Find the top rated hiking trails in Maine, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We were excited to accept the challenge of the 85 mile rail-trail. We bicycled from Ellsworth to Columbia Falls in 8-10 mile chunks parking at different entry points along the way, making a 16-20 mile ride round trip each time. Every time we rode we encountered an abundance of ATVer's who dusted us out each time we passed each other, and since they were approaching us at rather high speeds, we stopped and got off of the trail each time. We did the majority of our rides mid-week hoping to avoid a lot of ATV traffic but also tried riding on the weekends, same story. The scenery in many of the areas was very nice but on our final ride there was deep, loose gravel and we sadly abandoned the challenge to ride the entire trail. From research after we threw in the towel, it appears that the ATV folk have financed a large part of this trail and are enjoying it thoroughly. In my opinion, I don't think that the ATV/Bicycle mix is a good fit.
Not a good trail for biking. Was like biking through a sand dune. Looks pretty decent for anything else though.
The sunrise trail is great. It would be a lot better if the groomer didn't wait 2 or 3 days after it snowed. Considering we only get to ride locally a few times a winter. My thought is more people would donate or join clubs if trails where groomed more than once a week. That's just my 2 cents. The scenics are like no other.
So 15 degree weather does not stop us!
Started at otter pond and skied to Gambo Field.
Beautiful blue sky and crisp air. Maine the way it should be. Met a few snowmobiles and only a few other brave walkers. I love this trail and feel so blessed to be able to walk out the door and have this great place to play.
a wonderful thing about this trail is that it is handicapped accessible from the outer High Street parking lot in particular. The stone dust surface is impervious to wheels and motor driven and otherwise propelled wheel chairs are very easy to use on the trail.
That said... the trail is a wonder. There are three parking area access points. 1. downtown/intown where it intersects the Armistice Bridge walking bridge and Harbor Walk, 2. Upper Bridge (on High Street) and 3. out at the The Brooks Preservation railroad yard, station, and museum.
It is a remarkable 2.2 miles of natural world.
My girlfriend and I. During the summer. Was staying at balsom woods camp ,so on the way back we saw. A ATV park. Passing. In Newport.so we stop to. Check it out. For a a ride. We liked what we saw. So we. Came back 10/15/16 we are amazed on the amount of. ATV etc on this trail and all the connection s the trail s have to offer. ,it is worth the trip. To visit these trail
The trail is beautifully groomed and hugs the Passagassawakeag river for over 2 miles. We started at the north end (13 Oak Hill Road) of the trail by the rail yard. The parking lot was packed when we got there as the excursion train was getting ready to leave. They have rides Saturdays and Sundays at 1 PM. The trains travel north from the parking lot and the trail goes south. The trail surface is perfect for walking and biking. It is treelined and has many small bridges that carry you over creeks. It took us 45 minutes of walking to get to the southern end at the intersection of Pierce St. and Front St. in Belfast. There is now a trailhead with a small parking lot at the southern end (not listed in the description). The trail connects there to the Belfast Harbor Walk which is an awesome urban trail through Belfast harbor and Front Street shipyard with a long pedestrian bridge across the Passagassawakeag.
We rode as a pair from the Kennebunk Elementary School, which is at the southern end of the trail - marked as "mile 28" northward.(It's about .2 miles from the parking lot) Aside from crossing over Rt. 95 just at the base of the trail, from then on it was flat, perhaps a slight grade up while heading north. The surface is sand, and fine gravel. There are a few benches along the trail. Very scenic trail with dense woods and streams. It's an easy trail, with no hills to climb, if that's what you're looking for. I recommend it.
Was looking for a new "Rail" trail. Pulled into the parking area in Ellsworth, about 40 trucks with trailers. Very dusty with all the ATV traffic. I guess it is called the Sunrise Trail and not the Sunrise "Rail" trail. Everyone needs a place to ride so leave this one to the motorized vehicles and find a Bicycle trail.
Having ridden bike paths all over New England, I've enjoyed many wonderful experiences towing my toddler in his trailer. My wife and I rode this southern section starting in Standish, and we were generally disappointed. There is little to see, aside from a field and a bridge over a pond. The path had a few potholes and places where a safety fence were falling down. It also doesn't really lead you anywhere interesting, like a place to eat or a town to explore. We wouldn't return to ride this again.
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