Maine has some of the finest hiking in the Northeast, from the exposed iron rungs of Acadia to the alpine ridge of Katahdin. After three decades running Maine’s resource guide, these are the hikes we send people to, matched to what you want – drama, views, or an easy coastal walk.
The best hikes in Maine are Mount Katahdin, the Precipice Trail, the Beehive, Ocean Path, Tumbledown Mountain, Cadillac Mountain, and Mount Battie. Katahdin is the ultimate summit, the Precipice the most thrilling, and Ocean Path the best easy coastal walk. Each is covered below.
1. Mount Katahdin (Baxter State Park)
Mount Katahdin (Baxter State Park) is the best and most iconic hike in Maine. At 5,268 feet, Katahdin is Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The Knife Edge, a mile-long ridge with sheer drops on both sides, is one of the most dramatic ridge walks in the East. Baxter requires advance parking reservations and imposes day-use quotas, so plan ahead.
2. Precipice Trail (Acadia)
Precipice Trail (Acadia) is the most thrilling hike on the Maine coast. A nearly vertical scramble up iron rungs and ladders on the face of Champlain Mountain in Acadia. It is often closed from spring through summer for peregrine falcon nesting; when open, nothing on the coast matches it. Not for anyone uncomfortable with heights.
3. The Beehive Trail (Acadia)
The Beehive Trail (Acadia) is the best short adventure hike. A shorter cousin of the Precipice, the Beehive features the same exposed iron-rung climbing on a compact loop above Sand Beach. Thrilling, accessible, and one of Acadia’s most popular hikes.
4. Ocean Path (Acadia)
Ocean Path (Acadia) is the best easy coastal hike. This mostly flat shoreline path runs from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs, delivering spectacular Atlantic views with none of the exposure of the rung trails. The best hike in Maine for families and first-timers.
5. Tumbledown Mountain (Weld)
Tumbledown Mountain (Weld) is the best hike in the western mountains. Tumbledown’s roughly 5.6-mile loop climbs a boulder scramble to Tumbledown Pond, an alpine tarn in a cirque below 700-foot granite cliffs. A Maine classic with far fewer crowds than Acadia.
6. Cadillac Mountain (Acadia)
Cadillac Mountain (Acadia) is the best summit for the effort. The 4.4-mile North Ridge Trail is the classic hiking approach to Acadia’s highest peak, quieter than the road or the South Ridge. The summit is the first place in the US to see sunrise for much of the year.
7. Mount Battie (Camden)
Mount Battie (Camden) is the most accessible summit view. A short climb (or drive) in Camden Hills State Park delivers a sweeping view over Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay. The best payoff-per-effort hike on the Midcoast.
Planning a Maine Hiking Trip
When to go: July through early October is the best hiking window. June is good but black flies can be brutal inland through mid-June. September and October bring stable weather, no bugs, and fall foliage – the finest hiking conditions of the year. High-elevation trails can hold snow as late as May and as early as October.
Permits and reservations: Most Maine trails need no permit, but Baxter State Park (Katahdin) requires advance parking reservations and fills its day-use quota early – arrive before dawn or reserve ahead. Acadia charges a park entrance fee. The Precipice and other cliff trails close during peregrine falcon nesting, typically spring into summer.
Best Hikes in Maine: FAQ
What is the best hike in Maine?
Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park is the best and most iconic hike in Maine – the state’s highest peak at 5,268 feet, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, and home to the dramatic Knife Edge ridge. The Precipice Trail in Acadia is the most thrilling coastal hike.
What is the hardest hike in Maine?
The Knife Edge on Katahdin and the Precipice Trail in Acadia are the two hardest well-known hikes in Maine – both exposed, with serious drop-offs, and no place to be caught by weather or without experience.
What is the best easy hike in Maine?
Ocean Path in Acadia is the best easy hike in Maine – a mostly flat shoreline walk from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs with spectacular ocean views and none of the exposure of the rung trails. Mount Battie in Camden is the best short summit view.
For full trail details, see our complete Maine hiking guide, plus our best things to do in Maine. MaineGuide.com has been Maine’s resource guide since 1995.
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