Most New England Hikers Haven’t Done This WMNF Loop (But Should!)

Most New England Hikers Haven’t Done This WMNF Loop (But Should!)

Welcome to New England Trails. Thanks for joining me today. It’s a beautiful mid-October day. I’m in the White Mountain National Forest in Western Maine. I’ll be hiking to Mount Caribou today. Here’s the trailhead. Not many people here today, just myself, and one other car. And I’ll be doing the route clockwise instead of counterclockwise. That seems like a lot of people do. I’m gonna go clockwise today just because I wanted to hit there’s a waterfall on this side of the trail and I was hoping to get to that earlier in the day because the sun won’t be on it, if there’s any water flowing even. AllTrails says it’s about 7.2 miles, 2000 feet elevation gain. I’ll see what it tacks in at at the end. Let’s get to it. I imagine that’s hard to do in the spring but it’s been uh pretty dry last few months so right now that stream is pretty low. So I’d just be aware of that if you come here in the spring. Definitely manageable. There’s enough rocks to cross, but especially down that way. Let’s keep going, though. About a mile from Kees Falls just over a mile into the trail. Going clockwise. I like this spot right here. I just want to get a quick shot. Yeah, right here. I could just spend all day at little spots like this. Just love it. But. I’ve got a mountain to hike today. I can’t spend all day here. Yeah, I’m gonna stop up here. Gotta keep moving. There’s probably a lot to see on this trail. I heard there was a uh [clicks] heard there’s quite a few brook crossings, so I can’t get stuck at every single one. I mean stuck in a good way, of course. I’m the kind of hiker that any time I see something interesting, I just take a moment to stop and appreciate it. Could be anything from a tree with moss on it, rocks with moss on it, some interesting light to simple brook crossings like that. I just love it all out here. It’s all beautiful. So I had to take my gloves off because it’s warming up enough. Feels like it’s about maybe 40 degrees now (Fº). But there’s supposed to be a little bit of wind at the summit maybe 15 miles an hour winds, we’ll see. Got my jacket, hat, just in case. Hoping it’s not too bad. Two miles into the trail. Should be getting pretty close to the waterfall now. I’ll keep an eye out for it. and an ear out. I’m hoping there’s some decent flow. So the past, I don’t know, two months or so, we’ve been in a pretty bad drought here in New England, but it did rain quite a bit, about two, three days ago. I can hear the water flowing down there, just in the the brook downstream from it. So hopefully there’s some decent flow at the waterfall today. I haven’t been to this waterfall. A little waterfall. Any waterfall is nice, though. Looking forward to seeing it. It’s probably hard to see in the video here, but this is a pretty steep slope that we’re on here. So there’s something to be cautious of with your footing, trying to see how narrow the trail is and it goes down pretty steep at like 45 degree angle or so. Pretty cool feeling, though, honestly. I think this is it. AllTrails has it up a bit up trail. I’m just gonna check this out real quick. Just from looking at it from above, oh yeah, I don’t think there’s a way down, though. At least not part of the trail. uh I guess I’ll cross and go down. But I believe that’s it. That, you know, kind of resembles the pictures of what I’ve seen, where it kind of flows down a mossy rock. So I’ll bring you down there. Okay, yeah, this looks like the best way. Pretty sure that’s it down here. Tiny bit of a scramble to get down, but manageable for most. Here we go. I’m pretty sure. Pretty sure this is it. Wonder if this tree can support me Here we go, oh my gosh. Didn’t break. All right. Oh, yeah, nice. Okay, it’s definitely it. Not a lot of flow today, but I can see that would be a nice waterfall. It was flowing more heavily. All right, we’re about 2.5 miles into the trail. Left Kees Falls a few minutes ago. Probably a tenth of a mile. We’re getting the spots on the trail, where it’s just a little hard to figure out exactly which side you need to be on. Of course, right here, it seems pretty obvious but this is a nice spot up here, too. If there was more water flowing I’d definitely stop here. But we’ll keep moving here. Like right here, not sure where exactly to