Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Mount Agamenticus - York, York County

Mount Agamenticus in York, the monadnock of southern York County, rising 692 feet above the surrounding low lands near the coast of Maine, is maintained by a collaboration of local, state and non-profit landowners, including The Nature Conservancy, Great Works Regional Land Trust and York Land Trust.

According to its Web site, The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region consists of more than 10,000 acres and is located within an additional 30,000 acre expanse of conservation land in southern Maine. This land is comprised of a rich and unique coastal forest that supports the highest diversity of animal and plant species in all of Maine.

Trails begin in various locations around the base of the mountain as well as at the summit and range from easy to difficult. For directions and a list of trail descriptions, visit www.agamenticus.org.

Ascent time: Varies.

Notebook:

Historically, the mountain is home to one of three fire towers in York County listed on the National Historic Lookout Register and was once used for various operations, including a ski area.

Rich in history but, most of all, trails, Mount Agamenticus offers a veritable playground for hikers, bikers and equestrians with various levels of experience and, for those reasons - and its spectacular view - is likely the most popular day hike in southern Maine.

It's easy to spend an entire afternoon at the mountain - hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking or maybe even flying a kite - and chances are, if you've been here before, you'll come back again.
If you've been before and have never ventured to Second Hill, it's worth the hike - or bike. It's about a 45 minute jaunt over varied terrain ranging from easy to moderate from the base of the mountain to the summit of Second Hill.

Before you go, read the rules and regulations, recreation and trail guidelines and check out the trail map.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee - NO | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - YES | Facilities - YES]

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