12 Low-Key Hikes In Maine With Amazing Payoffs
Thinking about Maine evokes images of pine trees and rocky coast. Why? Because we’ve got some of the best natural landscape in the country! All that landscape makes for some pretty sweet views and the best way to take them in is after a nice hike. But, even if you’re not an avid hiker you can still take in these gorgeous sights. The routes are simple, but so very worth it!
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Head to the top of Schoodic Mountain purely for the views of the coastline! On a clear day, you'll be able to see as far as Acadia National Park. Once you've taken it all in, head back down to enjoy Schoodic Beach, a sandy area located on the shores of Donnell Pond. This three mile journey isn't terribly challenging and the reward is big!
Visiting the Barred Island Preserve might be the best use of your time if you want beauty and options! It's located on the west side of Deer Isle and there are about 1.5 miles of trails in the preserve. We recommend the best one, which is about a mile. It leads visitors across a sandy path that's covered during high tide. So cool! And there's LOTS of areas for kids to comb through sea life and tide pools
The next time you're at Reid State Park, consider a detour to tackle this easy trail. The route itself is short at just over a half mile, but the summit might surprise you. You'll have sweeping views of Maine's coast eastward from Robinhood Cove towards Sheepscot Bay.
This simple and easy 1-mile hike leads directly to the base of these wonderful falls, which are some of the highest in the state. You can also choose to take in the view from a different perspective by hiking the slightly more challenging (though not difficult) hike up to the top.
The trails that take visitors through Eliot Mountain are said to date back to the 1800s, making this a great choice for people who love a dose of history with your epic views. Once you've had your fill of hiking, the summit looks out over Northeast Harbor in the 1,000-acre Land & Garden Preserve outside of Acadia National Park.
A visit to this lovely state park provides the option to enjoy 5 miles of trails, but you can keep it simple by exploring just a few without even breaking a sweat. Walking through the network of Casco Bay Trails will take you from forest to rocky coastline, meaning view exist just about the entire way. This one is great for kids and you can finish off the day at the outlets in downtown Freeport.
This hike is a bit different than the others on the list because it's best taken at night and the views are, literally, out of this world! The area includes a beach overlooking the Blue Hill Bay and Long Island and allows for a 180 degree view of the southern portion of the sky. Sitting at this beach once the sun has gone down means great views of the Milky Way galaxy in the spring!
Enjoy this two mile hike to the observation tower at the top of Mount Blue, which is located within Mount Blue State Park. From the summit, lucky visitors will be able to see Tumbledown, Little and Big Jackson and Blueberry mountains. On a warm day, head down to Webb Lake fr some swimming and a picnic.
This is another wonderful hike that allows you to reach the top and take in the view of what you can enjoy once you get back down! Once at the summit of Number Four Mountain, the views of Moosehead Lake, as well as Baker and Lily Bay mountains are beautiful. Enjoy the straightforward 4-mile round-trip hike and then head towards the beach area on Moosehead Lake in Lily Bay State Park.
This hike might seem daunting, but it's actually a lot less involved than it gets credit for! The Bowl is a beautiful high-altitude lake that's best explored in the summer. While it's near the summit of The Beehive, the lake is reached far more easily than this famed Maine trail. In fact, the trail to reach The Bowl lake is well-marked and only about 1.5 miles roundtrip. When you arrive at the end, you'll find some of the clearest water in the area, along with the opportunity for a swim.
You can file this hike under "things you avoided because you thought it might be too hard." In reality, this gorgeous waterfall can be reached with a relatively simple walk! Moxie Falls is one of Maine's highest waterfalls with a vertical drop of nearly 90 feet. Watch out for slippery portions of the trail.
The calm and beauty of this hike is worth capturing on canvas! Or, just take the memories home with you in your head. Either way, this trail will lead to views of Cadillac Mountain on a clear day. You'll also see Camden Harbor, Penobscot Bay, and the surrounding islands.
For more outdoor fun, check out these free ways to enjoy the nature in Maine!
