Maine · Hiking

Haystack Mountain Trail

0.3 mi
round trip
357 ft
climb
1,337 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Aug–Sep
best months

Haystack Mountain Trail is a short, out-and-back hike in Haystack Mountain State Park in northern Maine, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is about 0.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 357 feet, and it reaches a high point of 1,337 feet. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.12 miles from the start, where the grade reaches 33 percent. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically July and August, when typical averages from the nearby Presque Isle weather station run from highs of 79°F to 77°F and lows in the mid-50s. That station sits about 700 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. The trail starts within the state park, and the closest neighbors are the North Branch Presque Isle Stream, about 4 miles away, and the Kidder Loop Trail, about 4.1 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit Haystack Mountain Trail

    Best months: August–September. 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.

    1. Jan

      22° / 3°

      11 wet · 8 snow

    2. Feb

      26° / 5°

      8 wet · 7 snow

    3. Mar

      36° / 16°

      10 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      65° / 41°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 50°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 56°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 54°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 47°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 36°

      13 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 26°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      28° / 12°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Presque Isle, ME, 10.5 mi away at 599 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Route details

Distance
0.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 357 ft
Summit
1,339 ft
Difficulty
Moderate
Time
About 0.5 hours

Questions about this route

How long is the Haystack Mountain Trail on Haystack Mountain?

About 0.3 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Haystack Mountain Trail?

About 357 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Haystack Mountain Trail?

It is rated moderate.

How long does the Haystack Mountain Trail take?

About 0.5 hours round trip.

Conditions and forecast on Haystack Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors