South Branch Pond
- 2.2 mi
- round trip
- 818 ft
- climb
- 1,111 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
South Branch Pond is a cross-country skiing route in Baxter State Park in Maine, managed by State Park and Recreation. The route is an out-and-back that starts and ends at about 1,031 feet, with a steady climb to a high point of 1,111 feet and a total one-way gain of 325 feet. The full round trip covers about 4.3 miles and 818 feet of elevation gain. Winter is the season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Patten put January highs around 22°F with lows near 3°F, while December and February run only slightly warmer. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the pond, so temperatures on the route may run slightly cooler. South Branch Campground Remote Site is just 0.1 mile away, and Ledges Trail is 0.2 mile off. South Branch Falls Trail and Howe Brook Trail are both within a mile.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit South Branch Pond
Best months: May–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.
Jan
22° / 3°
Feb
25° / 6°
Mar
34° / 16°
Apr
48° / 29°
May
62° / 40°
Jun
72° / 49°
Jul
76° / 55°
Aug
75° / 54°
Sep
67° / 45°
Oct
53° / 35°
Nov
41° / 25°
Dec
29° / 13°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Patten 2, ME, 20.2 mi away at 820 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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