Maine · Cross-country skiing

Birch Loop

0.4 mi
round trip
65 ft
climb
673 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Sep
best months

Birch Loop is a short, easy cross-country ski loop in northern Maine, about 0.4 miles long and sitting roughly 0.9 miles from Fort Kent Village. The route is a loop that rises from about 651 feet to about 673 feet, with a total elevation gain of 10 feet and a total loss of 55 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.35 miles in, with a grade of about 3 percent. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Fort Kent show January highs around 19°F with lows near -3°F, while March runs a bit milder, with highs around 33°F. The station sits about 60 feet lower than the loop's high point, so temperatures on the trail run slightly cooler. The loop sits among a cluster of cross-country ski routes. Fort Kent Town Loop is just 0.1 mile away, Piste Acadienne is about 0.4 mile off, and Mickey's Way and Service Road are both within a mile.

  • Best time to go · Sep

    Best time to visit Birch Loop

    Best months: 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

      19° / -3°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      23° / -3°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      33° / 9°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      46° / 25°

      11 wet

    5. May

      61° / 37°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 47°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 54°

      15 wet

    8. Aug

      75° / 51°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 43°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 32°

      14 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 22°

      13 wet

    12. Dec

      26° / 8°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Kent, ME, 0.4 mi away at 610 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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