International Appalachian Trail

The International Appalachian Trail is a short, low-lying cross-country ski route in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in northern Maine, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about 0.44 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 41 feet over the round trip, and it sits at an elevation of about 600 feet at its high point. The trail is an out-and-back, and the climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.26 miles in, where the grade reaches 4%. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Patten show January highs around 22°F and lows near 3°F, while July highs reach about 76°F. The route makes an easy addition to a day of exploring the monument. The Haskell Rock Pitch Portage Trail is about 0.3 miles away, and the Stair Falls Trail is about 0.5 miles off. The Little Messer Pond Trail is about 1.1 miles away, and the New River Road, another cross-country ski route, is about 2.2 miles away.