The Franklin-Somerset county line passes through the Bigelow Preserve. When submitting eBird observations at the preserve, it is most helpful to start a new checklist for each hotspot within the preserve. Use the general hotspot when you have a checklist that includes multiple locations in Franklin County or if no other hotspot or personal location is appropriate for your sightings.

Located in western Maine just east of the village of Stratton about 40 miles north of Farmington, Bigelow Preserve includes over 36,000 acres of Public Land. The preserve encompasses the entire Bigelow Range, which includes seven summits. The highest of these at 4,150 feet is West Peak, one of only 10 Maine summits over 4,000 feet in elevation. Bounded on the north by 20,000-acre Flagstaff Lake, the preserve offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Flagstaff Lake is part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a historic 740-mile water trail through New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Bigelow Mountain is designated as a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior,