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    Ipcar Natural Preserve

    3.5 (2 reviews)

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    Higgins Mountain Preserve - Trail marker.

    Higgins Mountain Preserve

    4.5(2 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Quick little hike up a quiet path. Doesn't seem to be a popular spot to hike which makes it even…read morebetter- unpopular=quiet. I did this hike after meeting a new client just down the road. I parked on their off road parking area and started my ascent. The path is well maintained, peaceful, and well marked with cairns when there is areas that would otherwise be confusing to which way to go. While the top wasn't as scenic as many of the mountains I have accomplished over the years, it was a nice place to sit, relax, and reflect in the quiet.

    If you're a day hiker, a quick hiker, a nature walker, a fresh air lover, a geocacher, or just like…read moreto move your body, check out Higgins Mountain Preserve. It's about a .5 mile loop around a parcel of land that was donated in 2000 to the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust. It's the highest point on Georgetown being 259 feet above sea level. We decided to check it out because of the promise we saw when researching that we'd see "stunning views of the coast" (like Monhegan Island, Seguin Island, and the Gulf of Maine). It's unmarked from the road, so if you're driving down Route 27, be careful not to drive past it (when your GPS tells you you're there, you're actually there... just look for the incredibly small dirt pull-off). The hike/walk itself was much more uphill than I was expecting, but was beautiful - from the dense forest at the bottom to the beautiful sprawling lichen at the top and the wild blueberry bushes - throughout. We're also suckers for "rock art" (as we call it); which are, as you probably know, just piles of delicately balanced rocks acting as trail markers. This hike/walk had them every few feet on the path to reassure us that we were where we were supposed to be. Loved this - and love that the people using Higgins are a) leaving everything as they found it and b) practicing carry in/carry out (the mountain was in pristine condition, not a single piece of litter anywhere - hurray for humanity on this one!). When we reached the top, we didn't see any ocean though and it was a clear summer day. We both assumed that "views of the coast" meant actual water views. Not the case - at least not in the height of summer. Maybe when the trees are less full you can see more, but our scenery was a thousand shades of green tree tops. Still beautiful, but not what we wanted. I would absolutely come back here maybe at the peak of, or just past, foliage season for the views and a quick jaunt in Mother Nature.

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    Higgins Mountain Preserve - Wild blueberries!

    Wild blueberries!

    Higgins Mountain Preserve - Higgins Mountain Preserve.

    Higgins Mountain Preserve.

    Higgins Mountain Preserve - Pinecones.

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    Pinecones.

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    4.7(240 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    Such a fun, family friendly place!! The walking trails are well maintained and clearly marked…read more There's plenty for kids to do around the grounds. It was really fun to walk the trails and see all the trolls! The grounds are really pretty this time of year with the hyacinths and daffodils blooming. Soo many varieties and colors! The gift shop was cute and well maintained. Service at the Cafe was great.

    A great spot in mid-coast Maine to enjoy flora from around the world. It's large enough that you…read morecan spend a day there, but not too large that you feel like you can't see enough of it. If you enjoy a bit of a scavenger hunt, they have these huge wooden troll sculptures scattered throughout the park that are fun to hunt down and makes sure you get your steps in. I mean, they're clearly marked on the map and on signs, but we enjoyed finding the right paths to see all of them. Definitely take your pictures but don't take too long in front of them so other visitors can get theirs! The park is very accessible for people of all mobility levels, and the less accessible/steeper paths are clearly labeled. Most of the paths have a slow rise and fall, so they're not strenuous. They have little features like waterfalls, a meditation garden, a town of fairy houses, sculptures, information on conservation and the local indigenous tribes, a dock into the bay that you can walk out to, a butterfly garden, and kinetic sculptures (some of which you can make music with). Also highly recommend stopping by their cafe! We ended up eating lunch there and were happy that they had a number of vegetarian and vegan options. The lentil soup was so tasty, particularly on a more temperate summer day. The Botanical Gardens are a must visit!

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    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

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    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    Fort Popham

    Fort Popham

    4.8(8 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    The history and with an ocean view, there's no way I wouldn't love it! I have been coming here…read moresince I was a kid and it never gets old. I used to fish off of the rocks during high tide with my dad right next to the fort. We caught delicious mackerel. While I don't do that as an adult, I explore the fort, climb around on the rocks and enjoy the small beach area just as I did when I was a kid. It's not too big and not to small of an area. We love it. The fort is just so amazing and fascinating and while it was never battle tested, there's still so much to learn about the "why". They have done a great job adding displays with historical facts. I am so glad that it's not been vandalized like some of the other forts in Southern Maine/NH. Although some of the smaller fort nooks do smell like urine...ugh. Parking can be a challenge on weekends in the summer, and in some cases you might not be able to find a spot. We usually like coming here in the spring - April and in the fall - September. Bring bug spray or covering for your head and skin - the biting flies are aggressive!!!

