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? Sort of. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. What. A. Find. Whenever I'm journeying around Maine (checking out state parks or Atlas Obscura recommended spots), I try and also find a few trails or hiking spots to check out (because the state is huge, and when I'm in an area I'm not usually in, I want to discover spots I wouldn't otherwise!). Reynolds Forest was the best part of my day! In fact, one of the most standout spots I've been to in a while! According to the Kennebec Land Trust website (https://www.tklt.org/reynolds), "This 35 acre parcel provides visitors excellent birding opportunities, interesting wildflowers and floodplain species, and views of the powerful brook (now called Goff Brook), with its foaming water roaring over exposed rocks into stone-lined pools. Part of the conservation property not visible from the trail has seen an increase in invasive Japanese knotweed and non-native bush honeysuckle, and has served as a field research site for Colby College students studying invasive plant control methods." There's some parking off the shoulder of the main road, and the walk into the woods alongside Goff Brook is lovely. It's not long before you can suddenly hear the roaring of the (small, but mighty) waterfalls (which was once used for saw and grist mills. We made sure to come after a couple days of rain and it was worth it! We gently navigated out to some exposed rocks and sat in the sun, near the falls, surrounded by tall trees for a long time. Perfect spot for a picnic (and... I think we also spotted some foragers too). There's also a small Old Farm Loop Trail that passes by fields and an old foundation a little further beyond the Streamside Trail. BEWARE OF TICKS. BEWARE OF POISON IVY. WEAR APPROPRIATE SHOES.

As a family this was our first time at Vaughan woods and we will be back many times. It's a short…read morewalk/ hike through the woods and the waterfalls and bridges as well as the different kinds of trees make this a beautiful walk in any season. The trails are not marked well and to which trail your on but the path is easy to see. Come and check this out if your in the Augusta area.

Short and sweet, would take 15 min but feels as though you're lost in the woods. Leads to a small…read morecascade

right near my house, but public area is difficult...on a steep hill. entrance into water not safe…read morefor the elderly...no handbars and slippery rock steps. i have never made it into the water so i don't know about that.

Swimming, rocky but nice little spot. Not very expensive, bring a few floats and spend the day.read more

Granite City Park welcomes locals and tourists from all over. There is plenty of parking in the lot…read moreand on the street. This park is the heartbeat of Hallowell. Safe, clean and fun the citizens of Hallowell take great pride in their park. The conservation commission makes sure that in the spring the brush, and winter rubble is removed. If you're look for sturgeon this is THE place to be. End of May into June is peak Sturgeon jumping time and the Kennebec River will not disappoint. You'll see sturgeon leaping from the river, ducks, eagles, cranes, hawks, and turtles abound. Hallowell is a foodie destination. There are numerous outside dining areas, live music, craft local beer, killer cocktails, fun antique shops, and funky markets to discover. Grab a coffee and stroll the quaint streets, hit up the bakery, and explore the rail trail. Granite City Park is the cornerstone of this amazing city. Steeped in history, Granite City Park is a multi-use location. July sees it hosting food trucks and vendors for Old Hallowell Day, this is THE front row seats to an incredible fireworks display. Summertime you'll find the parks immaculate gardens in full bloom. Lounge in the sun, picnic, ride bikes on the rail trail, jog, walk, and just enjoy this city oasis. The park is ADA compliant with ramps, and handicap porta-potty that is fresh and clean each time I've used it. This is a spot for artists, writers, readers, and it's also a great place for a first date! You cannot smoke here, or in any park or eating place in Maine, there are trash recepticals scattered about - please pick up after your pets and use these recepticles. I hope you enjoy one of my favorite places to while away a summer day.

My wife and I went to granite City Park Thursday June 26th. I am in a wheelchair and my wife was…read moretrying to get me in my wheelchair onto the ramp to go down to the seating area. We could not have done it without the help of two very helpful and friendly ladies. We would like to thank them again for their generous help. While we were down overlooking the river, for sturgeons jumped out of the water in front of us. I only saw one actually clear the water by 3 ft. The rest happened so fast at all was and heard was a smack of the splash as a landed back in the water it was a beautiful day to be there. And lucky enough to see the sturgeon jumping. My wife and I really enjoyed it. Again thank you ladies for your help getting me on to the ramp.

