We embarked on this adventure with two cars, parking one at the end of the A-Z trail, specifically in the Saco Lake parking area near the AMC Highland Center. We then drove the second car to the trailhead on Willey Station Road, following signs for the Appalachian Trail (AT) and Ripley Falls. Our journey began on the Ethan Pond Trail, which is part of the AT, and we proceeded toward the Willey Range Trail. The first mile was relatively easy, but the final stretch leading to Mount Willey proved to be quite steep.
Upon reaching Mount Willey’s summit, marked by a large cairn with no views, we continued along the Willey Range Trail towards Mount Field. The section in between was not overly difficult, but the ascent to Mount Field was steep.
Mount Field’s summit did not offer any views, but there was a lookout point just off to the side. The hike was quite dog-friendly, with many canine companions joining their owners on the trail. There was no need to help Java up any of the climbs, as there were no significant boulder scrambles. However, some sections were rocky, so be sure to pay attention to your dog’s paws for their comfort and safety.