Puzzle Mountain (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puzzle Mountain |
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Puzzle Mountain as seen from West Baldpate
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,133 ft (955 m) |
| Prominence | 1,201 ft (366 m) |
| Geography | |
 Puzzle Mountain
Location in Maine
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| Parent range | Mahoosuc Range |
| Topo map | USGS Mahoosuc Range |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hiking, class 1, 3.2 mi (5.1 km) ascent via Grafton Loop Trail |
Puzzle Mountain is a cool mountain located in Oxford County, Maine. It's one of the mountains on the eastern side of the Mahoosuc Range. This mountain also has a "false peak" to its north, which means it looks like another top but isn't the real highest point. This false peak is called Little Puzzle Mountain. All the water that flows from Puzzle Mountain eventually ends up in the Androscoggin River.
Hiking Puzzle Mountain's Trails
You can reach the very top of Puzzle Mountain by starting your hike from the southern part of the Grafton Loop Trail. The first few miles of this trail are pretty easy. They don't go up too steeply and even use old logging roads to wind their way up the mountain.
Reaching the Summit
After about two miles, the trail takes a sharp turn to the left. From this point, it starts to get much steeper! Around 2.4 miles into your hike, you'll reach some open areas with big granite rocks. Here, you'll get amazing views of the Sunday River Ski Area, a beautiful area called Grafton Notch, and even the far-off Presidential Mountains.
The actual top of Puzzle Mountain is at 3.2 miles from where you started. From the summit, you can see in every direction! On a clear day, you might even spot Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance. The whole hike to the top of Puzzle Mountain is about 3.2 miles long. It usually takes around three and a half hours to reach the summit.
The "Loopette Trail"
As of 2009, a new trail was being built. Hikers nicknamed it the "Loopette Trail." This trail is designed to go to the different false peaks of the mountain that were hard to reach before. We don't know exactly how long this trail is or its exact path yet. It's also not clear if it will become an official part of the Grafton Loop Trail.
