Maine abounds in natural wonders from one end of the state to the other: The Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island; Moxie Falls east of The Forks; Gulf Hagas (Maine’s Grand Canyon) at the start of the Hundred Mile Wilderness; Galilee Pond up in the Deboullie Preserve with its towering cliffs; the trail around Monhegan Island; the view over Attean Lake from the height of land just below Jackman … and on and on.

And hidden away on a hillside just outside of Phillips in Franklin County is a less-visited but nonetheless captivating example of the wonders of nature that surround us: Daggett Rock (sometimes referred to as Daggett’s Rock). Haven’t heard of it? Neither have a lot of people. Despite having lived in the area myself for several years it was only recently that I took the drive up Wheeler Hill Road less than a mile and a half from Phillips on Route 142 heading toward Salem and Kingfield.

After going up the road for about two and a half miles, you’ll spot a sign at a trailhead on the left side of the road, across from a small parking area. The trail climbs a couple hundred feet over a relatively short distance to an opening revealing a genuine natural wonder: Maine’s largest glacially transported erratic, a huge egg-shaped granite boulder split into three large fragments. Rock climbing aficionados from near and far are familiar with the rock as it offers some outstanding climbing features with prominent aretes, cracks, slabs and faces that can take the climber over 20 feet off the ground.

The rock, estimated to weigh 8,000 tons, measures 80 feet long, 50 feet wide and 25 feet high, and its placement results from the action of an advancing glacier placing it, geologists tell us, a considerable distance from its point of origin. When the glacier retreats, boulders like this one are left behind and are referred to as glacial erratics. It is assumed, based on its crystal structure and geochemical makeup, that this particular example originated a dozen miles to the northwest in the vicinity of Saddleback Mountain around 10,000 years ago.

The rock, and the surrounding land, are owned by the town of Phillips, and the local historical society takes great pride in the fact that Daggett Rock has been identified by some authorities as the biggest boulder in the eastern United States. The rock takes its name from the Daggett family, who donated the property to the town in the early 1900s.

A local legend maintains that a couple hundred years ago, a woodsman named Daggett, angry because of a raging storm, and somewhat inebriated, climbed the rock, took the Lord’s name in vain and raged that he couldn’t be struck down. A vengeful God unleashed a lightning strike, killing him and splitting the rock into its current configuration.

Geologists have offered a more plausible but less colorful explanation: The rock probably split while it was being deposited by the glacier.

Since your trip to Phillips takes you to one of the most beautiful parts of the state, why not plan a visit to two more of Maine’s natural wonders, Smalls Falls on the Sandy River in Madrid, and Angel Falls over in Roxbury off scenic Route 17?

You can’t miss Smalls Falls as you head north up Route 4, as there’s a sweet picnic area on your left just above Madrid. Three cascading falls distinguish this special stop.

Angel Falls is so named because when the flow is just right an angel appears. To reach the falls, proceed 17.8 miles north from the intersection of Routes 2 and 17 in Mexico. An unmarked road departs to the left, and you’ll notice a bridge. Turn there and go 3.6 miles where you’ll see another unmarked road on your left. You’ll go down a hill to a parking area that features a boulder. From there it’s less than a half-hour hike, including a stream to ford at the start that recommends a fall rather than a spring visit.

I’d suggest you might save the excursion for foliage season, as the trip over the height of land south of Oquossoc, with its glorious view out over Mooselookmeguntic Lake to the west, is one of Maine’s most-photographed autumn spectacles.

John Christie is a former ski racer and ski area manager and owner, a ski historian and member of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. He and his son, Josh, write columns on alternating weeks. He can be reached at:

jchristie@fairpoint.net