Hiking the Little Moose Pond Loop Trail in Greenville, Maine
Distance: 4.1 miles / 6.6 km
The Little Moose Pond Loop Trail in Greenville, Maine is, without a doubt, one of the best hikes to see the fall colors in all of New England!
I say this because there really is a trick to hiking in the Northeast for the fall colors, and not every day hike that climbs to a scenic overlook makes for a good one. By this, I mean that there truly is a sweet spot for fall hikes in New England, where the trail shouldn’t climb too high above the beautiful trees, nor should it stay too low and lack good views.
Considering this, the Little Moose Pond Loop Trail is one of the best for this reason, as the stunning trail passes through some of the most beautiful sections of forest in the lower elevations, while climbing to a panoramic viewpoint above the colors at the summit of Little Moose Mountain!
Little Moose Pond Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Little Moose Pond Trail is located directly off Mountain Road, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) from the highway.
Note that this trailhead is different from the trail that leads up Big Moose Mountain; however, the two hikes can be linked by way of a connector trail, shown later in this article.
Google Maps Directions: Little Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Maine
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Maine.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Little Moose Pond Loop Trail
The Little Moose Pond Trail begins on a flat trail, before it begins to descend about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) into the hike, to meet the connector trail that leads over to Big Moose Mountain.
Outside of the loop that climbs and descends Little Moose Mountain, this downhill section is the only other significant elevation change on the trail, which will inevitably have to be re-hiked on the way back to the trailhead.
Little Moose Mountain-Big Moose Mountain Connector Junction
At the bottom of the hill, the Little Moose Pond Loop Trail splits with the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) connector that leads over to the Big Moose Mountain Trail.
Here, go right here to continue toward the start of the loop.
These signs simply indicate that there are walk-in campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis along the shores of both Big and Little Moose Ponds.
Little Moose Pond-Big Moose Pond Junction
Prior to the beginning of the Little Moose Pond Loop, the trail splits once again, with a short out-and-back trail that leads directly to Big Moose Pond and one of three different walk-in campsites along this trail.
That being said, go left to continue toward the Little Moose Pond Loop and Little Moose Mountain beyond.
I truly can’t believe how fortunate I was to fly in from Hawaiʻi during the peak fall colors in central Maine, as the Moose Pond Loop was easily one of the most beautiful things I’ve experienced in New England!
Little Moose Pond Loop Trail
After 0.7 miles (1.1 km), the trail splits into a loop that leads around Little Moose Pond Loop to the left, or heads up Little Moose Mountain to the right.
That said, I don’t believe it matters which direction you choose to hike the loop; however, my personal recommendation is to hike up to the viewpoint first and then decide if you’d rather return the same way or complete the 2.7-mile (4.3 km) loop around the pond.
I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction up Little Moose Mountain first.
Big Moose Pond
This short stretch is the only time the Little Moose Pond Loop passes by Big Moose Pond.
After about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from the Big Moose Pond, the Little Moose Pond Loop noticeably starts gaining elevation up to Little Moose Mountain.
Along this stretch, the trail may be steep, but there’s only about 300 ft. (91 m) to climb from Big Moose Pond to reach the summit.
Little Moose Pond Loop-Notch Pond Junction
As the trail reaches the top of Little Moose Mountain, the Little Moose Pond Loop splits with the Notch Pond Trail to the west.
Here, go left to continue toward Little Moose Mountain, located about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away.
Little Moose Pond Loop-Little Moose Mountain Junction
When the trail reaches the junction at the top of the hill, go left to reach Little Moose Mountain and the best overlook of the entire hike!
Little Moose Mountain
Standing at roughly 1,814 ft. (553 m), Little Moose Mountain is one of the most beautiful day hikes in Maine—especially when the fall colors are at their peak!
I truly believe this because the summit view from Little Moose Mountain looks to the northwest toward Big Moose Mountain, which helps illustrate the difference that elevation can make in determining a good fall colors hike compared to one that climbs a little too high.
Little Moose Pond Loop-Little Moose Mountain Junction
Once back at the Little Moose Mountain junction, hikers have the option to either go right and return to the trailhead in the direction they hiked up, or to go straight (left) to continue counterclockwise around Little Moose Pond.
I chose to go straight (left).
It’s important to be aware that central Maine is bear territory, and while hiking around Black Bears usually presents less of a risk compared to hiking with Grizzlies, carrying bear spray is never a bad idea.
However, it’s truly up to your own discretion and comfort level.
Little Moose Pond Loop-Lower Little Moose Mountain Junction
As the Little Moose Ponds Loop nears the far eastern descent down Little Moose Mountain, the trail passes a split leading to one more overlook just off the main loop.
Lower Little Moose Mountain
In my opinion, the upper summit is my favorite! However, the lower summit is the perfect example of what I mean about not wanting to be too high or too low above the colors in order to enjoy the view.
That said, it’s truly incredible that the Little Moose Pond Loop Trail has the best of both!
Once at the bottom of Little Moose Mountain, the hike back around Little Moose Pond follows a mostly flat, straightforward trail, passing a number of campsites along the way.
It’s always cool to see the different Clubmoss species around the world, which look different but are, in some ways, similar to the Hawaiian Clubmoss where I live!
Little Moose Pond Loop-Little Moose Mountain (Inn) Junction
On the far northeastern side of the loop, the Little Moose Ponds Trail splits once again with the trail that connects the Moose Mountain Inn on Moosehead Lake in Greenville to the Little Moose Pond Loop.
At this split, go left to continue around the north side of the pond.
This is the view looking back toward Little Moose Mountain.
This is the first of two different walk-up campsites along the Little Moose Pond Loop.
This second campsite, on the far western side of Little Moose Pond, is where the trail makes a hard right turn away from the water, even though it may look more obvious to continue straight.
Little Moose Pond Loop Junction
After about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) since leaving Little Moose Pond, the loop returns to the beginning, with only about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) left to hike to return to the trailhead.
More Nearby Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures nearby, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Maine at large is known for being very sparsely populated, meaning the expansive tracts of wilderness are perfect habitat for animals such as Black Bears, Moose, among countless others.
That being said, both bear and moose encounters can and should be expected throughout the majority of Maine, and while hiking in Black Bear territory usually presents less danger compared to grizzlies, carrying bear spray is never a bad idea. However, it’s really up to your own discretion and comfort level.
On a different note, the weather on the Atlantic New England coast is notorious for its extremes and can change very quickly. This can mean both colder and warmer-than-expected weather, which can lead to unexpected snow—especially on upper-elevation trails during the shoulder seasons.
Disclaimer
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