While the twin peaks of Crocker Mountain may not be as high as nearby Sugarloaf nor as interesting as the quadruple peaks of Bigelow Mountain, this 4228-foot mountain in Maine's Carrabassett Region still offers a vigorous and pleasant day hike to the Appalachian Trail enthusiast. Perhaps the most notable part of this mostly wooded mountain is that the views from the lower but more defined and conical South Crocker are superior to the higher yet less distinct northern high point of the massif. Despite its proximity to Sugarloaf (just three and a half miles as the crow flies), a deep col gives North Crocker a prominence of more than 1200 feet.

The Crockers from Sugarloaf

Route choice is very easy as the only trail to the summit is the Appalachian Trail itself. One can approach from the north along Maine State Route 27 or from the south on the rugged and seasonal-use Caribou Valley Road (CVR). Most eastern peakbaggers approach these peaks from the north, which offers not only an easy to find trailhead and parking area but also a better section of trail for hiking. Starting at an elevation of 1400 feet, the Appalachian Trail climbs about 2800 feet over 5.2 miles to the summit of North Crocker, but at no point does the trail feel very steep. Footing is good and the climbing is fairly gentle in the early going, becoming more moderate in the mountain's upper reaches. After summiting North Crocker, the hiker will descend to about 3700 feet before climbing back over the 4000-foot mark on South Crocker. These two peaks are separated by only one mile of trail.

Nearby Mount Reddington - located one mile SSW of South Crocker - is also of interest to peakbaggers as recent surveys have placed it above the magical 4000-foot mark. Though tantalizingly close, Reddington should only be attempted from this point by those comfortable with off-trail navigation. When I finally climbed Reddington in 2000 (on my third try), it was via a thick and time-consuming bushwhack from South Crocker. Some recent reports, however, have suggested that a herd path has begun to develop between the two peaks.

If you don't mind a roadwalk, one can make a loop of this hike by descending the steep southbound section of Appalachian Trail which drops nearly 1900 feet in just 2.1 miles between South Crocker and Caribou Valley Road. From the A.T. crossing on CVR, Route 27 is 4.5 miles distant. The Crocker parking area is an additional 1.6 miles west (left turn) along Route 27.

Maine Mountain Guide and Maps are recommended.

Map #29 of DeLorme's Maine Atlas and Gazetteer is also useful.

Getting There
The Route 27 Appalachian Trail crossing is located about 5 miles east of the village of Stratton, Maine. This point is also 2.6 miles west of the Sugarloaf USA ski area.

South Crocker

Red Tape
There is certainly no red tape involved in hiking this section of the Appalachian Trail. However, those looking to approach these peaks from Caribou Valley Road should be aware that CVR is a seasonal use road whose maintainence depends upon the logging companies who utilize it. It has been reasonably well-kept in recent years although there have been some reports of deterioration in the last couple of years. Be prepared to walk.

When To Climb
Year-round climbing although this region receives heavy snowfall in the winter.

Camping

The Cirque of North Crocker
Camping is available at the Crocker Cirque tentsite along the Appalachian Trail. This campsite is located along a short spur path off the A.T. one mile west of Caribou Valley Road at an elevation of about 2700 feet. There are also several different tentsites available along the A.T. on neighboring Bigelow Mountain.

Contributed by RobA:
Miles are calculated from the north summit.
Cranberry Stream Campsite elev. 1,350 ft. 7.1 miles north on the A.T. Water source is the stream.
Crocker Cirque Campsite elev. 2,710 ft. 2.1 miles south on the A.T. Water source is the spring.
Source: 2002 A.T. Thru-Hikers Companion

External Links
Maine Appalachian Trail Club
MATC is a volunteer nonprofit corporation that manages 267 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, its facilities and corridor. MATC is a trail maintenance club, not a hiking club. Anyone is welcome to come out on trail work projects with the club or its Maine Trail Crew.

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