Golden Road
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 3.5 mi
- round trip
- 810 ft
- climb
- 682 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May, Aug–Oct
- best months
Golden Road is a moderate out-and-back hike in northern Maine, about 6 miles from the town of Norcross. The route is roughly 7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 200 feet, and the steepest stretch comes early on, around 0.4 miles in, with a grade of about 12 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Millinocket weather station show July highs around 78°F with lows near 57°F, and the station sits about 300 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the higher ground run a little cooler. Several other outings sit close by. Katahdin View and Twin Pines Loop, both cross-country ski routes, are about 0.1 mile away, and the Lakeside Trail is about 0.2 mile off. Paddlers can head to Millinocket Stream, about 4 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Northeast Whitewater45 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May, Aug–Oct
Best time to visit Golden Road
Best months: May and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
24° / 5°
10 wet
Feb
26° / 6°
9 wet
Mar
36° / 16°
10 wet
Apr
50° / 30°
10 wet
May
64° / 41°
12 wet
Jun
74° / 51°
13 wet
Jul
78° / 57°
13 wet
Aug
78° / 56°
11 wet
Sep
70° / 48°
11 wet
Oct
55° / 37°
12 wet
Nov
43° / 27°
11 wet
Dec
31° / 15°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Millinocket, ME, 7 mi away at 360 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Twin Pines Loop
Next door
0.9-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 176 ft elevation gain
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Hammond Ridge
~1 min drive
4.4-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,275 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Wild Kingdom Trail
~2 min drive
10.76-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,299 ft elevation gain
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Lakeside Trail
Next door
1.63-mile loop in Maine with 442 ft gain and 511 ft loss.
HIKE
Twin Pines Loop
Next door
Easy 2.62-mile out-and-back woodland walk through Maine forest.
HIKE
Pole Line Trail
~8 min drive
12.3-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,393 ft elevation gain/loss
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Katahdin View
Next door
1.63-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 341 ft gain.
HIKE
K Trail
~8 min drive
7.18-mile out-and-back hike in Maine with 746 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Katahdin Region Multi-Use Trail
~10 min drive
10.46-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,180 ft elevation gain
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Saddle Loop
Next door
1.80-mile loop trail in Maine with 259 ft elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
