Mount Kineo is a 3.4 mile hike on an island in Moosehead Lake with an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet.
It’s an easy-to-moderate hike, with some steep cliffs you’ll walk past on the Indian Trail on your way up to the summit of Mount Kineo.
It will take most people between 2 to 3 hours to complete this loop hike.
My trip to Mount Kineo was on July 4th, 2016, with my wife, my sister and my nephew who was 7 years old at the time. The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed the the hike and the wonderful views.
The only way to get to Mount Kineo is on a boat, so just getting there is part of the adventure.
There’s a a 10 minute shuttle ferry that runs every hour on the hour from the Rockwood Town Landing to Mount Kineo. It costs $12/person, they do not take reservation and they accept cash only.
The Hike
The boat shuttle will arrive at the dock in front of the Mt Kineo Golf Course.
Begin your hike on the Carriage Trail, and after a 0.6 mile walk, take a right into the woods on the steep yet scenic Indian Trail.
The summit is only about a mile away, but you’ll quickly climb about 800 feet over rough terrain.
The elevation gain begins immediately. You’ll climb over some boulders on the way and navigate around some cliffs but it’s not a dangerous hike and there are nice views along the way, though you’ll be in the woods for most of the hike.
Views from Mt Kineo Summit
When you reach the summit, tall trees block any view.
However, if you’re brave enough to climb the metal fire tower, you’re treated to 360 views of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains.
Usually heights don’t bother me but I found this terrifying. There are railings on the stairs, but the stairs are narrow and there’s no fence.
My legs were jello by the time I reached the fenced-in platform at the top where I clung onto the railings while nervously snapping a few photos.
Going down the fire tower was even scarier but I survived to tell the story.
I should mention that my 7 year old nephew wasn’t scared a bit and neither were the kids even younger that came down before we went up the fire tower! The precarious climb is worth the view but yikes!
For the hike back to the trail head, we went back the way we came until taking the easier Bridle trail which circumvents the cliffs on the steep Indian Trail.
The Bridle Trail then connects with the Carriage Trail to go back to the boat dock.
Other Trails on Mount Kineo
Another option, for a longer and more challenging 6 mile lollipop hike is to take the North trail from the summit. The North trail connects to the Carriage Trail that takes you around the perimeter of the island and back to the boat dock.
Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit
The loop described here is one of six hikes that make up the Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit challenge.
The other five hikes, in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest (in my opinion), are: Borestone Mountain, Number Four Mountain, Big Moose Mountain, Eagle Rock, and Whitecap Mountain.