Fire Warden's and Horns Pond Trail Loop

This route begins and ends at the Fire Warden's Trailhead after completing a tour of Bigelow Preserve. Begin at the Fire Warden's Trailhead off Stratton Brook Pond Road. Follow Esker's Trail north. At 0.7 miles, turn left onto Fire Warden's Trail. At 1.8 miles, pass the junction with the Horns Pond Trail on the left, continuing straight on the Fire Warden's Trail. The climb steepens significantly along a brook and over stone stairs. At 4.1 miles, reach the Bigelow Col and the junction with the Appalachian Trail. Turn left on the Appalachian Trail. Climb 0.2 miles and approximately 350 vertical feet to the summit of Mount Bigelow at 4,145 feet. Continue west along the ridge on the Appalachian Trail, passing over the Horns at 6.2 miles, to reach Horns Pond at 6.7 miles. At 6.9 miles, turn left onto the Horns Pond Trail to head south. Follow this trail down to the junction with the Fire Warden's Trail at 9.0 miles. Turn right and retrace your steps for 2.0 miles back to the trailhead.