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Posted March 17
Updated May 30
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Hiking in Maine: A searchable guide to treks across the state
Find hikes by county, routes with waterfalls or trails within state parks, then grab your backpack and get out there.
If you’re aiming to hike just a little bit or you’re dead set on putting miles and miles between you and civilization, Maine’s the place to get it done.
The range of mountains in the state (pun intended) stretches from Mt. Agamenticus at 692 feet to towering Mt. Katahdin with its dual peaks of Baxter (5,269 feet) and Hamlin (4,756). Add in the flatlander trails on public lands, maintained by land trusts or set up as preserves and made accessible, and there are ways for anyone and everyone to get out and enjoy a Maine hike.
We’ve pulled together 50-plus to get you started. Got other suggestions? We’d love you to add them to the comments below.
It takes a 75-minute ferry ride to get to the Penobscot Bay island, but you won’t be disappointed by the beautiful natural landscape.
TAGS: Knox
Here’s a sample of six hikes near craft breweries – one from each New England state – featuring different natural landscapes.
TAGS: Lincoln, 4,0000-footers
Once a prime processor of spring water in Oxford County, Mount Zircon still gives hikers a good reward for their efforts.
TAGS: Oxford
Snow still covers many trails, but some are now losing their winter blanket, drying out and ready for spring hikers, from North Berwick all the way up to Acadia National Park.
TAGS: York, Parks, Franklin, Androscoggin, Waldo, Hancock, Knox
The 134-acre property, managed by Blue Hill Heritage Trust, provides a chance to learn – and perhaps relearn – some fun facts about the natural world.
TAGS: Hancock
From Monhegan to Machias and all over, explore all the sights Maine has to offer.
TAGS: Aroostook, Piscataquis, Androscoggin, Hancock, Lincoln, Somerset, Washington, Penobscot, York, Waterfalls, Parks
Looking to de-stress from the holidays? Consider these hikes at some of Maine’s best spots.
TAGS: Hancock, Knox, Washington, Oxford, Kennebec, Waldo, York, Parks
Experts around southern, western and central Maine serve up a choice list of lesser-known fall favorites.
TAGS: Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford
There’s plenty to take in, from the Fogg Island Trail in the Belgrade lakes region to the Mt. Battie Trail in Camden Hills State Park.
TAGS: Kennebec, Franklin, Oxford, Piscataquis, Knox, Hancock, Parks, 4,000-footers
Its hiking path features an old carriage road that transitions to a footpath up to the 1,374-foot summit in the Oxford Hills.
TAGS: Oxford
It’s a two-day expedition in the rugged Northwest Basin to reach Davis Pond, in the shadow of Katahdin, but it is so worth the effort.
TAGS: Piscataquis, 4,000-footers, Parks
The trails at Good Will-Hinckley, founded by George Walter Hinckley in 1889, offer historic monuments along 6 miles of pleasant footpaths.
TAGS: Somerset
The camp, situated on Fitts Pond about 15 miles east of Bangor, is the shared starting point for two hikes that easily can be done in a single day.
TAGS: Penobscot
Head out for these easy to moderate hikes then treat yourself to more leisurely activity afterward.
TAGS: Cumberland, York, Parks
From beginner to advanced, the region has plenty of treks to offer.
TAGS: Oxford, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Franklin
Individually and altogether, these represent spectacular Maine regions, history and natural features.
TAGS: Piscataquis, Hancock, Aroostook, Lincoln, Kennebec, Cumberland, Penobscot, Waterfalls, Parks, 4,000-footers
The views of the Atlantic are well-known, but did you know the preserve is the largest unfragmented parcel of coastal forest between Acadia and New Jersey’s Pine Barrens?
TAGS: York
So you can hike the five miles of trails on 170 scenic acres without worrying about the possibility of development.
TAGS: Oxford
What makes this peak so special is the huge amount of alpine terrain it supports.
TAGS: Franklin, 4,000-footers
Deboullie Public Lands unit in Aroostook isn’t easy to reach, but that’s probably why you’ll have it to yourself.
TAGS: Aroostook
Overseen by the Greater Lovell Land Trust, the 800-acre reserve is crisscrossed by a network of connecting trails.
TAGS: Oxford
The bucket list item for Katahdin’s peaks – plus 12 – has been checked. And there are photos to prove it.
TAGS: Piscataquis, Oxford, Franklin, 4,000-footers Parks
A hike in Topsham is a splendid way to spend time in the fall.
TAGS: Sagadahoc
Camden Hills State Park is an old favorite, but it hasn’t lost one speck of its luster.
TAGS: Knox, Parks
It ascends Number Five Mountain. Up top, you can soak in the spectacular views.
TAGS: Somerset
A short climb from Limerick leads to the former site of an inland lighthouse.
