The state of Maine is full of wilderness that offers beautiful hikes from high in the mountains to along the coast. The seasonal nature of the state makes hiking a memorable experience no matter what season you visit in. Maine is also the home of Acadia National Park, where the sun rises first in the United States.
Seasons
Hiking is a wonderful activity to do year-round in Maine. There are definite seasons that show themselves throughout the year. Summer brings mild but warm temperatures to most of the state, as well as blueberry picking. Winter can be quite harsh, including heavy snow and ice, even along the coast. There are wildflowers throughout the woods in the Spring, and Fall is a spectacular show of colors throughout the forests that are best seen hiking through the woods and overlooking the trees on top of a mountain.
Coastal Hiking
The Maine coastline is covered in marshland, beaches, and lighthouses to enjoy while hiking on the many coastal trails offered throughout the state. There are more than 60 lighthouses in Maine, and many of them have hiking trails nearby. Many lighthouses come with their own legends and stories around them and are interesting to learn about. The coast allows you to see wildlife such as horseshoe crabs and lobster, and occasionally maybe a whale.
Acadia National Park
Acadia is the most famous place to hike in Maine. It is located on the central east coast, and surrounds the town of Bar Harbor. There are 125 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, but most trails are under three miles long. You can hike in any season, although some trails are closed from March 15 to August 15 yearly to protect the Peregrine Falcon, which is endangered in the state. Hiking in Acadia will bring you to views of the ocean, and if you hike up Cadillac Mountain, you can see the sunrise first in the country.
Mt. Katahdin
Mt. Katahdin is located at the end of the long Appalachian Trail that starts down in Georgia. It is 5,267 feet tall and surrounded by shorter mountains. Mt. Katahdin is located inside Baxter State Park, which features many more hikes near lakes, streams, and waterfalls. There are also plenty of species of wildlife that live in the area to view, including large ones like moose and bears. This park was designed for hikers, so it is a wonderful place to experience without a vehicle.
Moxie Falls
A popular place for a short hike is Moxie Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Maine at 90 feet high. It is only 1.2 miles round trip to reach the top of the falls, so is an easy hike for someone just willing to spend an hour or two on the trail. You can also swim in the area during the summer, so you could make it a full-day trip and bring along a picnic.
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