Top to bottom, obstacles have been cleared to afford a clear view of the Presidential Range at Hedgehog Mountain in Freeport.

Not long after Eagle Scout Quinton Libsack cleared small trees and limbs at the peak of the small mountain off Pownal Road, Brian Berkemeyer and his son, Abrin, completed work contracted with the town to build two new footbridges at the base, to replace the old ones that were rotting. In addition an intern from the National Park Service is developing a new sign system for the land, which will be in place by the fall.

Hedgehog Mountain is a 196-acre property owned by the town. Some five miles of trails lead visitors up Hedgehog Mountain, which is the highest point in Freeport.

A trail planning committee includes managers of the town-owned properties of the Hedgehog Mountain area, including the Freeport Conservation Commission, Regional School Unit 5, Freeport Public Works and the Freeport Planning Department. Brian Berkemeyer, coach of the Freeport High School cross-country team that uses the nearby Pownal Road Fields, has visited the trails for years. In addition to Hedgehog Mountain and Pownal Road Fields, the trail system includes the Hunter Road Fields and the largely undeveloped Keith property.

“I think these fields are a huge asset for the towns,” Berkemeyer said. “You have so many different uses for them. There are single-track hiking trails, mountain biking trails, running trails. The vision is to have one maintained trail with signs off it for multiple uses. It’s just about getting people out. Hedgehog is the only mountain in Freeport.”

The bridges the Berkmeyers just built are only half a mile from the peak of Hedgehog Mountain. They had worn out with age.