Aquí tienes la traducción:…read more --- "The dog park on Sundays around 2 pm. We arrived at the dog park, and the rules are supposed to be that dogs under 35 pounds stay on one side, and dogs over 35 pounds stay on the left side of the park. There were three dogs over 35 pounds in the small dog area, and their owners did not move. A lady with her two small dogs tried to enter and from the outside said that one of the large dogs was growling, so she couldn't enter. An elderly man arrived with an aggressive and heavy dog and entered the small dog area. At that moment, I picked up my dog and told my husband to grab the smaller one. In less than a minute, the dog was attacking my dog, and if my husband hadn't grabbed her, who knows what would have happened. The owners stayed in the park where they didn't belong, and more large dogs kept arriving, along with about 10 more people. When we spoke to them from outside, after we had taken our dogs out, and told them to read the rules, a woman with curly blonde hair and three large black dogs, one named Stella, said, 'Who are we? That she had been organizing that gathering in the park for five years and how many times had we been there?' It's extremely rude and disrespectful. We are Maine residents, and we have the right to use the park. She should not be breaking the park rules, no matter how many 'years' she's been going there. Everyone was very rude, and there were several dog fights. I recorded everything, and even as we were walking back, the woman was talking about us as more people arrived. Attention should be given to these rules, and especially people who have been living here for years should be the first to follow them, be more polite, and more welcoming." --- I hit videos and pictures to send via email

Along the Kennebec River as it enters downtown Augusta, Mill Park looks like maybe it's been…read moreflooded a few times but these days, it is a large grassy space. Perfect for a run or to maybe exercise your dog. On a cool autumn day, it was pretty and it was peaceful. There are a dozen or so picnic tables and one large covered picnic area. There are a few dozen parking spaces as well. Signs indicate that this is where the farmer's market is held. [Review 10016 overall, 1599 of 2018.]

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 (and NH) 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 a gem of a hike. And it's proof that just when you think you know Maine... you don't. Will I ever run out of incredible places to explore here? Mt Pisgah proves I won't. I had never heard of this spot before, but was doing research for somewhere to play outside near the Augusta area, and this came up. It was everything I was looking for: 2 to 4 miles, meandering through the forest, and absolutely outstanding views at the top. I took Blueberry Trail (1.3 miles) which was mostly a very windy path through woodlands; what makes it so special, though, is the wild blueberries that grow near the top. From the informational sign: "...In natural settings native highbush blueberries are typically found in areas with wet, acidic, organic soils. Mt Pisgah, where highbush blueberries occur, does not resemble these preferred habitats. At this site, the highbush blueberries are found in an upland forest with dry soil and no nearby water source. It is unclear how the highbush blueberries came to be in this less than ideal habitat." TLDR: There are magical blueberries here. When I reached the top I climbed up the historic fire tower for impressive 360 degree views of the surrounding area. To come down from the summit there are two options: Tower Trail (which is about .7 miles) which passes through rich forest (expect lots of wooden planks over streams) OR the access road which is a straight shot on a well groomed, relatively accessible (think stroller-friendly) road back up and back from the parking lot. Side note: Ledges Trail, 1.4 miles, adds steps but not views. (From the informational sign at the top of the mountain: "In Hebrew, Pisgah means a lookout or place with a view, and refers to the place on Mt Nebo from which Moses looked out over the promised lands. In the 19th century, before the fire tower was constructed, the summit of Pisgah was an open pasture that provided panoramic views. Mt Pisgah has a rich agricultural history. Old stone walls, second growth pine and hardwood forest, and gnarly sugar maples with tap holes tell the story of intensive land clearing, pasturing, cultivation, and farm abandonment.")

A nice 1-2.5 hour hike (depending on which trails one takes), especially for winter hiking, and a…read moregreat panoramic view atop the high scalable tower.

This is such a great state park, especially for swimming. The lake is clear and there are several…read moreswim spots along the shore that are fairly private because of how spread out the picnic tables and swim spots are. The camping is nice here too with good facilities, but the road noise is evident, especially at night when other things quiet down. Lastly, the park is dog friendly, which is so appreciated! Our dogs have enjoyed it each time they come, whether it be for camping or just stopping in to swim. I'm not sure if dogs are allowed in the water or not, but our dogs prefer to lounge in the sun or shade of the picnic table anyway.

Lake St. George is a beautiful, clean, and serene spring fed lake perfect for swimming, fishing,…read morecanoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and boating. The park is immaculately well kept, with many picnic tables and grills available. There is plenty of space to lay out a blanket for sunning or picnicking, and lots of green space for outdoors games. There are clean bath/changing rooms close to the designated swimming area. There is also a lifeguard on duty. Entry fees are reasonable ($7 per adult for non residents) and plenty of parking, including handicapped parking. No trash bins--take out what you bring in. A wonderful place to spend the day!

This is a lovely easy walk thru the woods in Sidney. There is a babbling brook that gives off a…read morecoolness. The trail is easy to follow and takes you a small loop thru the wilderness, exploring wildlife such as birds, squirrels and chipmunks. There are wood planks for when it's muddy. This is great way to enjoy the outdoors and get in your 10,00 steps. The parking is limited. You may even drive right past the entrance. It's on the left if you're headed to Waterville, with a sign coming out of the woods.

Had the beach to ourselves on a partly sunny 70 degree day. Small beach, warm water, plenty of…read moreparking, clean bathrooms, lots of picnic tables in the shade.

Tiny and waaayyyyy overcrowded !!! Lake is shallow and muddy…read moreat the state park end Lots of gnats and mosquitoes too