As the weather gets better in Maine, so does the hiking. With these trails, you’ll find green forests, rushing rivers, and some quintessential coastline. There are lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors, but we think these are the best (and wonderfully easy) spring hikes in Maine!

1. Bald Mountain & Rangeley Lake, Oquossoc
Oquossoc, Rangeley, ME, USA
pavdw / Flickr
This one-mile hike will take you to the top of Bald Mountain with views of Rangelely and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes. Once you've worked up a springtime hiking sweat, head back to Rangeley Lake State Park, to enjoy the grassy areas and swimming in Rangeley Lake.
2. Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum, Hermon
Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum, 25 Annis Rd, Hermon, ME 04401, USA
Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum / Facebook
There's no place better to be than in a manicured, cultivated garden (that's a favorite for hummingbirds!) in the spring. While the wild of nature is beautiful, sometimes a leisurely stroll is what you need. And, for that, It doesn't get much better than this trail that's free to enjoy. The more than 80 acres of land provides 15 acres of gardens for exploring. The trail wanders through a wooded area, as well as a marshy area.
3. Higgins Mountain, Georgetown
Higgins Mountain, Georgetown, ME 04548, USA
almostsummersky / Flickr
If you're taking a family-friendly hike this spring, you'll want to try this one. Located in Reid State Park (an enchanting place on its own!), the trail itself is a little more than a mile and the summit is beautiful. Views at the top include Maine's coast from Robinhood Cove towards Sheepscot Bay.
4. Barred Island Preserve, Deer Isle
Barred Island Preserve parking, Goose Cove Rd, Deer Isle, ME 04627, USA
ugardener / Flickr
Any frequent ready of OnlyInMaine will know how much we love this salty-air hike. Barred Island Preserve is located on the west side of Deer Isle. Visitors will find 1.5 miles of trails in the preserve, but this one is arguably the best. The sandy path leading to the preserve, which comprises the majority of this easy walking hike is covered during high tide which means there are lots of fun areas to explore sea life when the tide is out. And, what's cooler than a trail that actually disappears?
5. Ocean Path, Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park Pond, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
ugardener / Flickr
Some might think that Acadia National Park is only for the well-seasoned hikers, but the reality is that there are lots of easy trails here. Ocean Path provides views of what many believe to be "classic Maine" - from coast to forest. And there are lots of places to rest along the way. The trail takes you past famous Thunder Hole and ends at Otter Point with views of Cadillac and Dorr Mountains. The trail is about eight miles round-trip, which means you'll want to have some experience for this. But once you're on the trail, it's smooth sailing.
6. Alewive Woods Preserve, Kennebunk
Alewive Woods Preserve, Kennebunk, ME 04043, USA
AllTrails User / Alltrails.com
This forested preserve is is approximately 625 acres and includes the lovely Alewife Pond. The path here is looped, heading to the pond and then back to the trailhead. Making this a springtime hike means seeing all of the wonderful seasonal wildflowers. If you miss that, make it a summer trip for a blueberry picking extravaganza! There are about 2.5 miles of trails making up the entire network, so plan on spending a few hours here.
7. Number Four Mountain & Moosehead Lake, Maine Highlands Region
Lily Bay State Park, 425 Lily Bay Rd, Beaver Cove, ME 04441, USA
crashmaster / Flickr
You'll want to save this hike for a warmer spring day because the big pay off includes the lake below. From the summit of Number Four Mountain, you'll have views of Moosehead Lake, as well as Baker and Lily Bay mountains. The full route is four miles round-trip and heads towards a cooling dip at the beach area on Moosehead Lake in Lily Bay State Park.
8. Mackworth Island, Casco Bay
Mackworth Island, Falmouth, ME, USA
jeffgunn / Flickr
Just North of Portland, in the town of Falmouth Mackworth Island has a short, easy looped trail around the island. Although, if we're being official, it's not actually an island at all. The small bit of land, making up what feels like an island, can be accessed via a causeway at the mouth of the Presumpscot River, just off of Route 1. The trail begins just after the parking lot. Along the trail you'll also find the Fairy village where kids of all ages (that includes you!) are encouraged to use bits of nature to create houses for the local fairies. While the trail is short, plan on allowing some extra time for fairy community building.
9. Footbridge Beach Path, Ogunquit Beach
Footbridge Beach, Maine 03907, USA
ChanEvan / TripAdvisor
Footbridge Beach in Ogunquit is connected to a parking area by a beautiful footbridge, that was recently rebuilt. But, it's more than functional - it's one of the most beautiful, easy walks in Maine. The bridge leads over sand dunes and the Ogunquit River and offers an opportunity to smell the fresh sea air.
10. The Kennebec River Rail Trail
Kennebec River Rail Trail, Augusta, ME, USA
Terry Ross / Flickr
This trail is a bit different than the others on this list in that it's actually a very long path. Choose to do the whole thing or take it bit by bit throughout the spring. The The Kennebec River Rail Trail is a 6.5-mile trek that follows the Kennebec River on its west side as it heads towards the coast. It also follows the railroad tracks that once connected Portland to Augusta. While they are no longer in use, they're still maintained today in case they are ever used in the future. Stone markers can be found along the trail to track the distance and look just like the original markers once used in conjunction with the train. You can enter the path at the trailheads in Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner. To really experience the full beauty, start your trip in Augusta to enjoy the entire trail.

