Best day hikes in Maine

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The fall season is in full bloom (or if not, it will be soon), so as long as the weather is still mild, you can organise some fun day hikes to enliven a bit your weekend. When it comes to autumn trips, one of the best possible destinations is Maine, whose state park are the perfect place to gawk at the amazing autumn foliage.

The end of September and during October is the best time to plan your trip, but since Maine is such a popular tourist destination around this time, it’s good to plan the details in advance. You can rent a car and explore the winding roads of the Maine countryside and take a break to admire the scenery whenever you feel like it, or if you’re in a mood for a bit of healthy physical exertion, well, the take a hike (literally).

Mount Katahdin, Baxter State Park

The top of Mount Katahdin can offer some of the most spectacular views on the East Coast: Moosehead Lake, Penobscot River and many other amazing places. The most famous hike to the summit takes you through Knife Edge, an infamous crest which has claimed the lives of quite a few people (but don’t let that discourage you; if the weather is clear and there’s no wind, you will be safe on Knife Edge).

Bring some warm clothes with you, because the weather tends to get rather chilly as you advance up the mountain. However, the view of Maine’s autumn foliage from up above is worth the effort (and a potential cold).

Acadia Moutain Trail

Although it is nowhere near long (less than 3 miles), this is one of the most popular trails in Maine, and for good reason. Once you reach the highest point of the trail, you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular views of Somes Sound, Echo Lake, Gulf of Maine, Cranberry Isles, and the surrounding mountains. The climb can be a bit strenuous, but it’s not unusual to see families with children on the trail.

Gulf Hagas

A hike though the canyon of Gulf Hagas can offer you the opportunity to explore steep cliffs and to see dozens of waterfalls (four of which are named, and many other nameless cascades pouring into crystal clear pools). The gorge is sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Maine – although the differences between the two are not difficult to see.

The many pools scattered around the trails are great for swimming, but not in autumn, obviously. The best place to rest is the Head of the Gulf, not only because the view is beautiful, but also because you’ll probably need to rest your feet when you get there.

Bradbury Mountain State Park

If you are in the mood for a quiet hike through the woodlands, you can get your fill of golden leaves in Bradbury Mountain State Park. The best thing about this park is that you can not only hike, but also mountain bike and horse-ride.

The secluded campsites are charming and since the trails are never crowded, you can enjoy in peace the beauty of the park without being bothered by anyone (except the occasiona squirrel or other kind of fuzzy woodland creature).

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Comments on Best day hikes in Maine

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Jeff wrote on January 4, 2011:

Good recos! We found an old ski Mountain: “Dedham Bald Mountain” to hike. But directions to its locale on the web are poor; they are:

Directions to Dedham Bald Mt trail as of my hike there Oct, 2010………..[Older directions found in a ‘Hiking Maine’ book by Tom Seymour are inadequate as many of the roads have been renamed and/or do not match those on GPS or online map sites]:
From the junction of 46 and 1 in E Holden take 46 (Lower Dedham Road) SSW 3.4 miles to Turner Road (some maps call it Mill Road). There’s no street sign so note that the Dedham Congregation Church is on the left and turn L onto Turner/Mill Road and follow it up to Bald Mt Road 0.9 mile. Turn R onto Bald Mt Rd and follow it 3.4 miles where it bears R at Johnson Rd. Take Johnson Road straight instead 100 feet. Park on the left up a bit on the sloped granite face adjacent to the road (opposite a Red barn on the right side of the road) Hike up the old pistes to the top where the cell towers/antenna farm is today. A few hiking routes appear to drop down from the parking point as well. The old fire tower previously described here is apparently gone. Many remnants of the old ski center remain.

Great views! Easy to moderate. Less than 2 mi round trip.

 

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