Ore Hill

This trail starts from a small parking lot off the south side of Orford Rd. The parking lot will hold about 5-6 cars and is a dirt pull-off that may be pretty muddy with lots of rain. From the parking area, head east on Orford Rd, go over the bridge, and you'll see the AT on the north side of the road. The trail enters the woods and immediately wanders across some well built elevated paths through a wetland and then climbs a gradual hill into the forest. The first 1.8 miles of the trail can be pretty swampy but there are always features close by to keep your feet dry. One section crosses a huge wetland with an amazing section of elevated trail that was built which hops from rock to rock to log platform for a few hundred yards!At 1.8 miles, the trail hits Cape Moonshine Rd (dirt road). Just beyond the road crossing is a well constructed trail stop for backpackers. Be sure to take some extra water to fill jugs and an extra bar or two to leave in the hanging bear bucket! Whoooo thru-hikers! After the trail stop, the trail runs up Ore Hill passing a campsite near the peak of the hill. After the main Ore Hill peak, the trail winds up and down two more smaller hills to the ending terminus at Lake Tarleton Rd.The trail winds through beautiful deciduous and pine forest for the entire hike and mainly consists of leaf-covered singletrack with lots of wet sections during the wet season.