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Pleasant Mountain Preserve
Background
Pleasant Mountain, located in Bridgton and Denmark, is the highest mountain in southern Maine and one of the defining landmarks of the Sebago Lake region. The mountain is a destination for hikers, birdwatchers, snowmobilers, hunters, and skiers, and it provides unfragmented habitat for a variety of plants and animals, as well as resources for sustainable forestry, an important part of the local economy.
In 2003, Loon Echo began its first major fundraising campaign to raise $1.5 million to protect 1,450 acres on the mountain.
In 2008, Loon Echo was awarded $761,000 from the Land for Maine’s Future Program to expand the preserve. Soon after the Phase II campaign was launched to protect up to an additional 795 acres of land. Today Phase II is nearly complete.
Currently, Loon Echo owns 1,859 mountain acres and protects an additional 24 acres through conservation easements.
Trails
Loon Echo oversees the management of the hiking trail network on Pleasant Mountain. The majority of the Ledges, Bald Peak and Southwest Ridge trails are owned by Loon Echo. Four private landowners have signed trail agreements with Loon Echo to allow us to conduct trail maintenance and improvements. These landowners generously allow the public to use the trails over their properties. Trail users should respect the land and follow the Use Guildelines (below) to ensure all of the trails remain open to the public. See specific trail descriptions listed in the brochure (see link below).
Download the Pleasant Mountain Trail Map and Brochure.
Use Guidelines
- No motorized vehicles beyond parking
areas
- Stay on marked trails and hike in single file
- Carry trash in, carry trash out
- No campfires or camping
- Keep pets under control at all times
- Do not disturb wildlife and plant-life
Designated Uses
- Day hiking
- Snowshoeing and back country skiing
- Hunting (on LELT land; by permission on private land)
- Snowmobiling (only on the Fire Warden's Trail)
Volunteer Programs
Loon Echo manages a trail adoption program. Volunteers are trained and assigned sections of trails to maintain three times per year. Maintenance includes clipping back vegetation, clearing down trees and removing debris from drainage areas.
In addition, major erosion control projects are undertaken when grants and gifts are awarded to Loon Echo for such purposes. In 2007, $29,000 from the State of Maine Recreational Trails Program greatly improved the hiking trails. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) professional trail crews were hired to perform major erosion control projects. The Maine Chapter of the AMC adopts the Ledges Trail and co-leads two trail maintenance trips in the spring and summer, open to the public. To learn about volunteer opportunities or current hiking trail conditions, please contact Jon Evans.
Shawnee Peak Ski Area constructed its first mountain yurt in May of 2011, located near the north peak and only steps away from the hiking trail network. To reserve a stay at the yurt, please visit Shawnee Peak’s website.
Directions
From Portland, follow Rte. 302 west to Bridgton and continue on Rte. 302 for roughly 5 miles. Turn left onto Mountain Rd. and drive past Shawnee Peak Ski Area. Distance from Rte. 302 to the Bald Peak Trail is 1 mile; to the Ledges Trail is 3 miles. The Fire Warden’s and Southwest Ridge Trails are on the west side of the mountain, located off of Wilton Warren Rd. and Denmark Rd.
*downloads best with high speed connection; need free Adobe Reader to view.
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