The final hike of the day was Barker Pond. Getting there felt like an adventure all on its own.
The trailhead is tucked well off the beaten path. To reach it, follow Flow Road off Route 28/30. The road is closed during the winter and is commonly used for logging operations, although we didn’t encounter any logging activity during our visit. In fact, the only other vehicle we saw was a single truck as we made our way down the long, dirt road.
And when I say long, I mean long. The road is rough, rocky, full of potholes, and seems to go on forever. I would highly recommend a vehicle with four-wheel drive. My poor Hyundai Elantra was definitely questioning my life choices by the end of it.
Eventually, you’ll come to a sign for Barker Pond and a side road branching off to the right. Follow that road even farther until you reach a small clearing that serves as the parking area.
Thankfully, the hike itself was short—less than half a mile to the pond. After the journey to get there, the walk felt like nothing at all.
We didn’t stay long, however. While exploring the designated camping area, we discovered a very fresh pile of bear scat. Naturally, I took the obligatory photo and then promptly decided it was time to leave. Sometimes nature gives you a subtle hint that you’ve stayed long enough.
Trip Stats
- Distance: 0.4 miles
- Total Time:13 minutes
- Elevation Gain/Loss: +19.4ft./-17.1ft.
- Weather: partly cloudy
- GPS System: Garmin eTrex20 (image below is from OnXBackcountry)
Rating
3/10
The spot pond was very overgrown and hard to see, and with the added bear scat, we didn’t stay long to find any other views/lookouts. Perhaps I’ll need to venture back someday…
Happy Hiking!
