By Karlee Biskup

It was the perfect day for a hike on Tumbledown Mountain in Western Maine. Three distinct trails – the Brook Trail, Parker Ridge Trail, and Loop Trail – all climb to Tumbledown Pond, also known as Crater lake, just below the summit. It wasn’t a tough decision to choose the Brook trail, the most direct route to the beautiful cliff faces, bald ridges, and the Alpine pond itself.

As the trail became steeper, the nearby brook created tiny waterfalls as it flowed down the mountain. There was no doubt that a dip in the pond was on the agenda after the upward climb, while others put their fishing poles to use. Although the hike can now be crossed off the bucket-list, camping at the summit is next!