Appalachian Trail: Barren - Chairback Range

The Barren-Chairback Range rises to just 2670 feet at its highest point, making it one of the lower mountain chains crossed by the AT in Maine. But this little range makes up in ruggedness what it lacks in altitude. In just 16.2 miles, the trail crosses five major summits, ascending and descending a total of nearly 4000 vertical feet. This is a challenging backpack trip over tough terrain that repeatedly rewards hikers with panoramic vistas of the Maine woods and, on a clear day, gives distant glimpses of Katahdin's granite summit. This range is remote, and there are no practical early exit opportunities or resupply points over the length of the hike.