Hiking

The complete hiking guide: Tumbledown Public Lands

Kolya Partan
January 23, 2024
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The views atop Tumbledown are earned, not given. In typical New England fashion, hikers must scramble up fall-line trails – with sections of near vertical climbs – in order to reach the rugged alpine peaks and unspoiled waters of Tumbledown Pond.

Although Tumbledown is no longer the hidden gem it once was, Tumbledown Public Land still offers superb hiking that very few places in the Northeast can match. At 3,052 ft, Tumbledown sneaks under the radar because it is not on any peakbagger lists and falls below the sought-after 4,000-foot status. However, the combination of steep climbs, scenic ridgelines, rugged peaks, rich varieties of natural communities, and a legendary subalpine pond makes Tumbledown a truly special place.

This travel guide will highlight important things you need to know before visiting Tumbledown Public Lands and we’ll recommend a few hidden spots as well as a route that avoids the crowds.

Tumbledown Public Land is managed by Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands.
Tumbledown is a mountain outside Weld, ME. There are technically 3 peaks here – Tumbledown Mountain, Tumbledown Southwest peak, and Tumbledown East Peak. No actively maintained trails run to Tumbledown peak, but the Southwest and East peaks are actually higher in altitude and are accessible via well-marked trails.
The public lands can be accessed via Byron Road — a long dirt road whose condition depends on the weather. I’ve been stranded on the mountain during flash floods that wipe out large sections of Byron Road.
Ample hunting opportunities for deer, black bear, moose, turkey, ruffed grouse and coyote (Note: Hunting is not permitted at MBSP between June 1 and Labor Day.)
Fishing at Tumbledown Pond is permitted – it is stocked aerially with brook trout every year– but all fish must be released at once. If you’re looking for spots to fish, here is a depth chart of the lake.

Brook trail

The Brook Trail is the most popular trail, as it follows a more gradual route up the mountain – running alongside Tumbledown Brook – and culminates with the same breath-taking views as a host of trails that all converge at Tumbledown Pond.

From the main trailhead parking lot on Byron Road, you will take a right out of the mouth of the parking-lot and walk 50 yards until you reach the trailhead. Here, you’ll find a restroom (one that is scantily supplied with toilet paper) and a kiosk that provides a large map of the area and offers paper trail maps.

The trail is gradual at first, but gets steeper 1.5 miles in, at which point the trail dramatically steepens for a final heart-pounding ascent to the pond. The beginning of the Brook Trail can be misleading, as there is no indication of the steep rock scrambles that only begin a half-mile from the end.

Few hikes in New England offer the same reward as this one: a sparkling sub-alpine pond surrounded by rugged peaks. Take a dip!

We suggest continuing onward up to Tumbledown East Peak (an additional 0.5-miles each way) along the Tumbledown Ridge Trail. The summit views are worth the extra climbing and you’ll be offered a unique perspective of the pond from above.

Loop Trail

For those up for a challenge, the Loop Trail has it all: a rigorous ascent; opportunities for tight cave explorations; vertical iron-rung climbs and breathtaking views. Highlights include a massive glacial erratic, a steep and scenic climb, expansive ridgeline hiking and Tumbledown Pond.

The trail rapidly ascends to the Tumbledown Ridge Trail from a trailhead on Byron Road and follows the ridge down the Tumbledown Pond. From there, take the Brook Trail down to Byron Road then walk back to your parked vehicle at the Loop trail parking area. This loop includes a 1.4 mile stretch along Byron Road, which is definitely the biggest con of this hike.

If possible, we recommend arriving at the park with two vehicles and leaving one at the Brook Trailhead and one at the Loop trailhead. This way, when you reach Byron road after coming down the Brook Trail, you can skip the 1.4 mile hike along the road to simply shuttle to your other vehicle. It saves time and you won’t miss out on anything (except maybe a moose, as this 1.4 mile section of Byron Road is a popular area for moose sightings, as they like to cross along this section of the road).

Do not attempt to summit Tumbledown via the Loop trail without checking on conditions first. The climb is steep and rocky and is not suitable unless you have gear to deal with snow and ice. Also, we do not recommend descending down the loop trail. Once you reach the Tumbledown ridge, we advise taking the more gradual descent down the Brook Trail.

If you are hoping to check out some really neat caves, there is a narrow cave squeeze that descends on your right just before you reach the famed “fat man’s misery” section on the loop trail. The cave is a real squeeze (not for the faint of heart) and any backpack should be removed prior to attempting.

Little Jackson Mountain via Little Jackson Connector

Although Tumbledown Mountain has become more well-known and more popular, its neighboring mountain – Little Jackson Mountain – has somehow stayed relatively anonymous. The Brook Trail and Loop Trail attract the largest crowds, but visitors can still hike in solitude when ascending Little Jackson. Little Jackson is much less frequent and the trail itself feels more immersive, offering a quieter and more remote hike.

To reach Little Jackson Mountain Trail, you must first take the Little Jackson Connector Trail. This 1.1 mile connector takes you from the trailhead (take a right before the trailhead kiosk rather than continuing straight onto the Brook Trail) to the start of the Little Jackson Mountain trail. Bear right at the end of the connector to pass Park Ridge trail to get onto the Little Jackson Trail (on the left). This connector is an easy trek.

Little Jackson Mountain Trail is a steady incline with the exception of one steep section about two-thirds of the way up that requires some scrambling. There are some deep stream sections that provide ideal swimming holes and opportunities for fetching water are ample. The trail is very well marked and culminates with expansive views from the rocky and windswept summit.

The summit tends to be very windy and the final twenty minutes before reaching the summit are completely exposed. Enjoy stunning views from the top without the crowds that tend to aggregate at the pond below.

Off the beaten path

If you’re looking to summit Little Jackson and explore Tumbledown Pond and her surrounding peaks in one go, there is a way – but it does require bush-wacking and off-trail navigation. This route is not advised for novice hikers.

If you’re exploring the area on AllTrails, you’ll notice a short spur that continues past Little Jackson’s summit down the west side of the mountain. This decommissioned trail takes you down to Tumbledown Pond directly from the summit on a trail that is only marked by small pink ribbons that have been tied to tree branches along the route. It’s a steep descent, but it saves you time by cutting out the hike back down Little Jackson Mountain trail, then across Pond link trail.

Please note that this area has virtually no markings and requires compass & map or off-line navigation. Even for someone who knows the mountain very well, I’ve got turned around and lost up here, so please take precaution. On the flip-side, this off-trail route provides an exciting “backcountry” experience.

There are additional unmarked and unmaintained trails connected to the maintained trails including a spur to the summit of Jackson Mountain, a loop around Tumbledown Pond.

Where to stay

If you’re interested in exploring this region, the best place to stay is Mount Blue State Park’s campground. The campground here is about a 15 minute drive from most Tumbledown trailheads and offers great campsites that are a few minutes walk from Webb Lake.