Aerial imagery: USGS National Map (public domain)
Lightning Ledge — Benches 13.7 Miles NNW of Chapman Inn
Oxford County, Maine · USGS Puzzle Mountain Quadrangle · GNIS 569547
13.7 miles north-northwest of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Puzzle Mountain topographic quadrangle, Lightning Ledge is a bench terrace recorded in Oxford County, Maine by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Puzzle Mountain 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Lightning Ledge in Oxford County, Maine (FIPS 23/017), classified as a bench terrace in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 569547). Catalogued in GNIS since 09/30/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Lightning Ledge sits at 44.59395° N, 70.87035° W (DMS 44°35′38″ N, 70°52′13″ W).
Features on the USGS Puzzle Mountain Quadrangle
The Puzzle Mountain 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 15 catalogued natural features alongside Lightning Ledge. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dresser Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.6 mi |
| Wight Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 1.7 mi |
| Black Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.8 mi |
| Long Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 2.6 mi |
| Chase Hill Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 3.2 mi |
| Branch Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 4.3 mi |
| Bald Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 4.9 mi |
| Puzzle Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 5.2 mi |
| Little Puzzle Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 5.3 mi |
| Lone Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 5.4 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 13.7 miles north-northwest (bearing NNW) of Lightning Ledge. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 23 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Generally accessible May through October; winter access depends on snow cover. At this latitude (44.594°), the shoulder seasons are workable — April and November can be comfortable on mild years. At 13.7 miles from the Inn, plan on a comfortable day trip with time for lunch on the road. Conditions at Lightning Ledge track the nearby Mount Hittie summit (0.8 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Lightning Ledge
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Hittie | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 0.8 mi |
| Baldpate Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.5 mi |
| Dresser Mountain | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.6 mi |
| West Peak | Summits | Oxford County, ME | 1.7 mi |
| Wight Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 1.7 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lightning Ledge located?
Lightning Ledge is in Oxford County, Maine, approximately 13.7 miles north-northwest of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Puzzle Mountain topographic quadrangle.
How far is Lightning Ledge from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 23 minutes, 13.7 miles north-northwest (bearing NNW) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Lightning Ledge?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Lightning Ledge as a bench terrace, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 569547 on the Puzzle Mountain quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Lightning Ledge?
Generally accessible May through October; winter access depends on snow cover.
Wikidata: Q49172822.