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Mt. Abraham

Mt. Abram Twp., Salem Twp.

Photo: Looking toward the summit of Mt. Abraham

Vital Statistics

  • Size: 4,033 acres
  • Regulated: N/A
  • Non-Regulated: N/A
  • Upland: 4,033 acres
  • Forested Wetland (NWI): 0 acres
  • Non-Forested Wetland: 0 acres
  • Open Water: 0 acres
  • Roads: trails-~4 miles
  • Biophysical Mahoosucs/Rangeley Lakes
  • BPL Region: West
Map showing location of Mt. Abraham Ecoreserve

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Exemplary Natural Communities

Scientific Name Common Name State Rank Global Rank
Beech - Birch - Maple Forest Northern Hardwoods Forest S4 G3G5
Alpine Ecosystem Alpine Ecosystem S2 GNR
Labrador Tea Talus Dwarf - Shrubland Cold-air Talus Slope S2 G3G5
Aspen - Birch Woodland/Forest Complex Early Successional Forest S3 GNR
Crowberry - Bilberry Summit Bald Mid-elevation Bald S3 G2G3
Spruce - Fir - Birch Krummholz Spruce - Fir Krummholz S3 GNR
Spruce Talus Woodland Spruce Rocky Woodland S4 G3G5
Diapensia Alpine Ridge Windswept Alpine Ridge S1 G2G3

Rare Plants

Scientific Name Common Name State Rank Global Rank State Status
Vaccinium boreale Alpine Blueberry S2 G4 SC
Huperzia selago Alpine Clubmoss S2 G5 T
Carex bigelowii Bigelow's Sedge S2 G5 SC
Betula minor Dwarf White Birch S1 G3G4Q E
Epilobium hornemannii Hornemann's Willow-herb S1 G5 E
Diapensia lapponica Lapland Diapensia S2 G5 SC
Geocaulon lividum Northern comandra S2 G5 SC
Photo: Ecologists at summit of Mt. Abraham, showing view beyond

Rare Animals

There are no documented occurrences of rare animals within this Ecoreserve. For more information on rare animals in Maine, visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Description

The mountain's summit forms an extensive treeless ridge dominated by characteristic alpine vegetation. In fact, Mt. Abraham supports some of Maine's largest alpine habitat outside of Mt. Katahdin. Three different types of alpine communities are present, and together these rare communities provide habitat for six rare plant species. One vegetation type in particular - diapensia alpine ridge -- occurs at only two other locations in Maine.

Photo: Labrador Tea Talus Dwarf-shrubland at Mt. Abraham

Lower slopes of the mountain contain mature hardwood and spruce forests with little to no signs of past harvesting. Some old growth spruce stands sampled in 1997 support trees over three hundred years old. Other noteworthy natural communities include fire-dependant, open canopy spruce woodlands and birch woodlands.

A fire warden's trail ascends from the southeast, and a spur trail extends southeast from the Appalachian Trail.

Resources

  • Cogbill, Charles V. 1998. An Ecological Assessment of Lands of Mead and SAPPI Corps. on Mounts Abraham and Saddleback, Maine. Appalachian Trail Conference final report.
Photo: Ecologist walking up trail at Mt. Abraham
Photo: Ecologist in a survey plot at Mt. Abraham