I am in love with this trail because they have a mobility accessible portion for those us with…read morelimited mobility to do disabilities or other health issues. I work with adults with disabilities, out in the community. So this is a very special spot to come for some fresh air and exercise! To make it even more special; every April they do a painted rock Easter Egg Hunt. You follow the trail, and find the eggs hidden in nature. Don't take them! Leave for others to see. Just take photos!

This hike is easily one of my favorites. I am by no means an avid hiker but I do like to get…read moreoutdoors and get some exercise while experiencing the beauty of this state. I also like a big reward for moderate effort, and Cliff Trail is perfect for that. An easy, to moderate at times, trail of about 2.1 miles rewards you with stunning views. The trails are well maintained and marked, along with ample parking at the trail head. Fairy houses and seasonal kids activities make it great for families. Highly recommend you check this place out!!

Walking along the Cathance River reminded me a lot of Swift River in the Kancamagus - a stunning…read morehike through the forest alongside a rushing body of water (stretches of which include Class IV rapids). So much of it felt so organic too - rocks and tree roots making paths and stairs through the gently winding quiet woods. It's well marked, the directional signs are in the perfect places, and the trails are all extremely well maintained. What a fantastic way to spend an autumnal morning - had a picnic on some of the rocks that were jutting out into the river with the sun pouring down around me. For sure the way to go for maximum water views, with the most privacy, is: park at the Ecology Center, walk down to it and hook a left on Highland Trail (blue), which connects to Cathance River Trail (white), take Cathance River Trail to Rapids Trail (yellow), Rapids Trail back to Highland Trail and the Ecology Center. I say this because... You should know that this hiking area is basically within a housing development on a golf course and is currently undergoing a lot of construction on the eastern side of the trail system (anything around and beyond the actual Hiker Parking area - didn't see the wooden bridge near Old Quarry Road or the Clay Brook bridge to Head of Tide Park because I wasn't allowed to access them when I came). Also, you can hear the traffic from 295 pretty clearly throughout most of the trail system. I didn't know either of these things, so both were a bit off-putting. As an aside, I was yelled at twice: once by a golfer and once by some lady in her backyard who could see me through the trees. Both wanted to know what I was doing, why I was doing it, and where my destination was (not even kidding). It seems to me there needs to be bit more communication with these folks about the trail system here - that people actually come to hike them. Until that happens, my advice is to avoid anything and everything to do with the heath (all trails to it and around it since this is where golfing and people's backyards seem to be). I'm looking forward to coming back when construction is done and the area is a less confusing and awkward place to navigate as a hiker. But I will stick to the trails near the water!

This was a beautiful snowshoe hike. It's a great way to clear your mind on a Sunday afternoon…read more Maybe 4 miles of trails if you want to do it all in one day. Well marked and they have maps.

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.

Explored Skolfield Shores Preserve in January and it was absolutely breathtaking. I drove up from…read morethe Mississippi Gulf Coast (about 24 hours) just adventuring - as soon as I laid eyes on the end of the trail I was walking, I thought, "Now this... is what I came all this way for!" (even though this stop was a random passing selection off the map of my route). If my phone was not shutting down due to the below freezing temperatures, and if I'd been able to feel my toes, nose, and fingers longer, I could have wandered the area all day. So happy to see such a well-kept, beautiful piece of nature.

For me, this is a destination walking trail and one I'm excited to check out again and again…read morethroughout the seasons. So if you're in the Brunswick area, be sure to make your way to Skolfield Shores Preserve - it's got a little bit of everything that makes Maine's notable natural world so great: thick forest, salt marshes, fields, ocean views, wildlife, Parking is in front of the Merruconnegan Farm (when you see the large Harpswell Heritage Land Trust kiosk, you're in the right place!) - note that this is a working farm, so be thoughtful of their privacy and stick to the trail (which is extremely well marked). The trail itself is super accessible and sort of shaped like a big figure eight (Hemlock Loop with a wooden bridge that connects to Merrucoonegan Loop) with a spur trail beforehand that leads down to a beautiful meadow, the shore, and a historic boathouse... which is a dramatic, sweeping, stunning site straight off a postcard for the state of Maine. It overlooks Middle Bay Cove and couldn't be more peaceful or lovely. Sit and stay a while; enjoy the incredible birds here (osprey, meadowlarks, eagles), the hermit crabs that apparently come out in spring, the remoteness, and the very cool broken shell "beach" area. Afterwards, continue your walk, keep an eye out for hen of the woods mushrooms, and enjoy the scenic views along the way. Please, please, please practice "carry in, carry out", be careful of tickets, and remember to wear blaze orange during hunting seasons.

