Off the beaten path, Bauneg Beg Mountain in North Berwick, Maine is a quiet place to hike with your dogs.  Although the trail head can be difficult to find off the winding back roads of North Berwick, Bauneg Beg Mountain is definitely worth the effort.  Used mostly by locals, this conservation area consists of 89 wooded acres of peaceful trails crossed by forgotten stone walls, interesting rock formations including the “Devil’s Den,” and on a clear day beautiful views on the summit of Mount Washington and the Atlantic Ocean.

From the Trail Head on Fox Farm Hill Road, there are two options for ascending to the top.  Ginny’s Way is a manageable climb for most hikers with a few steep areas near the top.  Linny’s Way is a more difficult climb around large boulders that may not be suitable for all dogs and hikers.  Also, Linny’s Way is not as well marked, and we did lose the trail at one point.  Each of these is about a half mile long. There is also the North Peak Trail which loops you around to Linny’s Way, but we did not take that path.  The mountain can also be accessed from Bauneg Beg Mountain Road by way of Tom’s Way, but please note there is no parking lot there.

Owned by the Great Works Regional Land Trust, the conservation area is opened dawn to dusk.  We prefer to keep our dogs on leash when hiking here to be respectful of the wildlife and natural habitats.  Also please respect the private properties that boarder the conservation area.  The parking lot is small, and no restrooms are available.  As for the unusual name, it is believed to be a corruption of the Native American Wabanaki word “Bannebeaugue,” which means “spread out” and “still water.” It is believed to describe Bauneg Beg Pond at the mountain’s eastern base, essentially a part of the Great Works River, which is wide and slow moving.

For directions and more information, Click Here.  Also please visit our Dog Friendly Places page for more reviews of dog friendly areas in Maine and New Hampshire.