So tell us: what are your picks for the best spring hikes in Maine? Did we miss any must-do trails? Share them with us in the comments below! And if you’re a Maine outdoors lover, you’re also likely to be a fan of Acadia National Park. There are lots of great ways to enjoy some time in the state’s only national park, but we love this unique night time activity that you won’t find anywhere else.

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Best hikes in Maine

Sarah M. | April 14, 2022

What are the best waterfall hikes in Maine?

Spring is *the* peak season for waterfall chasing here in the Pine Tree State, and there are lots of amazing waterfall hikes all around the state! This list features 10 of what we consider to not only be the best waterfall hikes in Maine, but some of the best hikes in Maine, too! On the list, we absolutely recommend checking out the Upper and Lower Dunn Falls in Andover, Small Falls in Sandy River, the Step Falls Trail in Newry, Angel Falls near Houghton in Franklin County, and the Houston Brook Fall in Pleasant Ridge. And if you're looking for an epic waterfall hike, you simply must visit Maine's very own Niagara Falls! Yes -- you don't go all the way to Canada for Niagara Falls, we have our very own! To visit, head to the Togue Pond Gatehouse of Baxter State park. After registering, head left where the road splits. Drive 10 miles to the Kidney Pond Campground where you'll take a left and drive to the campground parking lot. From here it's about a three-mile hike to the falls. There's another, more challenging, route that involves a paddle. Check out this article for details on that exciting Maine adventure.

What are some of the best quick-and-easy hikes in Maine?

You don't need to be an advanced hiker or commit to a strenuous day on the trails to enjoy some of the best that Maine has to offer. In fact, many of our favorite trails in Maine are the short-and-sweet hikes that clock in at under three miles long! If you're looking for a beautiful waterfall adventure, check out the two-mile trail leading to Moxie Falls. Moxie is one of Maine's highest waterfalls and has a vertical drop of almost 90 feet. The hike isn't hard, but might be slippery in places, so be sure to watch your step and wear appropriate gear and footwear. In Lily Bay State Park, the Dunn Point Trail and Rowell Cove Trail are fairly easy, two-mile, family-friendly trails and will take you along the shore of the lake. It’s a wonderful way to have an outdoor adventure in Maine! This lovely state park was created in part using land donated by the Scott Paper Company. While the area is mainly used by campers and visitors to Moosehead Lake, the trails offer a nice getaway into the surrounding land.

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