go, But that’s there. Let’s see here. I’m gonna guess. this way. Hmm. Okay, I think it’s up here. I believe this is it. Definitely slowing down the pace a little bit, just trying to find the right way to navigate. This looks right, though. Yeah, this is it. All right, we are three miles into the trail. It is starting to get a little steeper now. Of course, where we are at this very moment isn’t too steep, but a little bit behind us was a little bit of a just a little bit of a steep grade to get to here, but I believe from here on out, it will be a steeper part of the trail. The first two miles or so, were relatively easy goin’ just in terms of grade. But here, it’s starting to get a little bit steeper. Not recording the entire hike just because I don’t have enough battery to do what I’m expecting in terms of time here today. So again, just giving you little snidbits here and there, of the trail today. Getting pretty close to the top of Caribou, probably a mile out, maybe a mile and a half or so. Of course, I look like a liar. Looks nice and flat right here. I promise, it does get steeper and it will. But we’ll be just fine. I can feel the wind picking up, even down here. And we’re on the opposite side of the mountain the direction of the wind today. So I imagine the summit will be pretty windy today, as forecasted which according to mountain-forecast.com it said 15 mile an hour winds, potentially more with the wind gusts. See how it is. But I packed appropriate layers for it to be a lot colder than it is right now. So we’re about three and a half miles into the trail with about three-quarters of a mile left till the summit. We’re getting uh we’re going through this little ravine area looking thing on the map, getting ready to hang a right to the last stretch of Caribou. Getting close. Let’s get there. It’s always hard to show exactly how steep it is, but that was pretty steep. Got my heart rate up a little bit. Getting ready, uh for Caribou. This is our intersection. We’ll be hanging a right up here. Here we are at the summit of Caribou. Wow 360 views There it is, officially. elevation It’s faded out. Wow, it’s nice up here. Here’s Washington, Presidentials. Beautiful. Heading back on trail. Just left the summit of Caribou. Gotta go back and around to get to the rest of the open spots. Some of the other views, part of the part of the loop. There are more views to come. I think there’s the one that faces the opposite direction, too. If I’m going the right way, that could help. Yeah, going the right way. Down yonder, up and around. then it opens back up. Is that caribou poop? There’s no caribou up here. Maybe there are on Mt Caribou. More views views for days We’re gonna do some more exploring just around the top here. There’s some exposed granite kind of throughout the area here. Looks like there’s a lot of spots for just nice vantage points, really. So let’s check it out. Wow This really is a great mountain. There’s just so many spots to hang out and grab some lunch. Everywhere you go, there’s another viewpoint. Staying on the rock to protect the vegetation here. It’s definitely easy to do so – to stay on the rocks. This is incredible This place is something special, man. I’m telling you, this is one of my new favorite mountains. I can’t believe I’ve never been here before and I cannot wait to come back. So I’ll be getting off of Caribou soon. Right now I’m just soaking in the views for a couple more minutes. I’m thinking back on the trail. Overall, I’d say it was a difficult trail, honestly mostly because of the navigation towards the, I mean, pretty much the entire trail There was a lot of points where it was really hard to stay on trail even know where the trail was. Even up here, there’s a few cairns here and there. But in the woods, it was definitely difficult to know exactly where you needed to go. But otherwise, the grade itself wasn’t too bad. You know, I mean, it’s still, you know, a good amount of elevation gain, almost 2,000 feet. But that’s not the difficult part of it, per se. I would say it’s more on like the moderate to difficult side With it being in the grade that it is Otherwise, there was a few scrambles, nothing too significant but very much a trail that was very worth every single step. And I would gladly do this again, even if it was further miles. But yeah, thank you for joining me today. Hope you enjoyed it.

