South Baldface is located in Evan’s Notch, and offers an incredible amount of hiking above tree-line based on the relatively low elevation of its summit. At the top, you’ll get views of the Carter Ridge and the Wild River Wilderness. The hike is 3 miles one way and well marked. The uphill sections are relatively mellow. About 2/3 of the way to the top you’ll pass by the South Baldface Shelter, which is located right below the tree-line and is a great place to spend the night. This also makes South Baldface a great intro backpacking trip. This hike also has an awesome swimming hole (the emerald pool) indicated by a sign at the first turn 3/4 mile into the hike. You should defiantly check it out on the way up or down and take a dip if it’s warm. The summit and ridge of this hike are almost always super windy so bring some warmer layers even if its warm and sunny.

Directions

Park in the parking lot on the east side of the road. Follow the road north for a couple hundred feet to reach the trailhead on the east side (there is a big sign indicating that it’s the boldface circle trail). Follow this for 3/4 of a mile until you reach a junction. Check out the emerald pool on your right, and then hike back to the junction and continue following the Baldface Circle Trail towards South Baldface. There is another junction shortly after, again stay on the Baldface Circle Trail. Continue for another 1.5 miles until you hit the lean-too. The trail continues behind the lean-too onto the exposed ledges. Follow blazes and cairns to the ridge, and follow the ridge to the top!

Trailhead Location:

2223 Main Rd, Chatham, NH 03813

44.237886°±·,Ìý71.015786°°Â

Additional Notes

Don’t forget some warmer clothes for the top! If its a clear day bring a camera too.

See also: Baldface Loop

Arguably the closest crag from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ (~1:15 from door to crag), Tumbledown Dick, also known as the dick, is an expansive hillside located close to the road with several different cliffs. Most of the climbing is trad, but it’s super easy to hike to the top of all of the cliffs and set up top ropes. Mostly slab climbing with some steeper harder stuff mixed in on super nice schist. A great place to practice trad climbing or to test out your anchor building skills and tope rope some stuff. If its warm out, pop over to Evan’s notch and take a dip in the Wild River (about 5 minutes away).

Directions

Turn right onto Bridge st. in Gilead and then take another right onto North Rd. Follow N Rd. past some farms until you hit a forested patch. As you crest a hill, the cliffs should be visible off to your right. Drive to the bottom of the hill and park on the side of the road across from a 10 ft tall roadside cliff.

Directly above where you park, there is a ~40ft cliff called the forehead (it looks like a forehead). There three cracks that go up this face are super fun and the left one is pretty dam hard. All climbs on the forehead are easily top roped. As you walk along the cliffs to the left you will reach the amphitheater, which has some great cracks as well which are easily top roped.

Continuing along the cliffs to climbings left, you will see a small hand line leading up a ramp directly before reaching a giant alcove with a chimney in the back. Follow this ramp up to the 2nd tier. Some of the better climbs on the second tier are located at the top of the ramp where the ramp widens. Thin Air climbs up to a small ledge with a tree, continues in a crack out left, and then another crack out right. Two other 5.9s climb the face to the right of Thin Air. All the climbs here have bolted anchors and are easy to walk around to. Make sure you have a 70m rope. If you continue up past the end of the 2nd tier ramp you reach the 3rd tier, which has some good stuff as well.

From the road, if you continue along the cliffs past the 2nd tier handling and alcove, you will eventually reach the sharks fin. tucked in a corner to the left of all the sport routes is an awesome 5.7 crack. Straight up the sharks fin face there is a super hard 12a crack that stays dry in anything. All routes here are easily top roped.

Continuing along the cliff to climbers left for another couple minutes, you will reach a large clean slab called the Illegal Alien Wall. The rout Illegal Alien is one of the best 10a’s in the North Conway area in my opinion. Climb directly up to the small overlap near the top of the slab. Head right and follow another crack system to the top. The routes directly right and left of Illegal Alien are also 10s. All routes are easily top roped with a 70m rope.

Location:

1700 N Rd, Gilead, ME 04217

44.405054°±·,Ìý70.939026°°Â

Additional Notes

The North Conway Rock Climbs guidebook has the dick in it as well almost all the crags in the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ area. If you’re in to climbing you should pick one up.

Higgins beach is located just south of Portland in Scarborough. The beach itself is great for chillin and taking in the sun during fall or short term. Higgins is also one of the most popular surf spots in southern Maine. The beach faces southeast and has an awesome break. A super easy trip to do during the week before or after class. Also probably the closest beach to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½.

Directions

Park at the lot off of Ocean Avenue and walk down to the beach from there. The lot has a bathroom and showers which are open year round. There is a fee to park in the summer.

Location:

98 Pearl St Exd, Scarborough, ME 04074

43.562848°±·,Ìý70.28132°°Â

Additional Notes

Higgins gets crazy busy when the surf is good so be prepared.

See also: Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý

Popham is an incredible  beach and home to the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Outing Club annual fall clam bake. At low tide, several islands become reachable from the main land and are easy to explore. For all you surfers the best break faces West. A super easy trip that can be done in an afternoon.

Directions

Very easy to get to from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½. Park in the large parking lot after the state park gate and explore the beach!

Location:

10 Perkins Farm Ln, Phippsburg, ME 04562

43.737171°±·,Ìý69.796925°°Â

Additional Notes

The fee for out of state residents (Based on drivers license) is $8/person. The outing club has vehicle park passes which allow you to get an entire car in for free. Come grab one!

See also: