Saddleback Horn, also known as The Horn, rises to 4,023 feet in Franklin County, Maine, in the High Peaks region near Rangeley. The summit rock is primarily granodiorite, a granite-like igneous stone that formed more than 400 million years ago and defines much of the exposed ridgeline. The Appalachian Trail runs directly over the summit, and the peak is almost always climbed together with neighboring Saddleback Mountain, 1.6 miles to the southwest.
The standard route begins at the Saddleback ski area base lodge, climbing the Grey Ghost and Tri-Color ski trails to Saddleback's summit before continuing northeast along the open AT ridge to The Horn, covering roughly 6.8 miles round trip. The inter-summit ridge is mostly above treeline, with rocky footing, a few boulders requiring hands-on scrambling, and a short ladder just below The Horn's final pitch. Both summits are fully open and offer 360-degree views on clear days that reach across the Rangeley Lakes and the surrounding peaks.
The exposed ridgeline makes this route weather-sensitive; afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, winds can be fierce, and the upper slopes hold snow well into May. The open summit provides no shelter, so a close eye on the forecast before heading out is worthwhile.
