Round Top Trail
Distance: 3.9 miles round-trip
Trailhead: A parking lot is located near the corner of Watson Pond Road and Wildflower Estates, 4 miles south of Watson Pond Road’s junction with Route 27. Description: The Round Top Trail ascends Round Top Mountain (1,133′) while winding through a diverse forest of young and old hardwoods and conifers. The trail, marked with blue blazes, is moderate and leaves the parking lot in a westerly direction.
Description: Within 200 yards it crosses a large slab of granite originally quarried for an old foundation. After an initial rise the trail meanders through the woods, briefly opening up for a view of Round Top Mountain before dropping to a junction with the Kennebec Highlands Trail at 1 mile. After crossing the Kennebec Highlands Trail, the Round Top Trail climbs steadily northward. As the trail approaches Round Top Mountain’s summit, views open up to the east and south. Near the top, at 1.7 miles, a spur trail leads north (see description below). The main trail continues northeast, passing an overlook with views of Long Pond, Belgrade Lakes Village, and Great Pond, and then descends to a second overlook at an open area with large rock slabs and porcupine dens. The trail descends steeply, between and over large rocks, and joins the Kennebec Highlands Trail at 2.1 miles. Turn right (south) onto this broad gravel trail. At 2.9 miles bear right at a three-way junction, marked by snowmobile trail signs. A hundred yards past the junction (just before a Y-intersection of snowmobile trails) a rock cairn on the left (east) side of the logging trail marks the Round Top Trail’s initial junction with the Kennebec Highlands Trail. Turn left (east) and follow the Round Top Trail back to the parking lot. Round Top Spur Trail: The Round Top Spur Trail, 0.3 miles long each way, leads to the north end of Round Top Mountain and two overlooks with spectacular views. The first view looks northward and east to Round Pond below, and French Mountain, Mount Phillip, North Pond, and Great Pond. The spur trail ends at a second overlook, which includes additional views of Watson Pond, Sanders Hill, and Vienna Mountain (northwest through the trees).
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