Acadia National Park: Sargent Mountain
Ascend Acadia's second tallest peak on this 4-miler, which features panoramas that stretch from rocky coastal shores to a distant blue Atlantic horizon.
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Maine
Hiking and Backpacking Trips
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Portland, ME: Bradbury Mountain State Park LoopThis 3-ring loop circles through forest and alongside stone walls to the park's namesake summit, offering lots of Kodak moments-especially in autumn. Appalachian Trail: ME 26 to East Hill B RoadYou’ll tour the tops of three summits overlooking Grafton Notch State Park and visit a scenic waterfall on this 9.5-mile dayhike. Portland, ME: Speckled MountainGather blueberries along a vista-packed loop in the state's largest wilderness.
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Portland, ME: Saco River DipBeat the heat with a ride to the Salmon Falls, one the best swimming holes on the Saco River. Biking 9/18/2009 Moultonborough, NH to Portland, MENearly 72 miles today. Rolling hills on not-so-good pavement & mostly narrow shoulders. Partly cloudy, tailwind when the road was going in the right direction :-)
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Readers' Choice 2012: Top 3 - Northeast HikesThe region's top map contributor—with 20 years of experience in the area—dishes tips for beating the crowds on her all-time favorite hikes. 
Readers' Choice 2012: Appalachian Trail, 100-Mile Wilderness, METackle the Northeast's most remote wilds for bears, moose, and berries. 
Rip & Go: Little Lyford to Gorman Chairback - 100-Mile Wilderness, MESki (or snowshoe) hut-to-hut in the East's wildest preserve. |
Rip & Go: Debsconeag Loop - Maine Public Reserved Lands, Nahmakanta Unit, MECross the northeast's wildest moose country beneath fall's fiery canopy. National Parks: View FinderGo ahead, look again. And again. These images are worth a third, fourth, and then a tenth gaze. 
Local Hikes: NortheastHead out on one of these trails in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. |
Appalachian Trail Nature Photo GalleryWildflowers, bugs, and other nature photographs shot by our map correspondent on the AT © Jeff Chow 
AT Shelter Photo GalleryA few of the shelters and lean-tos found along the length of the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow 
Panoramas of the Appalachian TrailA collection of five-star overlooks along the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow |
AT Interview: Correspondent Jeff ChowJeff Chow spent 10 months mapping every mile of the AT for BACKPACKER. Learn about his favorite spots and hard-earned tips here. |
Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.
Photos + Videos
Packing for a Backcountry Ski DayKristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing. |
Adjust Your Pack Straps on the TrailMaximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments. |
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Life's Short, Hike More!
What makes a backpacker a backpacker? It's not the garage full of gear or piles of guidebooks--it's the experiences, from thru-hiking a long trail to pushing your personal envelope to inspiring a child's love of wilderness. Here we present BACKPACKER's new Life List: 10 experiences to add to your tick-listnow--and the key skills you need to nail them.
Secret Hikes: Appalachian Trail
The last lonely stretch of the AT beckons from the mountains of western Maine.
Secret Hikes: Glacier National Park
Score wildlife sightings daily, choice views hourly--and at least one juicy burger--on this weeklong circuit.
Secret Hikes: Grand Canyon National Park
Surprise: This park's busy corridor trails offer a fast track to a private slice of heaven.
Secret Hikes: Grand Teton National Park
Rise above the crowds and earn solo views of elk, wildflowers, and summit sunsets.
International Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' trek abroad.
Navigation Center
Learn how to orient a map, navigate any terrain, and the ins-and-outs of GPS devices.
BACKPACKER's Free Smartphone GPS App
Record and share you adventures with our new, free navigation app. Plus, discover thousands of GPS-enabled hikes in national parks and major cities.
Green Guide
A backpacker's guide to environmental issues and "green" gear.
