Posted in Maine
May 07, 2018
10 Easy And Beautiful Spring Hikes Everyone In Maine Will Love
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!
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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.
There's no place better to be than in a manicured, cultivated garden 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.
If you're taking a family friendly hike this spring, you'll want to try this one. Located in Reid State Park, 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.
Any frequent ready of Only in Maine 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? You'll want to time this one right, so click here for more information.
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 8 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.
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 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 about 1 to 3 hours.
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 4-miles round-trip and heads towards a cooling dip at the beach area on Moosehead Lake in Lily Bay State Park.
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.
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.
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 6.5-mile trail 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.
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.
