Maine
There are over 5,000 known hiking and trekking trails in Maine
Most popular trails:
Mount Katahdin: This trail is a great challenge for experienced hikers.
The Precipice Trail: This trail is a very challenging hike with exposed ledges and steep climbs.
The Devil's Path: This trail is a 12.4-mile loop with three peaks over 4,000 feet.
Mount Desert Island: This island has many trails with varying levels of difficulty, making it a great option for hikers of all experience levels.
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway: This waterway is a great option for hikers who want to experience the beauty of Maine's wilderness.
The Coastal Mountains: This region offers stunning views of the ocean and mountains, making it a great option for hikers who want to enjoy the beauty of Maine's coastline.
Best trails for certain activities:
Mount Katahdin: This trail is a great challenge for experienced hikers.
The Precipice Trail: This trail is a very challenging hike with exposed ledges and steep climbs.
The Devil's Path: This trail is a 12.4-mile loop with three peaks over 4,000 feet.
Mount Desert Island: This island has many trails with varying levels of difficulty, making it a great option for hikers of all experience levels.
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway: This waterway is a great option for hikers who want to experience the beauty of Maine's wilderness.
The Coastal Mountains: This region offers stunning views of the ocean and mountains, making it a great option for hikers who want to enjoy the beauty of Maine's coastline.
Most scenic trails:
Mount Katahdin: This trail offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests.
The Beehive Trail: This trail offers panoramic views of the park's coastline.
Jordan Pond Path: This trail follows the shore of Jordan Pond and offers stunning views of the mountains.
Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail: This trail offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
Saddleback Mountain Trail: This trail offers views of the White Mountains.
Mount Desert Island: This island has many trails with stunning views of the ocean and mountains.
Most challenging trails:
Precipice Trail: This trail is located in Acadia National Park and is considered to be one of the most challenging hikes in the park. The trail is 2.6 miles long and has over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. There are several exposed ledges and steep climbs on the trail, so it is important to be experienced and in good physical condition before attempting it.
Beehive Trail: This trail is also located in Acadia National Park and is another challenging hike. The trail is 1.2 miles long and has over 500 feet of elevation gain. There are some steep climbs and exposed ledges on the trail, but it is not as challenging as the Precipice Trail.
Gulf Hagas Trail: This trail is located in Grafton Notch State Park and is a 7.2-mile loop trail. The trail is considered to be one of the most challenging hikes in Maine due to its rugged terrain and steep climbs. There are several waterfalls and gorges along the trail, making it a scenic hike.
Old Speck Trail: This trail is located in Grafton Notch State Park and is 5.2 miles long. The trail is considered to be challenging due to its steep climbs and exposed ledges. There are panoramic views of the surrounding area from the summit of Old Speck Mountain.
Fire Warden's Trail: This trail is located in Bigelow Preserve and is 4.8 miles long. The trail is considered to be challenging due to its steep climbs and rugged terrain. There are views of the Bigelow Mountains from the summit of South Peak.
Most family-friendly trails:
Bar Island Trail: This 1.2-mile trail on Bar Island is a great option for families with young children.
Mount Desert Island: This island has many trails with varying levels of difficulty, making it a great option for families of all experience levels.
The Coastal Mountains: This region offers stunning views of the ocean and mountains, making it a great option for families who want to enjoy the beauty of Maine's coastline.
The Nature Conservancy's Maine Coastal Trails: These trails are all accessible to wheelchairs and have accessible parking.
Fort Knox Trails: These trails are all accessible to wheelchairs and have accessible restrooms.
Maine Audubon Society's Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge: This refuge has many trails with varying levels of difficulty, making it a great option for families of all experience levels.
Most accessible trails:
Bar Island Trail: This trail is paved and wheelchair accessible. The round-trip distance of the trail is 1.2 miles and it takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
Fort Knox Trails: These trails are all accessible to wheelchairs and have accessible restrooms. The trails range in length from 0.25 miles to 1 mile.
The Nature Conservancy's Maine Coastal Trails: These trails are all accessible to wheelchairs and have accessible parking. The trails range in length from 0.5 miles to 1.5 miles.
Maine Audubon Society's Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge: This refuge has many trails with varying levels of difficulty, making it a great option for families of all experience levels. Several of the trails are accessible to wheelchairs.
The Maine State Park system: Many Maine state parks have accessible trails, including:
Baxter State Park: The Heron Pond Trail is a 0.7-mile loop that is accessible to wheelchairs.
Acadia National Park: The Ocean Path Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back trail that is accessible to wheelchairs.
Camden Hills State Park: The East Trail is a 1.2-mile loop that is accessible to wheelchairs.
Moosehead Lake State Park: The South Twin Mountain Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back trail that is accessible to wheelchairs.
Most accessible trails:
Permits are required for some trails in Maine. You can get permits at:
National parks: https://www.nps.gov/acad/ (207) 288-3338
State parks: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/ (207) 287-3825
