Hiking in Downeast Maine

Hiking in Downeast Maine

Birdsacre Sanctuary - Ellsworth, Maine. Hiking - 2 miles
Mainers and visitors alike will enjoy this hike that takes hikers down a variety of trails, past several ponds, into a woodland sanctuary. The hike is easy enough for children, and enjoyable for the entire family. The Stanwood Homestead Museum is nearby, with several caged birds of prey. Parking and trail use is free!

Black Mountain - Ellsworth, Maine. Hiking - 2.2 miles
Otherwise known for its skiing, Black Mountain gives a steep climb to a summit overlooking the surrounding lakes and ponds. Several other mountain trails are nearby, so ambitious hikers could spend days in the area, trying out various trails.

Cadillac Mountain Trail - Seal Harbor, Maine. Hiking - 7 miles
At 1,532 feet, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and is the first place to view sunrise in the United States from October through March. A scenic hike that is simply one for the record books.

Catherine Mountain - Franklin, Maine. Hiking - 1.4 miles
This hike is a simple day trip to the mountain summit. Old mining pieces and pretty scenery make for an interesting excursion. General location: Northwest of Franklin and Tunk Lake in Hancock County.

Cobscook Bay State Park - Whiting, Maine. Hiking - 2.1 miles
The Park is surrounded on three sides by the salt waters of Cobscook Bay. Cobscook is a Maliseet-Passamaquoddy word for boiling tides. The average tide is 24 feet with some running as high as 28 feet. At low tide adventuresome hikers may dig for the delicious soft shell clam. More than 200 different species of birds, including the American bald eagle, have have been identified in the Park.

Crockett Cove Woods - Deer Isle, Maine. Hiking - .25 miles
Part of a more extensive trail system on Deer Isle, this lovely quarter-mile nature trail in Crockett Cove Woods Preserve winds through the forest and a small bog. Red spruce is the dominant tree species, thanks to a 3-season climate of cool temperatures and high rainfall along the coast.

Dedham Bald Mountain - Dedham, Maine. Hiking - 1.4 miles
A hike up a mountain to an abandoned fire tower and incredible views. The quality of the hike and the views from the summit make this one of the best kept secrets in Downeast Maine. The top of the fire tower offers some of the best views around.

Great Pond Mountain - Bucksport, Maine. Hiking - 1.8 miles
Fourteen miles of woods roads for hiking (including connections to Maine’s International Trail System), and other activities. Shorefront views are ranked by the State of Maine as the ninth most scenic pond in Maine.

Great Wass Island - Jonesport, Maine. Hiking - 5 miles
Two trails begin together at the eastern edge of the parking lot, then diverge 100 yards into the woods. These trails may be difficult or even dangerous in inclement weather -- especially in the thick fog that frequents the coast. Plan accordingly for any kind of weather and be sure to wear sturdy shoes that will take you on a long hike through all kinds of terrain.

Holbrook Island Sanctuary - Brooksville, Maine. Hiking - 3.2 miles
Scenic natural area of upland forests, rocky shores, and an offshore island provide opportunities for hiking, nature appreciation, and cross-country skiing in winter. Bordering Penobscot Bay in Brooksville, Holbrook Island Sanctuary protects many different ecosystems, which visitors can explore and enjoy. From the beaches, mud flats, and rocky coast to the tops of steep hills that are actually old volcanoes, the sanctuary hosts a great diversity of plant and animal life.

Meadow Farm HRS Wildlife Sanctuary - Prospect, Maine. Hiking - 1 miles
The Meadow Farm HRS Sanctuary is made up of 475 acres of abandoned farmland in the form of forests, rolling hills, and various types of meadows. The farm is near historic Fort Knox, a Civil War-era fort built on the banks of the Penobscot River. Also nearby is 1,370-foot-long Sandy Point Beach and Nature Area.

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge - Calais, Maine. Hiking - 1.9 miles
Moosehorn is the easternmost national wildlife refuge in the Atlantic flyway, a migration route that follows the east coast of North America. Moosehorn's primary purpose is to protect wildlife, including migrating waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, upland game birds, songbirds, and birds of prey. Visitors are invited to participate in woodcock and waterfowl banding operations. The 50 miles of roads and trails at Moosehorn are closed to motor vehicles but open to hikers.

