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.
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Shackford Head State Park in Eastport has miles of hiking trails with fine views.
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We’ve finally traded snow boots for hiking boots, so it’s time to discover great hikes in every corner of Maine.
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Here are six options to get a dose of the Appalachian Trail.
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There are plenty of places on the island to hike when the park roads are jammed and trailheads overflowing at Acadia.
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The island has a long history and plenty of natural beauty.
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More than 7 miles of trails crisscross the refuge, established by Oliver Larouche in 1965.
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Northern Pond Natural Area, considered the “jewel of Monroe” by many in the area is worth the trip.
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The area is rich in natural beauty and colorful history and is worthy of a visit.
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DCC has over 7,000 acres and 72 miles of Washington County shoreline under its umbrella, with more in the works.
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The rewards of climbing Moxie Mountain are so worth the effort, and then there’s so much more to enjoy in this remote area.
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There are campsites all over rural Maine, but it will take some effort to get to most of them, and probably a reservation as well.
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The re-invigorated Dudley Trail, a work in progress, is just one example of the backcountry magic pulled off by these trail crews in Baxter.
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‘It’s more than 20 miles by gravel roads from the nearest pavement, so you have to make an effort,’ but it’s so worth it.
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Norway Bluff, for example, is 42 miles from the nearest paved road in Ashland, but so worth the trek into the wilderness.
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Want to do them all? Here’s an itinerary to check all 14 off your list with 10 separate day hikes.
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Head to Castine and enjoy spectacular views of Penobscot Bay on a network of trails good for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
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The ancient trail across Mount Desert Island – unmarked and unmaintained, so travel is at your own risk – has been trodden by footsteps for hundreds of years.
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Head to Castine and enjoy spectacular views of Penobscot Bay on a network of trails good for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
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The 25-mile multiuse trail system in Jefferson is a perfect place for a rustic overnight trip with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking.
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Inspired in part by Henry David Thoreau’s ‘The Maine Woods,’ the author and two pals explore a remote and frozen wilderness.
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Passadumkeag Mountain, in remote Penobscot County, is a worthy goal for adventurous hikers seeking a good measure of off-the-beaten path exploring
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Discover seven islands off the Maine coast that are easily accessible year-round and feature good hiking trails.
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Never heard of it? That’s because the 8-Mile Wilderness is an imaginary place where hikers go to escape, bond with friends and have fun for a few days.
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Press Herald photographer Gregory Rec and his wife, Jayme, encountered few people during hikes on both sides of Somes Sound.
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You don’t need to stay at Attean Lake Lodge to enjoy the beauty offered in the area, but an overnight stay only adds to the experience.
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As the leaves turn and the return of snow draws near, take advantage of these numerous chances to get outside and enjoy.
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You don’t need to stay at Attean Lake Lodge to enjoy the beauty offered in the area, but an overnight stay only adds to the experience.
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Of course climbing Maine’s highest peak is often the goal, but there is beauty in so many places like Chimney Pond and Pamola Caves.
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Alewive Woods is the land trust’s signature property, but other sites such as Wonder Brook and Oxbow preserves also offer pleasant and rewarding hikes.
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Roosevelt Campobello International Park along the Maine-New Brunswick border encompasses 2,800 acres on the southwestern end of Campobello Island.
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The Great Works Regional Land Trust has made a history of great conservation work and a mission to accomplish much more.
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Proper advance planning and preparation are essential for a safe and enjoyable climb to the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
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With a hike that tops out at 1,064 feet, ‘the panoramic view from the summit of Mt. Waldo resembles a painting with Mother Nature as the artist.’
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Choose a trail based on the kind of workout you want.
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Thousands recreate each year at AWW, but less well known are the hiking trails to the fire towers atop Allagash Mountain and Round Pond Mountain.
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There’s a measure of uncertainty and hesitancy at the start of these early trips, but the rewards more than make up for it.
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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.
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Here’s a sample of six hikes near craft breweries – one from each New England state – featuring different natural landscapes.
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Once a prime processor of spring water in Oxford County, Mount Zircon still gives hikers a good reward for their efforts.
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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.
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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.
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From Monhegan to Machias and all over, explore all the sights Maine has to offer.
