Directions to trail head. From south end of Somesville turn west onto Pretty Marsh Road. In about 0.2-0.3 miles, turn left onto Beech Hill Road. (This turn is easy to pass as it is just over a hill and in a curve.) Travel to the end of Beech Hill Road to the Beech Mountain parking lot. The trail head is at the northwest corner of this parking lot.

Trail details. In a short distance, there is a fork in the trail with both choices leading to the summit of Beech Mountain. The left fork is shorter and steeper and the right fork is a bit longer and not as steep. The route followed below is to the left.

Here is a representative portion of the trail.

After gain some elevation, you can look back and see a house and field on the west side of Beech Hill Road (the road you took to reach the parking lot where you started this climb) and Echo Lake.

Soon the tower will be in front of you, but ...

... before you reach the tower, there will be a trail intersection. To reach the summit, turn left. Going right will take you back to the parking lot by the longer and less steep route mentioned above. The right hand turn will also take you to an intersection with the Beech Mountain West Ridge Trail (ANP #108) that leads to the south end of Great (Long) Pond.

You can climb the steps of the tower, but access to the enclosed top of the tower is locked. From the summit of Beech Mountain there is a good view to the east toward Sargent Mountain and Cadillac Mountain beyond and ...

... to the south toward Greening Island and the islands of the town of Cranberry Isles.

As you begin down take a left at the trail sign (0.7 miles, 1.1 km to the Beech Mountain parking area), and you will see on the left what seems to have been a former outhouse.

Later on the left is the intersection with the Beech Mountain West Ridge Trail (ANP #108).

Beyond that intersection are views to the west (left) of Great (Long) Pond with Mansell Mountain above (you can see portions of the Great (Long) Pond trail (ANP #118) along the west side of the pond) ...

... and views to the south (in front of you) of the southern neck (toward the left) and northern neck (toward the right) of Great (Long) Pond.

You will continue to descend and shortly before reaching the parking lot, you will pass on the right the fork where you turned left near the beginning of your hike.

To contribute to this web page: All information (including images) should be e-mailed to info@vfthomas.com or sent by traditional mail to MDI Trails and Memorial Paths, c/o V. F. Thomas Co.; P. O. Box 400; Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.