Located in the Eastern White Mountain National Forest, let’s take a peaceful journey to the summit of Caribou Mountain. This Maine hiking adventure is a true hidden gem (and I don’t say that lightly). It’s a hike that surprisingly doesn’t get much traffic (even during peak foliage), yet offers a spectacular and open summit. If you’re looking for a moderate to difficult hike that rewards your effort with breathtaking, 360º views, then you’ll want to add Caribou Mountain to your list!

In this video, I’ll guide you through the key moments with light narration. We’ll experience the remote Kees Falls, the steady climb through a classic New England forest, and finally, that incredible, wide-open summit with various patches of panoramic views, including a western-facing view of the Presidential Range. This is the perfect New England hiking experience for anyone seeking a challenging yet profoundly rewarding day on the trail.

Quick Details
🏔️ Caribou Mountain, White Mountain National Forest
📍 Location: South Oxford, Maine
🪧 Trail: Mud Brook and Caribou Loop via the Mud Brook Trail and Caribou Trail.
📏 Round-Trip Distance: approximately 7.8-8.5 miles (AllTrails vs. Garmin watch)
📈 Elevation Gain: approximately 2,100 feet
⏱️ Average Time: 4-6 hours
🚘 Parking: Parking is at the large trailhead on Route 113. IMPORTANT NOTE: Route 113 is subject to seasonal road closures typically from late fall through late spring. The western trailhead used in this video is inaccessible during this period. I have not yet accessed the eastern trailhead. I recorded this video on Columbus Day weekend, and it was still open. If you’re looking for hikes to do next spring/summer, add this to your list I promise it’s worth the wait 😊

Trail Highlights & Features
🏞️ Breathtaking 360-Degree Summit: A massive, exposed rock summit with endless spots to relax and take in the scenery.
🗻 Iconic White Mountains Views: Unobstructed views facing West toward the majestic Presidential Range.
🌲 Kees Falls: A beautiful waterfall along the Mud Brook Trail.
🍂 Stunning Foliage: This is a premier Maine White Mountains trail for fall colors (filmed 10/12/2025).
🚶‍♂️ A Solitary Adventure: As a less-traveled loop, it offers a sense of solitude and pristine wilderness.

Route options 🤔
If you’re looking to get the very few scrambles out of the way on your ascent, then go clockwise. If you’re looking to reach the summit first and enjoy better views as you’re navigating along the trail, counter-clockwise is the better option for you. 

Difficulty 😮‍💨
Moderate to Difficult. Features a steady elevation gain and a few minor scrambles. The trail has long stretches with few or no blazes, and you’re out of cell range. Bring a map, GPS, or an offline map app, and be confident with route-finding. Expect roots, rocks, and some mud on early-season or wet days. This hike is best suited for experienced day hikers or adventurous newcomers who are comfortable with longer mileage (8+ miles) and sustained elevation gain. It’s great for: hikers who love panoramic summits, waterfall side trips, and quiet New England trails. It’s less ideal for: beginner hikers who are uncomfortable with route-finding or long climbs.

📢 Disclaimer & Trail Etiquette:
Always check the latest weather and trail conditions before you head out. The White Mountain National Forest is a dynamic environment; trail conditions can change. This hike can be challenging to navigate at times due to a lack of blazes, so bring a physical map and/or a reliable GPS. Please practice Leave No Trace principles to keep our wild spaces beautiful for everyone. Hike at your own risk and ability level. 

Chapters
0:00:00 – intro, hike details
0:01:02 – first mile, stream crossing
0:02:49 – second mile, streams and forest
0:08:54 – third mile, Kees Falls
0:16:59 – fourth mile, final stretch
0:23:49 – Caribou summit
0:26:38 – exploring the views
0:32:09 – trail review

About New England Trails:
My name is Ben Moreau, a New Hampshire native who loves being outdoors. Most of the videos I post are from my solo hikes, but occasionally, I include hikes that I’ve done with friends or family. I keep narration to a minimum and provide you only with the pertinent details you need to know. These videos are designed to help you plan your next hike or enjoy nature in New England. If you find peace in the quiet of nature and are seeking inspiration for your next hike, then you’re in the right place. I post a new video every month with shorts about every week.

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