Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument · Maine

Lichen Trail

0.6 mi of trail, end to end · 200 ft of descent · 962 ft–1,148 ft · gravel surface

1,148 ft 962 ft · 0.6 mi high 1,148 ft

Hike the Lichen Trail the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · dogs allowed

Start Lichen Trail

A hiker at the gravel trailhead area with a view of Katahdin, a tall mountain in the distance.
View at Lichen Trailhead. Photo: NPS / R.Wang

Lichen Trail is an out and back hike near the Katahdin Loop Road Overlook. It is one of the shorter day hikes available within Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The Lichen Trail is approximately 1.2 miles/1.9km round trip with an elevation gain of 201ft/31.3m. Enjoy a scenic view of Katahdin as you hike on the Lichen Trail. Shade is limited in this area. Plan accordingly.

Trail Details

Start the hike by parking at the trailhead just north of the Katahdin Loop Road Overlook (45.84831,-68.74678). Please do not block the trailhead when parking. The hike begins with a gradual downhill, but you will have to hike back uphill to your vehicle.

As you hike along the trail, notice the Pink Earth Lichen (Dibaeis baeomyces) covering the trail surface. It is a light pink color and only a few millimeters in height. There are a variety of lichen that exist in the monument. How many types can you observe on this trail? Lichen may be small, but they play an important role in many ecosystems. Notice the different types of trees and signs of wildlife in this area as well.

Follow the sandy gravel trail to the bottom where it meets up with Rocky Pond Road multiuse trail before turning around and hiking back up to the same trailhead where you started.

Reminder: Carry out all trash and food waste (fruit peels, shells, etc.). Do not feed the wildlife.

Accessibility The Lichen trail has a sandy, gravel surface with an approximate elevation gain of 201ft / 61.3m. The round-trip distance is 1.2 miles (1.9km) from the trailhead. There is no toilet or potable water at this location. The parking is not marked with designated vehicle spaces. Park alongside the trailhead area and completely off the gravel road. Do not block the road or trailhead.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 41 trails in Katahdin Woods and Waters National MonumentFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.