NEW ENGLAND

This national park is simply put, an amazing experience. The oldest national park on the east coast, visitors will enjoy a variety of wonders including the unusual geological formations, nature and wildlife, scheduled events, scenic drives, hiking, biking and boat cruises. Don't forget to look for the puffins, North America's answer to the penguin. Fishing sites abound, with approximately 20 lakes and ponds to choose from. Public camping is available at two locations, and there are fees for camping and for entering the park. For hikers, there are more than 200 miles of trails.

Several trails lead to the top of Blue Hill. At 940 feet, the peak offers views of Penobscot Bay, Blue Hill Harbor and Acadia National Park.

This park offers visitors a bevy of activities: canoeing, fishing, a scenic drive, hiking trails, picnic areas, and cross-country and snowmobile trails in the winter. There is a public campsite available. Open May 15-Oct. 15.

Visitors to Eastport will enjoy walking past the dozens of 18th and 19th century structures, including many restored sea captains' homes.

Pebbly beach on Smith Cove of Penobscot Bay, no lifeguard, launch for canoes and kayaks, open pit toilets, picnic area, walking trails, parking. No admission or parking fees.

This nature preserve offers trails and roads for wildlife observation. In the wintertime, the unplowed roads become cross-country ski trails. Fishing and deer hunting are permitted.

Visitors to this park will enjoy hiking trails, splendid views (with possibilities for whale watching), and picnic areas. The eastern most point of land and lighthouse in the United States are adjacent to the park. Open May 15-Oct. 15.

Accessible by a bridge from the mainland, this was originally the summer home for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Now a 2,600-acre park, visitors can see the home or hike on more than eight miles of trails.

Visitors will enjoy hiking along the ocean, in the woods, and out on the bluff.

This preserve has 92 miles of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers that cut a swathe through Maine's northern forestland. This park is the most remote in the state, and is available for those who truly wish to "rough it." Swimming, boating, fishing, and canoeing are all part of the experience. This is also a popular seasonal hunting area. Hiking trails lead to fire towers throughout the Allagash. It is important to note that there is no public transportation, nor are there any permanent residents in the park. Any visitors who plan to camp or travel through the park will be relatively isolated, and should be experienced in dealing with a primitive outdoor environment.

The northernmost of all Maine state parks is set alongside Echo Lake. 577 acres offering hiking and cross-country ski trails, fishing, swimming areas and picnicking. Boating and canoeing are permitted in the lake. Public campgrounds are available for a fee. Reservations are suggested.

One of the highest waterfalls in Maine, this natural wonder features an assortment of trails around the falls, and a swimming hole at the falls' bottom. Along the trails are observation areas. The trail to the swimming hole is quite steep, and good physical condition is required.

Enjoy the native trees of Maine and North America while strolling on over 25 miles of trails. Good for hiking and winter cross-country skiing.
Hours: open daily. No charge.

Come visit Swan Island in the Kennebec River - an island in time - with unique river, forest and meadow habitats for native wildlife like eagles, white-tailed deer, songbirds and wild turkeys. A state-owned Wildlife Management Area and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are 6 historic buildings still standing along the central island dirt road, hiking and mountain biking trails, an overnight campground and spectacular scenery. A fabulous wildlife and nature photography site! Kayak and mountain bike rentals are available. Ferry service provided. Admission fees. Open daily May 1- Labor Day by reservation only. Take Exit 43 off I-295 and follow Route 197 East to the intersection of Routes 197 and 24.

This natural preserve offers visitors the opportunity to observe birds and animals, mostly in fields. The walking trails also serve as cross-country ski trails in the winter.

This park features picnic areas and a walking path, from which views of two lighthouses and the water beyond can be enjoyed.

Features hiking trails, fishing and picnic areas. Five minutes from downtown Freeport, the park has climax white pine and hemlock forests, a salt marsh estuary, and rocky shorelines on Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. Open April to October. A fee is charged.

A wilderness of more than 200,000 acres, Baxter State Park is a hiking and mountain climbing paradise. Within the park borders are 46 mountains, 175 miles of hiking trails, and 10 public campgrounds. Ample fishing is available in the parks many lakes and streams, and hunting is permitted there also. Canoers will enjoy the parks many waterways. Baxter is also the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Wintertime offers both cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and limited snowmobiling.

This unusual natural formation is a deep slate canyon. Accessible only by trail, the Pleasant River runs along the bottom, and hikers will enjoy waterfalls, sheer walls, and rock formations.

This park om Moosehead Lake has facilities for fishing, canoeing, lake swimming, in addition to hiking, cross-country ski, ice fishing, and snowmobile trails. A public camping facility is available. Open May 1-Oct. 15, but available for winter activities.

