Tim's Treks
Beaver Meadow Trail
General Details
Difficulty: Moderate
Month of Hike: June
Drive Time: 15 minutes
Hike Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Length: ~5 miles round trip
Loop: See Notes
Dog/Kid Friendly: Yes
Views: No
Destination: Beaver Meadow Lodge
Lunch: No
Parking: Plenty of Spots
Directions: Beaver Meadow Trailhead
Turn left onto Cote Hill Rd
Turn right onto Fontaine Hill Rd 0.8mi
Turn left onto Walton Rd 0.9mi
Sharp right onto Mud City Loop 2.5mi
Turn right onto Town Hwy 43 0.2mi
Slight right onto Beaver Meadow Rd 0.7mi
Slight right Parking lot at end of road 128ft
Month of Hike: June
Drive Time: 15 minutes
Hike Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Length: ~5 miles round trip
Loop: See Notes
Dog/Kid Friendly: Yes
Views: No
Destination: Beaver Meadow Lodge
Lunch: No
Parking: Plenty of Spots
Directions: Beaver Meadow Trailhead
Turn left onto Cote Hill Rd
Turn right onto Fontaine Hill Rd 0.8mi
Turn left onto Walton Rd 0.9mi
Sharp right onto Mud City Loop 2.5mi
Turn right onto Town Hwy 43 0.2mi
Slight right onto Beaver Meadow Rd 0.7mi
Slight right Parking lot at end of road 128ft
The Story….
Just around the corner from Muddy Moose is the Beaver Meadow Pond Trail. This hike is perfect for those looking to get off property without traveling very far. With gradual uphill travel, often leveling out for flat terrain, this trail is ideal for most families. The tree canopy keeps the trail mostly shaded, but I would recommend you bring along water, a hat and some bug spray - as the insects will be quite happy to introduce your neck to their neck of the woods.
General Description: The best way to describe the trail is flat with a bit of uphill. You are not going to be making any kind of significant elevation gain. Overall, it is a pleasant stroll in the woods that allows for everyone to go at their own pace.
Specifics: The majority of the trail consists of double track paths meandering through the woods. The main trail is clearly marked. The path you take going in is the same you use to get out, except for the last 30 minutes when you take the “loop”. Basically, after an hour of hiking you will reach a fork in the trail. Both directions are technically Beaver Meadow but the signage can be a little confusing. The first sign says "Beaver Meadow Brook & Lodge" (left) "Whiteface Trail" (straight). Going either direction will continue the hike. If you go straight you will come across a second sign directing you to the left for “Beaver Meadow Loop”. You can go either way for the loop. Both directions from the first split will be about 15minutes to the lodge and a 30 minutes round trip. This is kind of a minor note to add but the loop section will narrow down to a single track path. After you complete the loop you will be retracing the trail back to the parking lot.
Notes: Mud, streams and woods are the features this hike will have to offer. So be sure to wear waterproof shoes or boots that you don't mind getting muddy. When we hiked, it had been a few days since it had rained, which is usually plenty of time for most trails to dry up, but a good portion of Beaver Meadow Trail was still pretty wet. In addition to the mud, you will need to cross a few streams (mostly located at the loop section) by walking across stones. Because of these two obstacles I would encourage not hiking the trail if there was any recent substantial rainfall.
Dogs: if you own a dog and have gotten this far in the detailed report, do I need to say anything? There is mud and streams on the trail.(See Athena Picture) Your dog will be happy.
Small Children: Parents, as previously mentioned there is lots of mud and streams to navigate. While it's always fun to let kids play in such things, you might want to bring a towel and leave it in the car for the after hike clean up. (See Athena Picture)
Lunch: This isn't a long hike so a good breakfast before the hike will keep you satisfied. Snacks are never a bad thing to have on hand no matter the length of hike. Honestly there isn't any good place to stop along the hike if you wanted to plan for a hike with lunch. There is the Lodge but since it can be occupied by a backpacker so it's best not to bank on it being available.
Final Notes
*A chance of rain: This is one of those hikes that I would attempt, even if there is a chance of rain. With Beaver Meadow being set in the woods, cloudy days will have a minimum impact on the experience. And should rain be called for in the evening, one can take the risk of a short morning hike. Plus, since the drive is only 15 minutes, getting caught in the rain means you don't have to suffer for too long in wet clothes. Of course it is advisable to turn back at the first few raindrops to reduce levels of saturation. In short, this hike is good for the change of plans/“let's risk it” scenario.
*As long as you have snowshoes, this is a great hike to do in the winter..
Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed!
General Description: The best way to describe the trail is flat with a bit of uphill. You are not going to be making any kind of significant elevation gain. Overall, it is a pleasant stroll in the woods that allows for everyone to go at their own pace.
Specifics: The majority of the trail consists of double track paths meandering through the woods. The main trail is clearly marked. The path you take going in is the same you use to get out, except for the last 30 minutes when you take the “loop”. Basically, after an hour of hiking you will reach a fork in the trail. Both directions are technically Beaver Meadow but the signage can be a little confusing. The first sign says "Beaver Meadow Brook & Lodge" (left) "Whiteface Trail" (straight). Going either direction will continue the hike. If you go straight you will come across a second sign directing you to the left for “Beaver Meadow Loop”. You can go either way for the loop. Both directions from the first split will be about 15minutes to the lodge and a 30 minutes round trip. This is kind of a minor note to add but the loop section will narrow down to a single track path. After you complete the loop you will be retracing the trail back to the parking lot.
Notes: Mud, streams and woods are the features this hike will have to offer. So be sure to wear waterproof shoes or boots that you don't mind getting muddy. When we hiked, it had been a few days since it had rained, which is usually plenty of time for most trails to dry up, but a good portion of Beaver Meadow Trail was still pretty wet. In addition to the mud, you will need to cross a few streams (mostly located at the loop section) by walking across stones. Because of these two obstacles I would encourage not hiking the trail if there was any recent substantial rainfall.
Dogs: if you own a dog and have gotten this far in the detailed report, do I need to say anything? There is mud and streams on the trail.(See Athena Picture) Your dog will be happy.
Small Children: Parents, as previously mentioned there is lots of mud and streams to navigate. While it's always fun to let kids play in such things, you might want to bring a towel and leave it in the car for the after hike clean up. (See Athena Picture)
Lunch: This isn't a long hike so a good breakfast before the hike will keep you satisfied. Snacks are never a bad thing to have on hand no matter the length of hike. Honestly there isn't any good place to stop along the hike if you wanted to plan for a hike with lunch. There is the Lodge but since it can be occupied by a backpacker so it's best not to bank on it being available.
Final Notes
*A chance of rain: This is one of those hikes that I would attempt, even if there is a chance of rain. With Beaver Meadow being set in the woods, cloudy days will have a minimum impact on the experience. And should rain be called for in the evening, one can take the risk of a short morning hike. Plus, since the drive is only 15 minutes, getting caught in the rain means you don't have to suffer for too long in wet clothes. Of course it is advisable to turn back at the first few raindrops to reduce levels of saturation. In short, this hike is good for the change of plans/“let's risk it” scenario.
*As long as you have snowshoes, this is a great hike to do in the winter..
Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed!