Maine Trails

Moose Baxter State Park — Go hiking in Maine and hope to see a moose in Baxter State Park, Maine
Michael H. Francis

Hiking in Maine, located in the northeastern U.S., is known for its jagged and rocky coastline, as well as its dense forests and spectacular waterways.

Maine is home to Acadia National Park, America's oldest east of the Mississippi, which features old carriage roads and rough-and-tumble trails around weathered granite peaks, giving its 2 million annual visitors a taste of life beside the sea.

Mount Katahdin in Maine marks the northern terminus of the 2,184-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, which extends to Springer Mountain in Georgia.

The editors at Backpacker have created an extensive collection of popular trails and trips for hiking and backpacking Maine.

Acadia National Park

Start your fall off in spectacular fashion.

dog mountain2

Editorial Exclusives

Catch the best of the early season show on these nine routes curated exclusively for Basecamp members.

Member Exclusive

Spry Canyon Flood

The scenery here is awesome—but it can be deadly, too.

uinta

Editorial Exclusives

Head into the wilderness without the hassle of a four-season tent

Member Exclusive

kalaloch

Editorial Exclusives

Experience the spectacle of winter weather on one of these trails.

Member Exclusive

0819FEAT_STARS_OpenerPerseids082015

At these dark-sky destinations, the stars are out of this world.

Dixie Pass Trail

National Parks in Alaska

These 9 difficult hikes will challenge even the toughest backpackers.

1018FEAT_WalkTheLine_OpenerAdamMowery

California Trails

Get on a high ledge, a crumbly cliff, or a knife-edge ridge and your body will recognize the feeling before your brain catches on.

Mt. Rainier’s northeast face from the Wonderland Trail

We’re all for tagging summits, but the best way to experience a peak? Hike around it. You’ll see a mountain’s many faces on a single, peak-circling loop. These 14 trips circumnavigate the best of the best.

Frost Mountain Yurts hut

Only two types of people stay at huts located less than a quarter-mile from the trailhead: those with kids and those who don’t want to skimp on luxuries.

allagash river

Head north in the shoulder season, and you won't have to share.

maine dayhike

Maine carries a rep for being the wildest state in the east.

Grand Staircase

The federal government is considering changes to national monuments around the country. Hike these trails to get a ground-level view of what's at stake.

Sargent Mountain

Acadia National Park

Six Husbands Trail, New Hampshire [Photo by Matt Mills]

Portland, ME Trails

Test out one of the most notoriously difficult trails in New Hampshire's White Mountains.

Mount Katahdin via Hunt Trail [Photo by Matt Mills]

Portland, ME Trails

Hike, climb, and scramble your way up the final five miles of the Appalachian Trail and be rewarded with the best views in Maine.

Traveler Mountain Loop [Photo by Matt Mills]

Portland, ME Trails

Bag three peaks in virtual solitude in the middle of summer on this gem atop Baxter State Park in Maine.

South Branch Mountain Loop [Photo by Matt Mills]

Portland, ME Trails

Find complete solitude and expansive views on one of Baxter State Parks lesser known and lesser traveled loop hikes.

Acadia

Acadia National Park, Maine

Piscataquis River

Trapped by flooding

Appalachian Trail, Baxter State Park

Appalachian Trail

Rowdy hikers and an ultrarunner's clash with park rangers have officials threatening to move the northern terminus of America's most famous trail.

Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park, Maine

precipice trail best 100 miles

Acadia National Park

This mile of heart-pounding mountain climbing is among the best 100 miles of trail in the whole national park system.

Sunday River Whitecap (Mike Thicke / Flickr)

Appalachian Trail

Summit nine peaks and graze on trailside blueberries in Maine.

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