Above is a picture of Katahdin Iron Works, which you have to pass on the way to Gulf Hagas.We finally found time to visit the "Grand Canyon of Maine". While it is pretty, I can't say that it really rates that name. Just goes to show we don't have many canyons, I guess!
It was a perfect fall day...sunny, 63 degrees, and the foliage was still pretty. The hike was 8.2 miles long with a river to ford. Lots of ups and downs made for tired legs by the end, but we were also not going slow. We completed the hike in 5 hours, even with a snack break. All the signs say to expect 6-8 hours. But the guys still say it wasn't a race!
We found some great little places to sit and enjoy the sun. It would be a sweet place to go picnic and there would be some nice little swimming holes as long as you were careful to avoid the falls! We see why there are crowds in the summer. We saw a few groups of hikers, but mostly we had the trail to ourselves except at the waterfall views.Here are some pictures to share this beautiful day with you.
Paul and Kyle are waiting for leaves to fall, to see who can catch them. It is a game they play while running, too. Today, Kyle will be the winner 10-4.
Kyle fording the VERY cold Pleasant River. You have to cross it both coming and going to Gulf Hagas. So, if you want to do this hike, bring some sandals, crocs, or water shoes. The water is often much higher in the spring and summer. We had only ankle to knee deep water.
