Majestic
Photo by Johanna S. Billings
MT. KINEO Don’t just look at Mt. Kineo from a distance — see it up close from the water and on land. Story by: JOHANNA S. BILLINGS Listen. The Mount Kineo Golf Course is calling. Don’t ignore it just because you don’t golf. Mt. Kineo offers more than six miles of hiking trails with spectacular views overlooking Moosehead Lake. The golf course is simply the gateway to outdoor adventure. Mt. Kineo is situated on a 1,150acre peninsula, which, though connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land, has no road access. The only way to get there is by boat and that’s part of the fun. The golf course runs the Kineo Shuttle, a ferry, across Moosehead Lake from
54 summer / fall | 2021
Rockwood from May to October. Golfers and hikers take a 10-minute ride over and the trip features a direct view of the mountain. Plan your trip carefully and watch the time while you’re there. Shuttle hours vary by month. You want to be sure you’ll be done with your hike and ready to catch the boat back in time. If you miss the last shuttle, there is no other way back. You’re stuck! If you go in June when the shuttle runs every two hours, this limits how long you can spend on the trails without the risk of missing the boat. The nice thing about being there in June, though, is you get a more serene
experience because there are fewer people out on the trails. The peninsula, part of Mt. Kineo State Park, offers four hiking trails, each geared to a different hiking experience, which can be combined for longer excursions. The most difficult and most direct one to the summit is the Indian Trail, which takes hikers .9 miles along the open ledge and offers the best views. Those who want a somewhat easier climb can follow the 1.1-mile Bridle Trail. The hike follows the original fire warden trail, winding through the woods and offering more shade than the more strenuous Indian Trail.