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Looking to de-stress from the holidays? Consider these hikes at some of Maine’s best spots.
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Experts around southern, western and central Maine serve up a choice list of lesser-known fall favorites.
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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.
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Its hiking path features an old carriage road that transitions to a footpath up to the 1,374-foot summit in the Oxford Hills.
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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.
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The trails at Good Will-Hinckley, founded by George Walter Hinckley in 1889, offer historic monuments along 6 miles of pleasant footpaths.
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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.
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Head out for these easy to moderate hikes then treat yourself to more leisurely activity afterward.
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From beginner to advanced, the region has plenty of treks to offer.
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Individually and altogether, these represent spectacular Maine regions, history and natural features.
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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?
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So you can hike the five miles of trails on 170 scenic acres without worrying about the possibility of development.
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What makes this peak so special is the huge amount of alpine terrain it supports.
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Deboullie Public Lands unit in Aroostook isn’t easy to reach, but that’s probably why you’ll have it to yourself.
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Overseen by the Greater Lovell Land Trust, the 800-acre reserve is crisscrossed by a network of connecting trails.
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The bucket list item for Katahdin’s peaks – plus 12 – has been checked. And there are photos to prove it.
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A hike in Topsham is a splendid way to spend time in the fall.
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Camden Hills State Park is an old favorite, but it hasn’t lost one speck of its luster.
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It ascends Number Five Mountain. Up top, you can soak in the spectacular views.
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A short climb from Limerick leads to the former site of an inland lighthouse.
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The Maine Coast Heritage Trust has preserved many acres on the island, saving it from second-home development.
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About 3.5 miles of trails wind their way through the woods of this Kennebec Estuary Land Trust preserve.
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Running through Standish, Gorham and Windham, it is one of two existing sections on the proposed Portland-to-Fryeburg trail.
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Though small, the Loon Echo Land Trust mountain has a number of trails and many viewpoints.
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The nearby Seboeis River Trail offers an outstanding walk and just past some falls, a perfect pool for a swim.
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The 100-acre refuge attracts skiers in the winter and has become a hot spot for birders.
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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.
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The sanctuary, located near Castine in Downeast Maine, features diverse ecosystems and wildlife habitats – and nearly eight miles of walking paths.
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The mountain, site of the former Enchanted Mountain Ski Area, offers spectacular views of northwestern Maine and even mountain peaks in Canada.
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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.
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A short, new trail along Peters Brook in Blue Hill encourages the hiker to slow down.
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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.
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Just a quick drive from Augusta, the Kennebec Highlands – near and around the Belgrade Lakes – offer year-round exploration opportunities.
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There is so much more the Pittsfield than just an exit of Interstate 95, starting with a stroll along the Sebasticook River.
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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.
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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.
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There is plenty to see and do at Maine’s first state-owned saltwater beach.
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The River Pond Nature Trail is a low-impact, informative and impressive hike with plenty of stunning views of Katahdin.
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Four foot trails and an old gravel tote road offer hikers more than 3 miles of pleasant meandering.
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For that quick breath of fresh air, there are so many year-round options in every corner of Maine – from York to Lubec.
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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.
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Located in Greenville, the park offers swimming, paddling, hiking trails and 90 campground sites.
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A visit to Gouldsboro for the many hiking opportunities provides the chance to enjoy a quiet side of Acadia National Park.
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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.
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Eight miles of trails provide hikers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers year-round access at Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
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The Frank E. Woodworth Preserve in Harrington is open all year and makes an especially nice snowshoe trek in winter.
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Not too far from Ellsworth and Bar Harbor, get away from the bustle for the bounty of conservation lands and hiking trails in Hancock.
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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.
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Tucked away in Washington County, near the Aroostook County line and the New Brunswick border, this gem of a trail network will not disappoint.
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The panoramic view from the top of Boundary Bald Mountain lets a hiker take in summits from Canada to Rangeley to the Moosehead region.
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A fire tower erected in 2020 gives those who reach the summit of Trout Mountain some incredible panoramic views, including Katahdin.
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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.
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The park, located in Dover-Foxcroft, features seven miles of hiking trails, along with swimming, boating, fishing and campsites.
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