Maine: Coast, Trails and Nature

Maine offers a wide variety of natural and cultural attractions. In the state parks, you’ll find thousands of miles of hiking and multi-use trails, as well as beaches. Along the Atlantic coast, Acadia National Park covers nearly 50,000 acres. The examples below provide some specific points of reference.

Coast and trails: different perspectives

The Maine Island Trail is a water trail that stretches along Maine’s entire coast, passing pristine islands and coastal sites. The trail includes nearly 200 islands, more than 40 of which are owned by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. This gives the coastal region a different kind of access than the trails and roads in the parks: islands and coastal sites shape the course of the water trail, while the parks include their own land routes and beaches.

Acadia: Park Loop Road and historic carriage roads

In Acadia National Park, the 27-mile Park Loop Road system serves a different purpose from the historic carriage roads: it offers scenic views and access to park destinations. The carriage road network spans 45 miles and was built between 1913 and 1940. The car-free paths are shared by pedestrians, cyclists and horse-drawn carriages. The network also passes under and over 17 historic carriage road bridges. Their lengths and functions show two different ways of exploring the park, without conflating the routes.

Winter trails, birds and cycling routes

The northern section of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument offers winter trails. The monument also provides breeding habitat for 171 bird species. Another specific route option is the 17-mile Katahdin Loop Road: it is unpaved, shared with motor vehicles and can be cycled. If you’d like to hike the International Appalachian Trail, you can start at North Gate or the Barnard Mountain Trailhead. When planning, you can distinguish between the winter trails, the Katahdin Loop Road shared with motor vehicles and the two starting points for the International Appalachian Trail.

Museums and seasonal cruises

The museums also offer different experiences. The grounds of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport include 13 historic buildings. The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath offers lighthouse and nature cruises; schedules may vary seasonally. If one of these cruises is important to your travel plans, check the schedule for your preferred dates. This lets you consider the museum visit as a cultural attraction in its own right, while the cruises offer another kind of outing.

Moose watching, whitewater and wild blueberries

State biologists estimate Maine’s moose population at about 40,000 to 60,000 animals; the state has the largest concentration of moose in the contiguous United States. Specialized operators run guided moose-watching tours, also called moose safaris, and share information about the animals’ behavior and habitat. Availability depends on the season and operator, so it’s a good idea to check for specific tours during your travel dates.

Beginners can join commercial whitewater rafting trips with a professional guide. Commercial river rafting takes place mainly on the Dead, Kennebec and Penobscot rivers. Wild blueberries are another distinctive feature of the regional landscape: they are harvested in low-growing heathlands throughout the state. Together, these activities and features offer a broad picture of Maine, from guided experiences to its characteristic landscapes and produce.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Aroostook, Sagadahoc County, Waldo County, Franklin County, Piscataquis County, Washington County, Kennebec, York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Androscoggin, Hancock, Penobscot, Somerset, Knox, Oxford.

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