Peaked Mountain - Clifton, Maine. Hiking - 2.6 miles
The hike is along an old road and up a steep trail to the rocky summit of a the mountain. Views from the summit are some of the best in the area. General location: East of Brewer near the town of Clifton, Penobscot County.

Penobscot and Sargent Mountains Trail - Seal Harbor, Maine. Hiking - 5.2 miles
This scenic circuit takes in the open, wind-swept summits of Bald Peak, Parkman Mountain, Gilmore Peak, Sargent Mountain and Penobscot Mountain - each of which grants sweeping views over the ocean and surrounding hills, lakes and inlets of Mount Desert Island. It also occasionally crosses some of Acadia's historic carriage roads. A fabulous hike.

Pineo Ridge - Cherryfield, Maine. Hiking
The Pineo Ridge area near Cherryfield and Columbia Falls, in Washington County (eastern Maine), provides an excellent opportunity for studying glacial history. Boulders abound on the surface of the Pineo Ridge. This and the associated delta are perhaps most famous in Maine as "The Blueberry Barrens", since together they produce about 95% of the entire U. S. crop of low-bush blueberries each year. Pineo Ridge provides an open, unstructured hike or walk.

Quoddy Head State Park - Lubec, Maine. Hiking - 1.4 miles
Quoddy Head State Park is located four miles off Maine Route 189 in Lubec on the easternmost point of land in the United States. On its 532 acres, the park features 4.5 miles of hiking trails, extensive forests, two bogs, diverse habitat for rare plants, and the famous, red-and-white striped lighthouse tower of West Quoddy Head Light. With its diverse landscape, breathtaking views, and opportunities for whale watching, Quoddy Head State Park is a fun destination for hikers in downeast Maine.

Reversing Falls Park - Dennysville, Maine. Hiking - .8 miles
This half-mile long set of falls in one of the least known but most interesting natural phenomena in the country. Through a 300-yard gap passes most of the tidal flow which alternately fills and drains both Whiting and Dennys Bays. The salt water flows at a 25-knot speed into the bays over jutting rocks which cause the "falls" effect. As the tidal current slows, the roar of the water gradually diminishes until at slack tide the channel is clear and smooth.

Schoodic Mountain - Sullivan, Maine. Hiking - 5.5 miles
Hikers will enjoy the panoramic view atop Schoodic Mountain. It looks down on Acadia National park to the south, the Downeast region to the north and the east, and a sparsely populated woodland region to the north and west. A dirt road called General Cobb Lane in East Franklin on SR-200 or SR-183 in Sullivan both serve as popular starting points for hikers.

Shore Trail - Milbridge, Maine. Hiking - 2.4 miles
This hike takes visitors along an isolated peninsula through one of the few stands of jack pine in the state of Maine. Few people other than locals are aware of this trail. Hikers will enjoy the rugged Maine coast in peace and tranquility here. General location: The Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge on Petit Manan Point near Milbridge in Washington County.

The Beehive and the Bowl Trail - Otter Creek, Maine. Hiking - 1.3 miles
The Beehive is a 500-foot tall rock outcropping. The Beehive Trail is accessed by the Bowl Trail. The Bowl Trail starts out smooth and easy, but becomes a staircase-like climb once upon the intersection of the Beehive Trail. At the summit is a tranquil mountain pond - well worth the tricky climb!

The Bold Coast—Cutler Preserve Trail - Cutler, Maine. Hiking - 9.8 miles
A fun hike along a windswept coastal headland, with spectacular ocean views from jagged, Maine cliffs. Along the Bold Coast, land meets sea in a crash of furious sea surf and sheer, rocky cliffs. This loop hike explores a diverse landscape of barrens, bogs, and maritime forest, as well as an adventure along the Acadia coast’s steep, windswept edge.

The Bubbles Trail - Seal Harbor, Maine. Hiking - 1.6 miles
The Bubbles are two, distinctly round granite hills that stand at the northern end of Jordan Pond, on Mount Desert Island. At an estimated 770 feet and 872 feet, they are not the tallest mountains in the park, but they are unique and provide pretty views of the pond and the taller surrounding peaks. South Bubble is also home to perhaps the most well known rock in the state of Maine: Bubble Rock, perched precariously over the steep eastern slope of the mountain, is a perfect example of a glacial erratic.