Caribou Mountain Loop Hike - White Mountain National Forest, Maine - The Best Hike You've Never Heard Of
Hiking Caribou Mountain: Stunning White Mountains Loop in Maine
Explore Caribou Mountain in Maine’s White Mountain National Forest. Stunning summit views, fall foliage, and a 7-mile loop hike for adventurous hikers.
Tucked away on the Maine side of the White Mountain National Forest, Caribou Mountain might just be one of the most underrated peaks in New England. With its sweeping summit views of the surrounding mountains, quieter trails, and spectacular fall foliage at the right time, this mountain has all the magic of the Whites, without the crowds.
Whether you’re chasing new summits, looking for a loop with real payoff, or just want to spend a day deep in the woods of western Maine, the Caribou–Mud Brook Loop delivers a little bit of everything: steady climbing, rugged ridgelines, and a great 360-degree views from the open summit ridge.
Caribou and Mud Brook Trail Overview
🧭 Trailhead: Caribou West / Mud Brook Trailhead, Route 113, Chatham, ME (Google Maps)
🗺️ Route: Trailhead → Caribou Trail → Mud Brook Trail → Trailhead
🥾 Distance: ~7 miles (loop)
📈 Elevation Gain: ~2,000 feet
⚠️ Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Highlights: 360° summit views, fall foliage, quiet forest, loop hike, streams, wildlife
GPS Information: Trail Route in GPX Format
Heads Up! Route 113 is a Seasonal Road
Heads up that Route 113 is closed and unplowed in the winter months just a few miles south of its intersection with Route 2 in Gilead, Maine. The Caribou Mountain Trailhead is on the unmaintained section in winter and is not reachable by vehicle. It would require a several mile hike from the gate to the trailhead to begin this hike.
Caribou Mountain Loop Details
Caribou Mountain is traversed by the Caribou Trail and the Mud Brook Trail in a 7 mile loop that begins at the Caribou Mountain Trailhead on Route 113 in Chatham, Maine. The loop can be done in either direction, but we find that most enjoyable route is clockwise, ascending via the Caribou Trail and descending via the Mud Brook Trail. Both trails start just a few feet from each other at the trailhead, making this a true loop hike.
Caribou Trail
From the trailhead parking area along Route 113, the Caribou Trail enters the forest at the back of the parking lot and dives into the mixed hardwood and softwood forest. The Caribou Trail descends slightly to a crossing of Morrison Brook, before turning sharply right and heading upstream along the brook and ascending to the notch between Gammon Mountain and Caribou Mountain.
The trail is well maintained, easy to follow, and climbs moderately for about the first two miles, at which point, the trail reaches Kees Fall, a beautiful set of tumbling cascades. From here the trail gets rockier and more steep as it climbs up the last mile to the notch and to the intersection with the Mud Brook Trail.
In the notch between Gammon Mountain and Caribou Mountain, the Caribou Trail continues to the northeast, descending the other side of the notch and reaching a trailhead on Bog Road, which is off of Route 2 near Bethel, Maine. There is also a faint herd path that leads to the left, towards the summit of Gammon Mountain.
For our hike, we turn left at the trail junction and begin ascending Caribou Mountain on the Mud Brook Trail.
Mud Brook Trail
After the trail leaves the trail junction, it begins to ascend Caribou Mountain, gaining elevation quickly. As the trail begins to enter the Spruce-Fir forest, the climbing begins to moderate and the trail climbs more gently towards the first open rocks before making a final climb to the large open summit of Caribou Mountain.
The 360-degree views from this point are stunning and on a clear day you’ll see the mountains of Western Maine, the Mahoosucs, the Presidentials, and many of the northern Presidentials.
The trail descends off the open, rocky summit area and then crosses a number of open rock expanses on the spine of the mountain - going in and out of the forest and across the rocky areas. The trail comes to a second rock point that offers more incredible views of the surrounding mountains.
From there the trail begins to descend and shortly before the steeper descents begin, you pass another rock ledge, offer expansive views into southwestern Maine. From that ledge, the trail begins descending quickly, eventually reaching the notch between Caribou and Haystack Mountain.
The trail becomes less rocky and descends more slowly from here, eventually reaching the banks of Mud Brook, which it then follows for most of its remaining length. Shortly before the trailhead, the Mud Brook Trail veers right and away from the brook, and quickly ends at the Caribou Mountain Trailhead on Route 113
Why We Love Caribou Mountain
Caribou Mountain offers the full White Mountains experience with open rock ridges, big views, and plenty of quiet forest solitude, without the crowds you’ll find on busier peaks. It’s the kind of hike that feels personal, like a local secret you can’t believe more people haven’t discovered.
For us, the combination of length, loop layout, summit exposure, and quiet trails make this a hike we go back to over and over. It’s ideal for anyone who loves the White Mountains and wants to experience some of the best hiking in western Maine.
Tips for Hiking Caribou Mountain
Footwear: The trail is rocky and steep in sections - wear sturdy boots or trail shoes.
Navigation: Trail junctions are marked and trails are easy to follow, but it’s always smart to bring a map or GPS.
Parking: The lot on Route 113 is moderate in size, but usually not full, a perk compared to other White Mountains trailheads.
Timing: Allow 4–6 hours for the full hike, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the viewpoints.
For More Information on Hiking Caribou Mountain:
Hikes near Caribou Mountain in the White Mountains
More of our White Mountains hikes on YouTube
Gear we used on the Caribou Mountain hike:
Some product links are affiliate links and we earn from qualifying purchases. Others are links through the Amazon Influencer program and as an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases. Still others, we just want you to know about some good gear we enjoy!
Important Hiking Considerations:
Weather: Check the weather forecast before your hike and be prepared for changes in conditions.
Safety: Some sections of trail can be steep and rocky, others can be muddy, so use caution and always watch your footing.
Leave No Trace: As with any outdoor activity, remember to follow the principles of Leave No Trace. Pack out any trash, stay on the trail, and be respectful of the natural environment.
The White Mountains have thousands of miles of trails to explore, check out our Hiking the White Mountains playlist on YouTube to continue the adventure!
