Within the Nahmakanta Public Lands is an 11,802-acre ecological reserve that includes much of the property’s 9,200-acre roadless area known as the Debsconeag Backcountry.
The figure-eight trail layout of the Debsconeag Backcountry Trail provides several options to explore pristine ponds nestled within the state's largest ecological reserve, which ensures that sensitive plant communities will remain in their natural condition and be monitored over time.
From the east, the trail begins at a parking area roughly 0.75 miles north of where the Nahmakanta Stream Road crosses Nahmakanta Stream and the Appalachian Trail. From this parking area, either take the newly cut trail directly from the parking lot 0.9 miles to an intersection east of Fifth Debsconeag Lake or walk a little under a mile along the road to Fourth Debsconeag Lake until crossing a stream. The trail directly from the trailhead passes through mixed woods and occasional sandy-soiled openings until reaching the trail junction. The trail from near the Fourth Debsconeag boat launch site leaves the road and passes a nice waterfall. Either approach enters the main trail system ear the southeastern end of 5th Debsconeag Lake. This trail intersection marks the beginning of the eastern half of the figure eight (6.2 miles total loop distance). The right branch rises to the top of the old log driving dam, makes it way up the hillside to Stink Pond, tops out on the ledges above it with views to the east northeast, then drops into a shallow valley and climbs to the open granite ledges above Seventh Debsconeag Lake with views west to Nesuntabunt, White Cap, Fifth Debsconeag Lake, and Pemadumcook Lake.
Part way down the open granite ledges the trail from Sixth Lake comes in (about 1.0 miles south to Sixth Lake from the trail junction). If continuing westward, the trail crosses to the south side of the drainage from Eighth Lake and moves up on the knolls above Eighth before it meanders southwestwards toward Nahmakanta Lake's northern end.
At a marked junction north of Nahmakanta Lake, turn right (westward) for the western trailhead at Rainbow Stream, which must be forded to reach the western trailhead. The trail soon reaches Nahmakanta Lake and follows its east shore generally on the old telephone line of the logging era. About half way down the lake the trail rises away from the lake through a small ravine before leveling out to reach the west end of Sixth Lake and the junction of the trail section heading 1.0 mile north towards seventh Debsconeag Lake and the junction point mentioned earlier (this 1.0 mile trail segment is shared by the eastern and western halves of the overall figure eight trail layout).
The trail segment returning to Fifth Debsconeag Lake and the eastern parking area passes by the southern shore of Fifth Debsconeag Lake in open hardwoods. It rises up a set of cliffs overlooking the lake then drops to the outlet and the junction where the eastern loop started. From here, return to the parking area by following the trail segment along the stream east to the road (and a 0.6 mile walk to the trailhead) or take the trail segment heading southerly directly to the parking lot.
View BPL's map of the Namakanta Public Reserve Lands.
Visitors arriving via Maine Route 11 out of Brownville Junction or Millinocket and the private Jo-Mary Rd. must pay day-use fees at the Jo-Mary Gate between April and November. Season passes are available from North Maine Woods. Take care traveling along area logging roads, pulling over and stopping for trucks regardless of which direction they’re headed. Do not block roads. Gravel roads are hard on tires (and suspension systems): travel slowly and carry a spare tire.
Don't count on your cell phone in an emergency as coverage is spotty to non-existent. The Henderson automated checkpoint has a working phone for emergency use between mid-May and mid-October.
An extensive network of other hiking trails is available here, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT) within the upper reaches of the 100-Mile Wilderness, considered by many to be the AT’s most remote section (though not a designated “wilderness area”). Day hikers and Backpackers alike should note the potential to string together days of hiking within Nahmakanta.
The Division of Parks and Public Lands maintains 5 authorized campsites with privies on Wadleigh Pond, 2 near Musquash Brook, and 2 on Pollywog Pond. On lands owned by the National Park Service bordering Nahmakanta Lake, there are six authorized sites where campfires are permitted. Fire permits are needed for the campsites at Pollywog Pond, Leavitt Pond and Tumbledown Dick Pond.
Of the 22 campsites, 10 are drive-to, 9 are boat-to, and 3 are walk-to. There are hand-carry boat launch facilities at Fourth Debsconeag Lake, Nahmakanta Lake, and Wadleigh Pond.
This trail passes through a property that was acquired in part with funds from the Land for Maine’s Future program. For more information about the LMF program and the places it has helped to protect, please visit the LMF webpage.
Visit Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands online for more information and a printable map or contact:
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Eastern Public Lands OfficeTo Nahmakanta Public Lands: From Greenville access will be primarily over gravel roads and it will take approximately 1.5 hours. Drive northeast 15 miles to Kokadjo Village, leaving Greenville on Lily Bay Road. From here it is important to pay attention to millage and look for signs for Nahmakanta Lake Camps and Debsconeag Lakes, as there are many logging roads and doing these will help ensure you take the correct roads. From the outlet bridge over the Roach River at First Roach Pond (near the Kokadjo General Store) continue on and bear left at 0.3 miles. Follow Sias Hill Road (also known as Kokadjo-Ripogenus Dam Road). Go another 1.7 mile, and turn right onto Smithtown Road. Continuing on Smithtown Road, bear right at 3.2 miles continuing to follow the road, and then turn left after a total of 4.9 miles on the Smithtown Road. This left takes you onto the Farrar Mountain Road. In 4 miles, bear right and after 1 mile take a hard left. After another 1.8 miles, take a hard right. Bear left after 0.6 miles (use caution – approved ATV use begins on this road). Pass Penobscot Pond with camps on right, and reach boundary sign for preserve in another 1.4 miles.
From Brownville, leave ME Route 11 at the Jo-Mary Campground sign about half way between Brownville Junction and Millinocket (visitors must pay day-use fees at the Jo-Mary Gate between April and November; season passes are available from North Maine Woods). Proceed past the gate and take a right turn in 6 miles. The southern boundary of Nahmakanta Public Lands is in another 9 miles, just after the Henderson automated checkpoint.
Trailheads: Parking for the eastern end of the Debsconeag Backcountry Trail is off the Nahmakanta Stream Road about 0.75 mile northeast of where the Appalachian Trail crosses Nahmakanta Stream (there is parking here at the AT/Stream site as well). The parking areas can be reached via the Jo-Mary Road (from the southeast or the Nahmaknata Road (from the southwest) to the Wadleigh Pond Road to Nahmakanta Stream Road. Be aware that there is an alternative access point to the trail system beginning approximately 0.6 mile north). This alternative requires a walk along the gravel Nahmaknata Stream Road past the hand-carry boat launch on Fourth Debssconeag Lake.
Parking for the western end of the Debsconeag Backcountry Trail is reached by following the Wadleigh Pond Road until it reaches a small parking area just north of the Nahmakanta Lake Camps, located at the North end of Nahmakanta Lake. Alternatively, hikers may choose to park further south, where the Wadleigh Pond Road crosses the Appalachian Trail. This choice requires 2.8 miles (one-way) of hiking to reach a 0.8 mile spur trail off the AT into the Debsconeag Backcountry Trail.
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