It is sometimes the lower, quieter mountains that can offer the deepest insights into the world. Douglas Mountain, located in Sebago, Maine, is one of those mountains. Referred to by some as Douglas Hill, it offers the natural beauty that sets the state apart, while also having trails that are short enough to do in under an hour, if you’re in a hurry. Douglas Mountain’s trails are the sort locals do in sneakers when the leftover springtime snow mingles with the mud, and in sandals when the warmer days of Summer hit. While located in one of Maine’s most popular vacation regions, as soon as you enter the woods of Douglas Mountain, you are transported to another world.
With an elevation of just 1,381 feet (421 m), it is short enough to become the mountain you return to again and again. These mountains often provide one with a keen understanding of the nature of mountain. John Muir wrote about the changing of the seasons in his stomping grounds in the Sierra Nevadas on the other side of the country. For those tucked up into the recesses of northern New England but not exactly removed from the daily notifications of chirping cell phones and emails that need answering, Douglas Mountain is a hardwood haven.
Escape into the safe embrace of the canopy and explore the rocky trails. Be on the lookout for the roots and rocks that threaten to trip the oblivious. The Woods Trail is the most direct route between the summit and the parking lot, while the Nature Loop is the sucker at the end of the Eagle Scout Trail’s stick, located on the other side of the hill. How many licks it takes to get to the top of mountain is up to you to find out; none of the trails are long enough to make you wonder how much further? But they are just long enough to stimulate that inner appreciation of nature that a good visit to the mountains tends to awaken. At the top of Douglas Mountain is a stone observation tower, from which one can see west to the Whites and east to the Atlantic on the clearest days. The cool rock floor of the summit is the perfect place for picnic in the Spring and Summer.
In a region of the United States known for its unforgiving winters and unpredictable mountain weather, mountain lovers must make do with what they can. Not every day is the right day for a 3,000-foot elevation gain, nor does everyone have the time to go off tramping amongst the trees for days or weeks on end. And so, Mainers turn to the smaller peaks of the Pine Tree State. If you happen to find yourself in Southern Maine and itching for a hike that won’t wear you out, then head out to Douglas Mountain. Wear orange during hunting season to minimize your risk of being mistaken for a deer.
