Loop Hike to Mount Cardigan

Summits: Firescrew (3,064), Cardigan (3,155'), South Peak (2,864'), Orange/Gilman (2,684')

Trail route: Manning Trail, Mowglis Trail, Clark Trail, South Ridge Trail, Skyland Trail, Vistamont Trail, Holt-Clark Cutoff, Holt Trail, Manning Trail

Trail conditions: Mostly dry with a few wet/muddy sections

Weather: Warm day with lots of sunshine and cool breeze on the summits

Total miles: 7.4

Total time:  7:28

After two weeks of no hiking I was ready to get back on the trail again. I would be joining Jill, Amy and Robin for a loop hike to Mount Cardigan to include the following summits, Firescrew Mountain, South Peak and Orange Mountain. Jim would be waiting for us on Mount Cardigan and Jill would be finishing the 52 With a View list on this summit.

We would be hiking along many trails today starting on the Manning Trail to Mowglis Trail down Clark Trail to South Ridge Trail to Skyland Trail continuing on Vistamont Trail to a small section of Holt-Clark Cutoff to the Holt Trail and finally back out on the Manning Trail where we started. There are many hiking and cross country skiing trails within the Mount Cardigan region.

It was quite a challenge just getting to this trailhead located at the AMC Cardigan Lodge. The GPS came in handy with navigating all of the backroads. There was also some areas of very thick fog. When I arrived at the trailhead the fog had cleared and it was a nice warm morning. Jill, Robin and Amy arrived soon after I did. Jim would arrive later and take a direct route to the summit of Mount Cardigan.

Robin and Amy were carrying extra heavy packs training for their upcoming hike on the John Muir Trail in California. We started up the Manning Trail and it was an easy ascent to the start of the ledges. Once the ledges started they continued for a good portion of the loop. The trail followed the ledges to the summit of Firescrew Mountain and over to Mount Cardigan. We stopped several times on this hike to enjoy the ripened blueberries along the way. 

When we arrived at Mount Cardigan Jim was waiting for us. He had been there for about an hour and told us he even took a nap. We took a long break here for eating and photos. This was Jill's final summit to complete the 52 With a View list. This summit definitely deserves to be included on this list. The views were spectacular!

We started our descent down more ledges on our way over to South Peak. There were trail signs everywhere pointing to different trails in almost every direction, it could get confusing if one did not have a good trail map. After a quick stop on South Peak we continued on to Orange Mountain. Another quick stop here and we began an abrupt descent on the Vistamont Trail. It was a pleasant hike back to the parking lot. 

This was one of the most enjoyable hikes that I have ever done. The weather was great, trails were enjoyable, had some fun ledge scrambling, blueberries were tasty, the views from every summit were spectacular and I was able to share all of this with an awesome group of hiking friends! 

I have never hiked in this area before today so it was new trails and summits for me, I also checked off another summit on the 52 With a View list. Congratulations to Jill for completing her list!

Enjoy the photos and videos!

Moon setting on my drive to the trailhead

This deer crossed the road then turned around and looked back at me

The hike starts here

This tree hangs over the trail

Grisette mushroom

Retiboletus griseus

The ledge scrambling starts here and only gets better

Golden scalycap

A large boulder being held up by a smaller boulder

Coming up onto the start of exposed ledges

Awesome views begin here

A tree root is used to get up this piece of ledge

Following the cairns up this ledge

Robin walks along a ledge

Looks like the summit up ahead but it's not

Amy and Jill having some ledge scrambling fun

A view of the Cardigan fire tower from Firescrew Mountain

Mountain "frog pond"

Robin and Amy follow the blaze straight up the ledge

Made the turn and heading over to Mount Cardigan

On Firescrew Mountain

Up the ledge to Mount Cardigan

Ledge scrambling to the summit of Cardigan

Fire tower on Mount Cardigan

Jill completes the 52 With a View list on Mount Cardigan

We took a nice break on Mount Cardigan

A look back at Firescrew Mountain

Beginning the descent off Cardigan and over to South Peak

Descending exposed ledges from the summit

A look back up at the fire tower

The ledge continues

A view across the slope

Granite designs

So many trails and so many ways to take a wrong turn

South Peak ahead

On the summit of South Peak

Mount Cardigan from South Peak

More signs and more ways to get lost

On Orange Mountain

A look back at Mount Cardigan from Orange Mountain

Traversing one final granite ledge before dropping into the trees

It's mushroom season

Crossing a brook

More signs!

A caution notice

A temporary bridge

This bridge will be replaced

Back at the parking area

Map of the many hiking and XC ski trails in the Mount Cardigan region

East view from Firescrew Mountain

West view from Firescrew Mountain

View from Mount Cardigan

View from South Peak

View from Orange Mountain

Having Fun in the Great Outdoors!