If you're looking for a challenging hike, with solitude, fascinating natural history and geology, plus amazing views, you need to check out Deasey Mountain on the IAT in Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. See the National Park Service website for up to date conditions.
On a hot and humid day, my good friend and hiking buddy, Cat, joined me for a trek into Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. It was her first time in the monument, and she didn’t know much about it. Normally, for someone’s first visit, I’d suggest a classic trip: drive the loop road, stop by Lynx Pond, explore Barnard if we’re feeling ambitious, and wrap up with a visit to Lunksoos on the way out. However, I hadn’t yet tackled Deasey Mountain and knew I could convince Cat to join me for the climb. The trail is about 10 miles round trip and is considered strenuous.
We carpooled from the Irving gas station in Medway, leaving at 8:00 AM and arriving at the Orin Falls/IAT trailhead around 9:20. The IAT (International Appalachian Trail) begins in Katahdin Woods & Waters and ends in Morocco!! By 9:30, we were on the trail with my dog, Luna, eagerly leading the way. Dogs are allowed in the monument but must stay on a leash.
After a short walk on the IAT towards Orin Falls, we turned off towards the Wassastaquoik Stream rd. soon faced a river ford across the Wassataquoik. If you’re not up for a big mountain climb, just walking to this ford is worth it. Even though you’re only 30 minutes from your car, it feels like you’re the only people in the world. The Wassataquoik is a Wild and Scenic River, and you’ll feel its raw beauty. We changed into our river shoes for the crossing, and I’m glad we did—although the rocks are smooth, they’re slippery, and I didn’t want to get dunked so early in the trip. The river was knee-deep at most, with a slow current, making it a relatively easy ford.
After crossing the river, we hiked along the riverbank, weaving in and out of a pretty majestic hardwood forest. Massive yellow birches, sugar maples, and beeches with very little undergrowth made for an impressive landscape. Once the trail turned away from the river, there was a tricky spot where it became overgrown with brush. Take your time here and keep an eye out for the IAT signs. Besides this short stretch, the trail was in good shape and easy to follow.
The trail continued through old forests, switching back and forth between hemlock stands and hardwoods. Along the way, we passed Earl’s Erratic. While it may not be considered a “true” erratic, it was impressive nonetheless!
Eventually, we passed over refreshing stream and came upon the old fire warden’s cabin. Though it has caved in and is unsafe to enter, it’s still an interesting landmark.
Up until this point, the trail had been relatively flat and easy, but the final 0.8-mile stretch to the summit felt like a straight climb, especially in the heat and humidity. Even Luna (who’s part border collie with the energy to prove it) was starting to slow down.
However, emerging from the trail at the summit made the challenge worth it. Although the view was mostly socked in with clouds, it was still awe-inspiring and I can only imagine what it would be like on a clear day. We met a group of NPS staff and students at the summit. These students were from the Stephen T. Mather High School in NYC, an arts and building trade school who partners with NPS on historical restoration. These students were in the monument for about a week, restoring the historic fire lookout. They must be tough—they hiked in with new windows, tools, and food for the week, while I was struggling with just a day pack! This was their first time in Maine, and they seemed to be enjoying getting to know the Maine woods. After chatting with the crew and NPS maintenance staff for a bit, Cat, Luna, and I sat down for some lunch while the students got back to work, sanding the shingles for a new coat of paint.
We said our goodbyes, and the crew gave Luna a couple of extra pats before we headed back down the trail. The return hike was smooth, though my legs were definitely feeling it by the time we reached the ford. We took our time in the river, cooling down, splashing our faces, and debating which ice cream flavor we’d treat ourselves to when we got back to Medway.
Although we didn’t get a full view and didn’t go into the lookout building, we left still feeling satisfied by the trail. And besides, now I have a great reason to hike the trail again! This trail has certainly made it to the top of my list of favorite hikes in Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument and is worth the time and energy!
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