Mt Molly

Hiking to the Top

The blue-blazed Mount Molly Trail runs about 1.4 miles across the mountain, following a wide foot path up from North Shore Road to the summit and continuing on an old logging road down toward Devil's Den Road, so you can reach the top from either direction. A typical round-trip from the main trailhead comes to roughly 3.1 miles with around 600 feet of elevation gain—moderate rather than strenuous, and an average of about an hour and a half for most hikers. The south-slope routing is largely singletrack, and a rocky overlook marked as the Molly Viewpoint punctuates the climb.↗↗↗

The network invites loop hikes. Pair the summit trail with the easy orange Valley Way through the valley east of Mount Molly, or add the green Owl's Head ridgeline—a pleasant walk through young beech forest and older hemlocks—to vary your route up and down. The purple Collins Path and yellow Chesley Connector offer short, gentle links from the parking area, useful for stretching out a loop without doubling back.↗↗

A note on navigation: the trails are well blazed overall, but signage at junctions can point to several routes to the summit, some of which wind the long way around. If you want the most direct line to the view, it is worth following a map or a trail app rather than relying on trail signs alone.↗

Beyond the Summit

Mount Molly is the centerpiece of a wider trail family, so there is more to explore once you have taken in the lake view. The red Homestead Trail, an old logging road running east to west, passes near the junction with Chesley Road by several weathered cellar holes—the remnants of the old Miles Chesley family settlement, a quiet touch of local history hidden among the trees.↗↗

Neighboring conservation areas and peaks extend the day further. Devil's Den Mountain and the white-blazed Devil's Den Direct offer a longer outing or a combined loop with Mount Molly; Mount Bet, to the north, has its own viewpoint over the western end of Merrymeeting Lake; and the greater Lakes Region around here also includes Copple Crown, Mount Eleanor, and Rattlesnake Mountain for the next hike. For a gentle wildlife walk, the Jones Brook Wildlife Trail is close by.↗↗

When to Go and What to Expect

The sweet spot is roughly April through November. In spring the woods come alive and the trail tends to stay dry even after rain, but that is also when black flies and bugs can be thick—go early in the day for the most comfortable walk. Summer and early autumn bring green canopies and, come fall, foliage framing the lake view, while winter turns the route into a snowshoeing or walking outing for the prepared.↗

Crowds are light and the experience is peaceful—part of its charm—making this a fine choice for a quiet escape or a kid- and dog-friendly morning out, with dogs kept on leash. The trade-off for the solitude is basic, no-frills facilities: a small free parking lot and marked trails rather than a developed park.↗↗