    I love historical sites and Popham Beach so this place is perfect!! This park is the home to an…read moreunfinished pre Civil war fort that was built to protect shipbuilding in Bath and trade to Augusta. There are lots of great nooks and crannies to investigate. The tiny parking lot can be frustrating at times but that is just the way it has to be with such a limited space. No dogs are allowed in the fort, but the parking lot allows access to the beach in front of Spinneys which allows leashed dogs even during the summer! That being said, I beg dog owners to keep your pooch on a leash and pick up their waste so we don't blow a good thing!!!

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    Fort Popham
    Fort Popham
    Fort Popham

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    Doubling Point Lighthouse

    Doubling Point Lighthouse

    3.3(8 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    We visited this historic lighthouse on our recent vacation, but as others have previously mentioned…read moreI would not return because it feels like you are, and in fact you are, in someone's backyard. I have no idea how or why such an arrangement arose, but it is is odd to say the least. Also, the access road is not not well maintained so be aware. The lighthouse itself is very interesting and it affords a nice view of the Kennebec river.

    Just at the very tail end of the day, we raced to see our final lighthouse of this Saturday tour…read more Arriving just at sunset, it is located at the end of about a mile or so of dirt road that could use some love from the local town transportation department. Yes, it's private property. And if they want to keep people off it, they can do what the folks at the Hendrick's Head Light did - post signs and enforce them. Located on the Kennebec River, the lighthouse was established in 1898 and remains an active aid to navigation today. It points out a sharp turn in the river for those going to or from the Bath Iron Works. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The light station includes a tower, keeper's house, shed, and oil house. The tower is an octagonal wood frame structure, finished in wooden shingles, with an iron walkway around the lantern chamber. It is accessed via a three-span footbridge. Around the base of the lighthouse, there are some spots where you can walk out to get different angles. Some interesting driftwood on the ground if that's something that interests you. [Review 14897 overall, 399 of 2021, number 79 in Maine.]

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    Doubling Point Lighthouse
    Doubling Point Lighthouse
    Doubling Point Lighthouse - Doubling Point Lighthouse, Bath ME

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    Doubling Point Lighthouse, Bath ME

    Bijhouwer Forest

    Bijhouwer Forest

    5.0(2 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    This is a lovely loop trail. We visited in the fall so there was no waterfall but even without it…read moreis a nice hike. The big rocks are definitely worth seeing. Our hike took about an hour. The trail is well-marked with painted blue dots on the trees. The hardest part is finding the trail. These directions are copied from the Phippsburg land trust website: Follow Route 209 into Phippsburg, if coming from out of town. At the Stony Brook Road, turn right (the Stony Brook Road is about 3.5 miles from the causeway at the Phippsburg/Bath town line). Devil's Highway is a left hand turn about .6 miles from the start of the Stony Brook Road. It is not always well signed (kids tend to run off with the road sign), but it is a dirt road with a fairly wide opening onto the Stony Brook Road with mailboxes. The left turn comes just as the Stony Brook Road is making a noticable turn.. If you've come to the Fuller Mountain Road, a similar left hand turn, you've gone too far. The parking area is on the left as you travel Devil's Highway; I believe it is about .4 miles onto Devil's Highway. It is just past the third house on the right, I believe. You can't see it on the Google Earth map, because it is a small wooded parking area (perhaps 4 cars can park there). If you come to the the area where there is a side road off to the left with houses, you've gone too far. There is a small PLT sign in the parking area.

    I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. This is one of my favorite little hikes in Maine. I fell in love with it immediately (even if I can't remember the name and keep calling it the Bijou Flower Forest). It has my favorite four things: parking, a loop trail, extremely well marked signs, and constant elements of surprise that even if you know about because you read about them online are *STILL* amazing when you see them in real life. The trails are extremely well maintained and easy to navigate. You first come into a meadow; and then, there's another meadow to your right, but to the left is the forest itself. The ever present sign of what is located where allows you to lose yourself in the beauty of this natural space because you know you can't lose your way. Waterfall this way. Hundred foot rock this way. Laurel this way. And what a lovely waterfall it is. You can hear it rushing before you approach it. There's a little bench placed literally directly in front of it so you can just sit and be. The brook it creates winds along much of the rest of the trail you'll take so expect to crisscross it a few times via bridge or plank or even a big ol' hop. (NOTE: I can't speak to what this place looks like in a summer drought, but I came in autumn after some rain and it was a spectacular sight, and loud too! I bet it's just as stunning in spring.) The hundred foot rock is unexpected even though there are signs for it. Because, you look up and suddenly it isn't just trees around you but a literal massive boulder. Regarding the laurel, alas I didn't see it when I came because it's in bloom in June and July, I think. Apparently it's one of the northernmost stands of mountain laurels in New England, so you know I'll be back next summer. While I didn't see any flowers, I did see an abundance of rock tripe, which honestly looked like giant scales of some mythical creature (it's really just lichen). Magical? This place is absolutely that.

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    Bijhouwer Forest
    Bijhouwer Forest - This is the sign you'll see in the parking lot that holds just a few cars

    This is the sign you'll see in the parking lot that holds just a few cars

    Bijhouwer Forest

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    Ipcar Natural Preserve - parks - Updated May 2026

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