Your Guide to Outdoor Activities in Maine
The northeasternmost state in the US is home to Acadia National Park and is known for rocky coastlines as well as abundant parks and reserves. We’re of course talking about Maine! Sharing a border with Canada, Maine has a variety of geological features that many outdoor adventurers are drawn to including low, rolling mountains, heavily forested interior, and picturesque waterways. A visit to Maine could easily consist of simply basking in the freedom of wide-open spaces, taking deep breaths of salty ocean air, and marveling at the views from the tops of our mountains, but many outdoor adventurers choose to take a more hands-on approach.
Coastline Tours
With more coastline than California (3,478 miles), it takes time to view the entire Maine coastline, and many choose to do this by touring the coast in sections, stopping at different towns, campgrounds, and attractions along the way. It’s important to note that whenever possible, use I-95 (the Maine Turnpike) to travel South to North. When looking at a Maine map, visitors often think that if they travel on Route One they will see more of the Maine Coast, but with no substantial difference in ocean views, the fact of the matter is that with so many stoplights and small towns on Route One, your travel time will double. While there are sections of the Mid-Coast Regions only reached by Route One, the Interstate is much quicker.
The first 30 miles of coast consist of 90% of the state’s sandy beaches and are known as the "Southern Maine Coast Region". Along this stretch, you’ll find the towns of Kittery, The Yorks, Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach. As you travel the coastline, be sure to stop to see the following:
Portland Headlight Lighthouse: This is America's first lighthouse, built in 1787. It was commissioned by America's first President, George Washington, to guard the state of Maine's busiest harbor.
Mount Desert Island: The Island, discovered by Samuel de Champlain in 1604, hosts Acadia National Park, the most visited national park in the U.S. Here, take a scenic drive through the park, bike the carriage roads and trails, and drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain.
Bar Harbor: A few miles before Acadia National Park is Bar Harbor which is home to a wide variety of fascinating shops and restaurants.
Biking
With over 35,000 square miles of area, Maine is a great state for bikers. Meandering coastal roads, scenic forest paths, and extensive trail networks in the mountains make for a biker’s paradise. Maine was awarded the title of 2nd “most bike friendly state in the country” by the League of American Bicyclists in May 2011 (Washington state wins this category every year). Check out a few of these biking excursions when in Maine:
Mt. Agamenticus: Located in the southern portion of the state, Mt Agamenticus offers a vast network of mountain bike trails up to the top of this highly scenic mountain in York. Here, one can enjoy great views of the Atlantic from 691’ summit, as far as Boone Island Light and Boston on a clear day.
Kennebunkport: The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust offers 10 miles of Bike Trails in the Edwin L Smith Preserve starting from their 1,100 acre preserve Headquarters at Gravelly Brook Road off Goose Rocks Beach Road. There’s also a 21-mile loop through the villages of Kennebunkport and Kennebunk past historic sea captain mansions on Summer Street and impressive coastal cottages on Ocean Ave.
Sunday River Resort: Located in Maine’s western mountains, mountain bikers can enjoy a technical bike park with jumps, bridges, berms and terrain elements, plus extensive trails for biking on specific ski resort terrain.