This park features areas for fishing, hiking, and swimming in warmer weather. In wintertime visitors can enjoy the snowmobile and cross-country trails. A public campsite is available.

Set along the banks of Sebec Lake, this park offers terrific fishing, canoeing, boating, swimming and hiking trails. Public campsites are available.

There are many roads and trails in this rural community provide a scenic setting for mountain biking.

This scenic park is at the foot of Mount Battie, and covers 5,000 acres. Visitors can enjoy the trails for hiking and the rocky shoreline. Of particular interest is the view from the summit of Mount Battie, 900 feet above sea level. A public campsite is available. Open May 15-Oct. 15. A fee is charged.

Public area features nature walks and picnic areas.

Visitors to this park will enjoy hiking and cross-country ski trails, snowmobile trails, fishing areas, and swimming. There is a public camping area available.

This nature preserve offers visitors ample opportunities to observe gardens of wildflowers and wildlife, as well as hiking and cross-country ski trails.
Hours: Daily from dawn to dusk. No charge.

Accessible only by boat, this state park offers visitors remote camping, fishing areas, hiking and cross-country ski trails, in addition to picnic areas.

The main feature of this state park is the 484-foot granite cliff that overlooks Casco Bay. Visitors can enjoy the hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and snowmobile trails and picnic areas. Snowshoe rentals are available. There is also a public campground. Open year-round, 9 a.m.-sunset. A fee is charged.

This small state park offers an ocean beach, complete with picnic areas and hiking trails. There is an admission fee charged. Open Memorial Day-Oct. 1.

Built in 1690, this Colonial fort takes visitors back to the beginnings of coastal Maine's strong maritime background. Hiking trails are also a part of this state historic site, in addition to a picnic area. Open Memorial Day-Sept. 30. A fee is charged.

A mile-long path that runs along the shoreline, offering spectacular water views.

One of the first research preserves in northern New England, visitors to the refuge can enjoy protected, native wildlife on 1,600 acres. There are many paths to walk and observe birds, small animals, and plants.

A 250-acre forested park on the Salmon Falls River has hiking trails and picnicn facilities. Open Memorial Day-Labor Day. A fee is charged.

Set on 35,027 acres, this preserve is along Flagstaff Lake. There are numerous mountains within the preserves. Extensive trails for both hiking and cross-country skiing are for experienced hikers and skiers. There is also swimming, paddling, fishing, and hunting. Snowmobile trails travers the park.

A beautiful view awaits visitors to this spot, which features hiking trails to allow for better views at higher altitudes. A public campsite is available.

This scenic park is the gateway to numerous hiking trails, fishing areas, and amazing natural attractions, including Mother Walker Falls, Screw Auger Falls, Moose Cave, Step Falls and the Bear River. Visitors will see a natural bridge, gorges, and two Maine mountains, Old Speck and Baldpate Mountain. Perhaps the most popular park for hiking in the state, Grafton Notch offers many trails with extraordinary views. Easy trails will take you down into Moose Cave Gorge, Mother Walker Falls, and Screw Auger Falls. For more of a challenge, Table Rock is a one-mile steep climb up Baldpate Mountain. Hikers on this trail will enjoy the views of Grafton Notch, and can explore the caves found at the trail's end. A challenging trail is the four-mile hike to the summit of Old Speck Mountain. The Eyebrow Trail is a side-trail off ths Old Speck climb, leading to Eyebrow Sheer Cliff. It is at this park that the Appalachian Trail enters Maine, and continues north to the Canadian border.

This park along the shores of Lake Webb features activities throughout the year. Warmer weather visitors will enjoy fishing, swimming, canoeing, and hiking trails. In the winter, trails are open for both cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. A public campground is available.

A great spot for family hiking, the centerpiece of which is Snow Falls. A bridge crosses the gorge, offering good scenic viewing. The area nearby has many mines, now abandoned, which offer mineral collectors the opportunity to collect mica, garnet, quartz, and tourmaline. Some are privately owned and require and entrance fee.

Trails of varying difficulty greet hikers on this three-peaked mountain. The shortest and easiest is the Brook Trail, which is only 1 1/2 miles long round-trip. The Loop Trail affords views of the Great Ledges, and the Chimney Trail is an extremely difficult hike to the summit. Fishing can be had at Tumbledown Pond, reached along the Brook Trail.

Although most of this forest is in New Hampshire, this portion of the forest features camping areas, hiking trails, fishing, and canoeing. Cross-country ski trails are available in the winter.