The Traveler across Scraggly Lake from Owl’s Head
Scraggly Lake is one of several lakes north of Grand Lake Road east of Baxter State Park. It’s a quiet, remote place. A lake surrounded by rolling, forested hills and dotted with rocky islands. Owl’s Head is one of those hills. It rises east of the lake near its north arm. Near the top of the hill are two rocky outcroppings that offer fine views of the lake and the mountains in Baxter. The hike is 3.4 miles lollipop (a long stick and a small sucker) with only 505 feet of climbing.
To get there, follow ME159 west out of Patten towards Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Drive 15.9 miles, passing Shin Pond to Seboeis River. Cross the river and drive another 0.7 miles. Turn right onto Scraggly Lake Road (there’s a sign). Drive 10.4 miles, passing the bridge over Sawtelle Stream (where the trailhead for Sawtelle Falls is), Sawtelle Deadwater, and several side roads. You pass the sign for Scraggly Lake Reserved Land 2.6 miles before the trailhead. The trailhead is on the right just before the bridge over Scraggly Brook. There’s a large informational sign at the trailhead.
The hike:
0.0 The trail leads into the woods behind the parking area and just to the right of the sign.
0.6 The trail roughly follows the shore of the arm of Scraggly Lake that becomes the outlet stream. The trail mostly wanders through dense cedars but also crosses a small hill. The trail comes to a bench on the shore of the lake just opposite the boat launch.
Nearing the first bench
0.9 After the first bench, the trail follows the shore around a shallow cove to a second bench.
The second bench
1.2 The trail stays close to the shore, but begins to climb a side hill. An marked trail leads down to the lake. This little trail is hike access for people who boated across the lake to Owl’s Head. There is a trail sign facing the lake.
Beginning to climb away from the shore
1.3 The trail begins to climb a rocky slope. Turn right at the intersection and climb steep steps.
The first steps
1.4 The trail climbs the rocky slope to the first overlook. It is unmarked, but it’s obvious where to turn left away from the trail and walk out onto the open ledges. You have an expansive view of Scraggly Lake and the surrounding country. The mountains of Baxter rise behind the hill across the lake. The Traveler dominates the view, but Katahdin peeks out from behind it. You can also see Mt Chase, Sugarloaf, and Deasy Mountain (in the distance).
Looking west from the overlook
1.6 The trail turns east, away from the lake after the overlook and climbs to the summit. The trail actually passes north of the wooded summit and leads instead to a rocky outcropping. If you leave the trail and hike west 50 feet across the outcropping, you get another great view of the lake and surrounding mountains. This view is more obstructed than the lower overlook, but offers better views north.
Looking northwest from the upper overlook.
Looking across the rocky outcropping to the upper overlook.
1.7 At the rocky outcropping near the upper overlook, the trail turns east (right) and begins to descend. The trail drops quickly down the steep slope to the lake shore.
The beginning of the descent
2.1 The trail loops around Owl’s Head above the lake and beneath the steep, rocky slope topped by the two overlooks. When you reach the intersection, go straight and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
3.4 Arrive back at the trailhead.
Scraggly Brook from the bridge near the trailhead.