A wrong turn, a quiet pond, and a view worth every step.

This week’s Route 5 adventure was a solo one.

I started in Center Lovell with a quick stop at the Center Lovell Market to stock up before hiking. They have a restaurant attached, but I was way too excited to get on the trail to sit down for breakfast.

So I went with the essentials instead.

Pickles – possibly the best hiking snack ever – and Gatorade.

Adventure fuel secured, I headed toward Sabattus Mountain.

Finding the general area was easy. There was a nice Route 5 sign pointing me toward Sabattus Mountain.

Finding the actual trailhead?

That was a different story.

Lovell was first known as New Suncook and was incorporated in 1800. The name was later changed to Lovell in honor of Captain John Lovewell.

The town is actually made up of several little communities – Lovell Village, Center Lovell, North Lovell, and West Lovell – which explains why it can feel like you’re driving through several tiny villages instead of one traditional downtown.

By the late 1800s, Lovell’s lakes and mountain scenery were already drawing summer visitors. Local families began taking in summer boarders, hotels were built, and eventually many visitors started building their own camps and cottages.

That summer-town feel is definitely still alive today, especially around Kezar Lake.

Center Lovell Inn
If you want the classic Maine inn experience, this one fits perfectly. The Center Lovell Inn is an old farmhouse dating to 1803, with mountain views and easy access to Kezar Lake, Fryeburg, and the White Mountains. I didn’t stay here, but after driving around Lovell, I can definitely see the appeal of waking up here and spending the day exploring the lakes and trails.

Kezar Lake Campsite
For a more traditional campground stay, Kezar Lake Campsite gives you a completely different option. This is the kind of place I would choose if I wanted to spend a few days actually slowing down and enjoying the area instead of just passing through. With camping close to Kezar Lake, it makes a good home base for hiking, paddling, swimming, and exploring the rest of Lovell.

Center Lovell Market
Center Lovell Market was my first stop of the day.

Along with food and snacks, they have a small gift area where I spotted several books by Maine crime novelist Gerry Boyle.

There is also a restaurant attached, but hiking won this particular battle.

I grabbed some pickles and Gatorade and headed back out.

The Loon’s Nest
If you’re looking for more of a sit-down meal, The Loon’s Nest at Kezar Lake Marina is another option I found for a future visit.

They have indoor seating as well as decks overlooking Kezar Lake, plus lunch and dinner and even an ice cream window.

Lake view plus ice cream?

I may need to investigate this personally.

Sabattus Mountain
This was the reason I came to Lovell.

The turn off Route 5 was clearly marked, so initially I thought finding the trail was going to be easy.

Then the signs disappeared.

GPS wasn’t much help either, and somewhere along the way I completely missed Sabattus Trail Road.

Instead, I accidentally found Cushman Pond.

Cushman Pond
Honestly, there are worse places to end up after a wrong turn.

I stumbled across a boat launch at Cushman Pond and stopped for a few minutes to look around. It was quiet, pretty, and gave me a chance to regroup and figure out where I had gone wrong.

Eventually, I turned around and headed back the way I came.

This time I spotted it – Sabattus Trail Road.

Down the dirt road I went.

And went.

And went.

I was just starting to wonder if I had somehow screwed this up again when finally –

Parking area! Success.

The Hike

Only one other car was in the lot when I arrived.

I grabbed my pack, absolutely doused myself in bug spray after learning my lesson at Mount Cutler, and headed into the woods.

Sabattus Mountain is a short loop trail, but don’t let the mileage fool you.

About halfway up, I started questioning some of my recent life choices.

There are some pretty steep sections, and there are roots.

So. Many. Roots.

I would get through one steep section, feel accomplished for approximately twelve seconds, and then look up and realize there was another one.

But I kept going.

And then I reached the top.

Suddenly I wasn’t thinking about the climb anymore.

The view was amazing.

For a hike that’s less than a mile to the summit, the payoff is ridiculous.

I found a spot, sat down, drank some Gatorade, ate my pickles, and just stayed there for a while.

No rushing to the next stop.

No one waiting for me.

Just me and that view.

Eventually I had to head back down, but there’s another thing I really liked about the trail – it’s a loop.

I will take a loop trail over an out-and-back almost every time. I like feeling like I’m still exploring instead of simply retracing my steps.

And despite it being a beautiful summer day, it wasn’t crowded at all. During the entire hike I only passed three other groups.

If you want a relatively short hike with a big payoff and a little peace and quiet, this one absolutely delivered.

Don’t depend on having cell service to find the Sabattus Mountain trailhead.

Route 5 gets you pointed in the right direction, but once you’re off the main road, the signage isn’t great.

You’re looking for Sabattus Trail Road, and the parking area is down that road.

And bring bug spray.

After Mount Cutler, I wasn’t taking any chances.

The bugs did not win this round.

Every town connects to the next by road – not by chance.

ME Route 5
North: Stoneham
South: Fryeburg

ME Route 93
South: Bridgton

I think Lovell may be one of my favorite stops on Route 5 so far.

Not because there was a huge downtown or a long list of attractions.

There wasn’t.

I liked it because the whole day felt like an adventure.

I stopped at a little market for hiking snacks, took a wrong turn and found a pretty pond, drove down a dirt road wondering if I was completely lost, and then worked way harder than expected climbing a little mountain.

And at the top, I got one of the best views I’ve seen on this project so far.

Sabattus Mountain reminded me why I started adding hiking into these trips in the first place.

Sometimes you have to work a little for the good stuff.

And sometimes you have to get lost first.

Route 5 gets even quieter from here.

Next up I’m exploring Stoneham and Albany Township, including lakes, tiny back roads, and that famous sign that lets you travel from Norway to China without ever leaving Maine.

I’m also getting closer and closer to Bethel!

If you know something hidden along this stretch of Route 5 that I shouldn’t drive past, send it my way. These little towns are exactly where the best recommendations usually come from.

Progress Report – Approximately 75 of 118 Miles Explored
Old Orchard Beach  → Saco  → Biddeford  → Dayton  → Hollis  → Lyman  →  Waterboro → Limerick → Cornish → Baldwin → Hiram → Brownfield → Fryeburg → Lovell

Still to Come –
Stoneham → Albany Township → Bethel → Newry → Hanover → Rumford → Andover