Maine
11 easy mountain hikes in Maine, great for spring
This story was initially printed in April 2015.
You don’t all the time should huff and puff for miles to succeed in an incredible view from the highest of a mountain. In Maine, there are many brief hikes up small mountains and hills to vistas that will take you unexpectedly.
There are all types of causes you is likely to be drawn to those shorter mountain hikes. Perhaps you’re attempting to introduce a child to climbing. Perhaps you’re only a newbie hiker your self. Or perhaps, for no matter purpose, you simply aren’t lower out for the massive mountains anymore. No matter your purpose for climbing small mountains — and imagine me, you don’t really want a purpose — listed below are a couple of Maine trails you would possibly take pleasure in:
Pigeon Hill
At 317 toes above sea degree, the summit of Pigeon Hill is likely one of the excessive factors alongside the coast of Washington County. Positioned close to the coast in Steuben, the hill is house to a 1.2-mile path community maintained by the Downeast Coastal Conservancy. The paths result in the highest of the hill, which — with its naked bedrock and low-lying bushes — resembles the highest of a lot taller mountains in Acadia Nationwide Park. On a clear day, hikers can see all the best way to Petit Manan Mild from the highest of Pigeon Hill.
Flying Mountain
One of many lowest peaks in Acadia Nationwide Park, Flying Mountain nonetheless provides some nice views of the Mount Desert Island and ocean. You may attain its summit, 284 toes above sea degree, with a 0.6-mile out-and-back hike or 1.4-mile loop hike. A lot of the path to the highest is gravel and log steps, however simply earlier than reaching the height, you’ll journey over uncovered ledges with nice views of Somes Sound, Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor and islands to the north, together with the Cranberries. The summit is marked with a wood summit register a pile of rocks.
Mount Phillip
Positioned within the small city of Rome in central Maine, Mount Phillip rises 755 toes above sea degree. The path on the mountain is a 1.3-mile loop and is maintained by the Belgrade Regional Alliance. Hiked in both route, the loop path climbs the mountain step by step by way of a forest of maple, birch, oak, white pine and hemlocks to ledges close to the summit that provide good views of Nice Pond and the Kennebec Highlands.
Beech Hill
Positioned on a 295-acre protect in Rockport, Beech Hill is roofed with wild blueberries and is likely one of the official stops of the Maine Birding Path, with greater than 125 species on its guidelines. A 0.75-mile path leads step by step to the hill’s prime and a historic stone constructing referred to as Beech Nut. Beech Hill is the one bald hilltop within the space and provides views of Penobscot Bay, the Camden Hills and Saint George Peninsula.
Baker Hill
Not removed from japanese Maine blueberry fields, Baker Hill rises a couple of hundred toes above sea degree within the coastal city of Sullivan. The paths on the hill lead by way of a mossy forest full of boulder to outlooks close to the highest. The paths are brief — lower than 0.5 mile lengthy every — and journey over a couple of steep areas. The Frenchman Bay Conservancy maintains these trails, in addition to a community of trails within the neighboring Lengthy Ledges Protect.
Bradbury Mountain
At practically 500 toes above sea degree, the highest of Bradbury Mountain is likely one of the prime locations in Bradbury Mountain State Park in Freeport. It’s a fast hike; from the parking zone, it’s simply 0.3 mile by path to the highest of the mountain, which provides an incredible view of the area and is a spot frequented by chicken watchers and picnickers. If on the lookout for an extended hike, the park is house to an enormous path community, and the entire trails are marked with totally different colour blazes to make navigation simpler.
John B. Mountain
This mountain in Brooksville reaches simply 250 toes above sea degree, however ledges close to its prime provide nice views of the realm. The interconnecting trails on the property, maintained by the Blue Hill Heritage Belief, complete about 1 mile. The path that results in the summit is steep in some locations.
Newman Hill
This hill is situated on conservation land owned and maintained by the Orono Land Belief. The property is one in every of a number of conservation lands that makes up the Caribou Lavatory Conservation Space in Orono. A 2-mile loop hike results in the highest of the hill, which is rocky and supplies a view of Pushaw Lake. The path travels by way of a wide range of terrain, together with open fields, alongside ponds and thru stands of oak and pine.
Haystack Mountain
Rising simply over 800 toes above sea degree, Haystack Mountain in Liberty has lengthy been a favourite climbing vacation spot for folks within the space. Blueberry fields on the prime of the mountain provide huge open views of the encompassing forests, farmland and distant hills. The loop path resulting in the mountain’s prime is just about 1 mile in size. Footing could be difficult in some areas of the path due to uncovered tree roots and rocks. The slope is pretty steep in a couple of areas.
Blue Hill Mountain
Essentially the most tough hike on this record, Blue Hill Mountain has lengthy been a climbing vacation spot for households. Positioned within the city of Blue Hill, this mountain rises 934 toes above sea degree; its bald summit supplies open views of the area. The 1.75-mile Becton Path, which opened summer season of 2013, step by step climbs to the highest of the mountain. The shorter Hayes and Osgood trails additionally climb to the summit. These trails are older and steeper than the Becton Path.
Mount Battie
Rising about 800 toes above sea degree in Camden Hills State Park, Mount Battie provides some of the stunning views of the Maine coast. On the summit stands a stone tower that was devoted in 1921 by the Mount Battie Affiliation as an everlasting memorial to the women and men of Camden who served in World Conflict I. Pulitzer Prize winner Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950), born in Rockland, usually wrote poetry whereas sitting on the summit. You may climb the mountain on a reasonably difficult climbing path, 0.5 miles up the mountain’s south facet, or you’ll be able to truly attain the highest of the mountain by automobile by way of Mount Battie Highway. Or you’ll be able to park on the backside of the hill on Mount Battie Highway and hike up the 1.5-mile Tablelands Path, which reconnects with Mount Battie Highway simply earlier than the summit.