Moxie Falls

With over 3000 miles of rugged coastline, mountains, and thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, Maine is teeming with options for active nature enthusiasts and adventure-seekers to see and explore. 

Whether you’re looking for an easy hike to do with kids (or beginners) or one that will challenge your physical and mental fitness, here are a few of the best places for hiking in Maine, approved by trusted locals and yours truly!

Moxie Falls Trail

DIFFICULTY: Easy

Moxie Falls is a jaw-dropping 100ft waterfall in central Maine. But best of all, this beauty can be found at the end of an easy 1.7 mile, mostly flat trail. Note that there are some steps to descend if you want better views of the Falls, and things can get a little slippery. Just take your time. Trust us… it’s worth it. 

Don’t forget your camera. 

Shoreline Trail

DIFFICULTY: Easy

Shoreline Trail is another family-friendly hiking trail in Maine’s Lily Bay State Park. The 2-mile trail is mostly flat and runs along Moosehead Lake creating a beautiful scene for this waterfront hike. If you’re lucky you might even spot a moose!

Moxie Falls

Jordan Pond Loop Trail

DIFFICULTY: Moderate

The Jordan Pond Loop Trail lies somewhere between easy to moderate. The roughly 3.5 mile trail is mostly flat and loops around Acadia National Park’s second-largest lake.

The popularity of this trail means that you’re likely to share it with lots of other hikers but on the plus side, leashed dogs are allowed. And if you’re really lucky, you might see a beaver in his lodge on the lake. 

Mount Katahdin via the Abol Trail

DIFFICULTY: Challenging

Towering at 5269 feet, Mt. Katahdin is Maine’s highest peak and the Abol Trail is one of the harder routes to the summit. With gains of up to 4000ft. this 7.3 mile (roundtrip) trail is no walk in the park. Expect plenty of steep inclines and rock scrambling to test your mental and physical strength.

Your reward? Views that simply cannot be beaten and the complete and utter satisfaction of knowing that you, my friend, conquered Mt Katahdin.

Mt Katahdin

Mt Katahdin via Saddle Trail

DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Challenging

If you want to summit Mt Katahdin but want a (slightly) easier route, consider the Saddle Trail. It’s a bit longer at 10.4 miles but a fair chunk of it is moderate. The closer you get to the peak the more challenging it gets, so make sure you gauge your comfort level as you venture up.

These are a few of. my favorite hiking trails near me. Have you been on any hikes in Maine? Where do you think are the best places to go hiking in Maine?

As travel restrictions continue to loosen, we are so excited that hiking season is upon us and we can not wait to greet travelers from all around again. If you are looking to book later in the year, check out our previous blog filled with Winter activities to indulge in while visiting Maine.

Our accommodations allow for an intimate party of two all the way up to a traveling group of 20! View our listings below and feel free to reach out with any questions.

Be Our Guest

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Weddings

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One of the joys of living in Maine, is we have beautiful white Christmases - with a LOT OF SNOW! When you live in Maine, you embrace all of the seasons - but winter is one of our favorites! Cozying up with a loved one in the guest house at the Crooked Steeple Hall is a great way to relax and unwind. On a sunny day, snowshoeing in Maine is one of our favorite activities, and we are lucky to have quite a few places for a beautiful snowshoe adventure not far from our front doors! Enjoy breakfast and coffee at one of our local eateries, then bundle up for a nice snowshoe in a place that resembles Narnia! The State of Maine offers many trails to experience, however these are some of our favorites that are local that we hope our guests will enjoy!

1)Dorthea Dix Park in Hampden, Maine 

This gem has walking trails throughout the park and provides a great workout in a short period of time!

You can read more about this trail and see photos here

2) Trails at the Leroy H. Smith School in Winterport

A short trail system begins at the rear of the parking lot at the Leroy H. Smith School

3) Trails at the Reeds Brook School in Hampden

Located in the heart of Hampden, Maine, this is a collaborative effort between community volunteers, members of the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, Troop 41 Boy Scouts, and RSU22. We welcome all non-motorized activity including skiing, running, biking, walking, and snowshoeing. Motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited on the trails.

4) Bangor City Forest

Rolland F. Perry City Forest encompasses more than 680 acres of wildlife habitat and working forest in Bangor, Maine, and features more than 4 miles of access roads and more than 9 miles of trails for running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. It is owned by the city of Bangor and open throughout the year.

5) Advanced: Mount Waldo

Mount Waldo is on privately owned land and it is a great hike for all seasons. We only recommend this hike if you're experienced on snowshoes and in hiking. The trails are marked by brightly colored ties on trees. The view is worth it, if you're feeling up to it!

Otherwise, you can snowshoe up to the Quarry - it's a nice viewpoint as well.

Don't have snowshoes? It's OK! You can rent them in Bangor at Ski Rack Sports!

Questions about local area activities? Message me! I'd love to help.

We're lucky to have Acadia National Park in our backyard! Each year, more than 3.3 million people explore seven peaks above 1,000 feet, 120 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of carriage roads, 17 stone bridges, and four lighthouses. This is just one reason why getting married in Winterport, Maine is an experience that your guests will never forget! With your wedding taking place in Winterport, Maine, your guests can experience a quaint town, with cozy accommodations for your event, and also knock off a visit to a National Park during their stay in Maine! A day trip to Acadia (or two!) will be one they won't soon forget. Here's our top five things to do in Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park!

1. Hike - There's many places to enjoy the outdoors, from a walk around Jordan Pond or Long Pond, to a day hike up Cadillac Mountain or one of Acadia's many peaks. You can check out some detailed hike descriptions from our friends over at LoveMaineAdventures!

2. Eat - Bar Harbor boasts many lobster pounds (Thurston's is our favorite! It's in Bernard, Maine - but worth the drive!) and many waterfront eateries. The Fish House Grill is a favorite for waterfront dining and LARGE margaritas! Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park features Pop-Overs, a staple in Maine. Cafe this Way is popular for breakfast, and Side Street Cafe is a local favorite!

3. Drive - The drive along the Park Loop Road will take you a few hours, and is an adventure in itself. Be sure to charge your batteries, as there are many stops along the way that you'll want to park and enjoy the scenery! Some of our favorites are Sand Beach,Little Hunter's Beach, the summit of Cadillac Mountain, and Jordan Pond! We also recommend the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in South West Harbor.

4. Relax - Bar Harbor has many spas and areas for relaxation. We love the Harborside for a good massage! The ocean we find to be relaxing - take a boat ride on the harbor, or just enjoy ice cream in the park and watch the ships come into the harbor. The Shore Path is also a nice place to wind down.

5. Shop - From ice cream shops to souvenir stores, there are many things to check out in Bar Harbor! You'll recognize shops from many outdoor brands, such as Patagonia, and many that you don't recognize - the beauty of the town is many of the stores are locally, independently owned.

More ideas for Adventures in Acadia National Park

For more information on Acadia National Park - check out the official site here

For more information on Bar Harbor - check out the official site here

Have you been to Acadia National Park or Bar Harbor? Let us know in the comments below!