of Maine's forest resources. Because of this unique partnership, hikers should observe all guidelines of etiquette when hiking through private lands.
Funding for trail design and construction came from the Maine Recreational Trails Program, Maine Community Foundation, Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, Black Bear Bed & Breakfast, Hauben Foundation, Sunday River Ski Area, Robert Stewart, Fields Pond Foundation, and members of the Grafton Loop Trail Coalition.