TAGS: York
The Maine Coast Heritage Trust has preserved many acres on the island, saving it from second-home development.
TAGS: Hancock
About 3.5 miles of trails wind their way through the woods of this Kennebec Estuary Land Trust preserve.
TAGS: Sagadahoc
Running through Standish, Gorham and Windham, it is one of two existing sections on the proposed Portland-to-Fryeburg trail.
TAGS: Cumberland
Though small, the Loon Echo Land Trust mountain has a number of trails and many viewpoints.
TAGS: Cumberland
The nearby Seboeis River Trail offers an outstanding walk and just past some falls, a perfect pool for a swim.
TAGS: Penobscot
The 100-acre refuge attracts skiers in the winter and has become a hot spot for birders.
TAGS: York
Humans have been drawn to Bradbury Mountain for centuries. Now it’s a state park with an accessible summit that’s waiting to take you away.
TAGS: Cumberland, Parks
The sanctuary, located near Castine in Downeast Maine, features diverse ecosystems and wildlife habitats – and nearly eight miles of walking paths.
TAGS: Hancock
The mountain, site of the former Enchanted Mountain Ski Area, offers spectacular views of northwestern Maine and even mountain peaks in Canada.
TAGS: Somerset
You won’t find trailhead parking or maintained trails at the Vernon S. Walker Wildlife Management Area in York County – but that’s part of its allure.
TAGS: York
A short, new trail along Peters Brook in Blue Hill encourages the hiker to slow down.
TAGS: Hancock
Holden Land Trust has created a year-round trail network, giving those in the Bangor area a chance to enjoy the views and the farmland.
TAGS: Penobscot
Just a quick drive from Augusta, the Kennebec Highlands – near and around the Belgrade Lakes – offer year-round exploration opportunities.
TAGS: Kennebec
There is so much more the Pittsfield than just an exit of Interstate 95, starting with a stroll along the Sebasticook River.
TAGS: Somerset
The 30-mile route connects several existing trails and a segment of new trail surrounding Nahmakanta Lake in the 100-Mile Wilderness northwest of Millinocket.
TAGS: Penobscot, Waterfalls
The highlight of the mainland section of the park is the half-mile arc of sand-and-pebble beach along Englishman Bay in Downeast Maine.
TAGS: Washington, Parks
There is plenty to see and do at Maine’s first state-owned saltwater beach.
TAGS: Sagadahoc, Parks
The River Pond Nature Trail is a low-impact, informative and impressive hike with plenty of stunning views of Katahdin.
TAGS: Piscataquis, Parks
Four foot trails and an old gravel tote road offer hikers more than 3 miles of pleasant meandering.
TAGS: Hancock
For that quick breath of fresh air, there are so many year-round options in every corner of Maine – from York to Lubec.
TAGS: Kennebec, Washington, Hancock, Knox, York, Oxford, Parks
Owned and managed by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, the site offers nearly 5 miles of pleasant foot trails winding through the forests and fields.
TAGS: Cumberland
Located in Greenville, the park offers swimming, paddling, hiking trails and 90 campground sites.
TAGS: Piscataquis, Parks
A visit to Gouldsboro for the many hiking opportunities provides the chance to enjoy a quiet side of Acadia National Park.
TAGS: Hancock, Parks
With the snow pretty much gone along the coast, these options allow a hiker to enjoy some welcome exercise and soak in some warm sun.
TAGS: York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Knox, Hancock, Washington, Parks Waterfalls
Eight miles of trails provide hikers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers year-round access at Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
TAGS: Penobscot
The Frank E. Woodworth Preserve in Harrington is open all year and makes an especially nice snowshoe trek in winter.
TAGS: Washington
Not too far from Ellsworth and Bar Harbor, get away from the bustle for the bounty of conservation lands and hiking trails in Hancock.
TAGS: Hancock
Near Moosehead Lake you have Big Moose, Borestone, Little Spencer – the options seems endless – and maybe you will see a classic fire tower when you reach the top.
TAGS: Piscataquis
Tucked away in Washington County, near the Aroostook County line and the New Brunswick border, this gem of a trail network will not disappoint.
TAGS: Washington
The panoramic view from the top of Boundary Bald Mountain lets a hiker take in summits from Canada to Rangeley to the Moosehead region.
TAGS: Somerset
A fire tower erected in 2020 gives those who reach the summit of Trout Mountain some incredible panoramic views, including Katahdin.
TAGS: Piscataquis
Hike Big Spencer with its 1.8-mile trail and a healthy 1,850-foot elevation gain, and the reward is a fire tower along with spectacular panoramic views from Moosehead to Katahdin.
TAGS: Piscataquis
The park, located in Dover-Foxcroft, features seven miles of hiking trails, along with swimming, boating, fishing and campsites.
TAGS: Piscataquis, Parks
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