A wonderful little out and back hike with a beautiful outlook over Winnegance Bay. This trail…read moreallows leashed dogs, hiking, and bikers. The length is 1.6 miles which includes the shore line piece that is off to your left at the waterfront. Some of the waterfront trail is tricky if it's icy or if you have littles so use caution.

Very underrated from the information we found online but we were in the area so decided to go. I'm…read moreso glad we did !! Beautiful walkway along the ocean, cliff top area. It's not a very long walk but we had kids with us and very easy for little legs.

If you are on Bailey Island I recommend a stop at Giant's Stairs Trail. There are directional…read moresigns to get you there once you are fairly close. I parked by the McIntosh Lot Preserve where there is a small parking area on the side of the road. Stay on the path and be respectful most of the area is private property. The rock formations are magnificent, i was in awe of what I saw. Pictures cannot do it justice.

I don't know what it's like to be a fairy or a gnome, and I'm often jealous of their woodland based…read morelifestyles (houses made in and of trees, drinking water out of flowers, riding on the back of squirrels... you know what I'm talking about). Widegon Cove Trail, however, has given me a sneak peek into that world. This unexpectedly beautiful path is a wonderfully maintained loop that cuts through thick, tall forest and circles past a cove with lovely pine tree and water views regardless of tide (although low tide offers more bird watching). It's well marked, and the trail itself is charming...at some points the ground is lined on either side with fallen trees to keep you on the path, parallel planks, and stone walkways too. Want to stop and take it all in? There are many wooden benches to stop and take it all in from. Does this sound like every other trail? Maybe. But there's really something charming and whimsical about this particular one. I don't know if it's the variety of trees, the ravine like parts, the moss and mushrooms, the abundance of wildlife, but I felt like I spent my entire walk (which was admittedly short; the whole loop is maybe half a mile?) smiling... and expecting Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather to come out of nowhere and begin singing to me.

Follow this well maintained trail through woodlands to a beautiful view of Widgeon Cove…read more The parking lot is on the left heading when heading out of Brunswick and has enough space for four cars. The dirt was still loose near the road and I needed a slight angle to get out of the parking lot. There is the another one of the HHLT trails just before you get to this trail. If you are looking to lengthen your hike, you can walk or drive up to the other parking lot to check out the other trail. The following is taken from: www.hhltmaine.org/conserved-land/public-access/widgeon-cove-trail/ Ownership: Harpswell Heritage Land Trust trail on privately owned land Features: hiking, scenic view, benches, dogs allowed Length: .6 mile loop with cutoff trail Difficulty: moderate Hiking Time: 30 minutes Click here to download a trail map and brochure. Description: This half-mile loop trail is the perfect way to take in beautiful Widgeon Cove on Harpswell Sound. The path winds through woodlands, across ravines and along the shoreline where there is a dramatic view of the cove. At this scenic viewpoint, visitors can enjoy a picnic with family and friends, take pictures or just sit quietly to observe waterfowl, wading birds and other wildlife that frequent the cove. The Widgeon Cove Trail is part of the 88-acre Dunning Farm Conservation Easement. This privately owned property will remain forest and working farmland forever. Directions: From the intersection of Rt 123 and Bath Rd at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, follow Rt 123 south for 7.4 miles. Immediately after the Wilson's Cove Trail parking lot on the right, look for the Widgeon Cove Trail parking lot on the left. Visitor Guidelines: Carry in, carry out. Pedestrian use only. No overnight parking. No open fires. No camping. Dogs must be on a leash. Carry out all dog waste. Please respect wildlife, neighbors and other users. This trail is on private property. Please respect the owner's privacy. Power driven mobility devices are not allowed.

Beautiful state park with great views on many trails. The trails are pretty flat and not difficult,…read moreand they are very shaded, so it's a very relaxing set of hikes. Looks like a great spot for a picnic as well.

This is a great little state park close to Portland and Freeport with trails that go along the…read moreocean, through the woods and along the Harraseeket River. Nice picnic spots and places to sit and admire the view. This is a popular park in Summer, especially in nice weather, so parking could be a challenge. If you're in the area, definitely worth a visit. Don't forget to leave your money in the box at the entrance of you don't have a Maine State Park pass so we can keep state parks like this open and maintained.

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.