The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Maine, United States

April 17, 2022 Flossie Demartino

Maine has several unique regions, each with its own distinctive culture and activities. With miles of coastline, thousands of lakes, endless rivers and deep forests, visitors can find their perfect vacation spot, whether it's on a sandy beach, at a family campground or walking along Main Street in a bustling city or town. Maine is also known for abundant outdoor recreation opportunities in all four seasons, from swimming and boating in the warmer months to excellent skiing in the winter.
Restaurants in Maine

1. Mount Battie

Camden Hills State Park 280 Belfast Road, Camden, ME 04843 +1 207-236-3109 http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/trail_activities/camden_trail_conditions.shtml
Excellent
79%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,704 reviews

Mount Battie

A one-hour-up/one-hour-back hiking trip is the best way to see this mountain.

Reviewed By amasland - Topsham, United States

Although it was a bit gray, foggy, and wanting to rain, it was well worth the short drive to the top of Mount Mattie. What a great view of the exquisite coast of Maine.

2. Beals Island

ME http://maineanencyclopedia.com/beals-island
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 9 reviews

Beals Island

3. Allagash Wilderness Waterway

+1 207-941-4014 http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/water_activities/aww-river-conditions.shtml
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 9 reviews

Allagash Wilderness Waterway

A 92-mile long river that is great for canoeing adventures.

4. Mount Desert Island

Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, ME 04609 +1 207-288-5005 http://www.barharborinfo.com
Excellent
89%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2,891 reviews

Mount Desert Island

Home to Acadia National Park, this island off the coast of Maine with its beaches, sweeping cliffs and mountains offers visitors numerous recreational activities, from hiking, biking and following nature trails to swimming, sailing and kayaking.

Reviewed By mikey605 - Sevierville, United States

So much to see and do on Mount Desert Island! Acadia National Park, Whale Watching, Scenic Charters and Tours, Beaches, Shops, Golf, Hiking, Biking, Sea Kayaking, Plane rides, glider rides, helicopter flights, mini golf, if you want to do it you will find it on MDI

5. Cadillac Mountain

Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, ME +1 207-288-3338 http://www.acadiamagic.com
Excellent
84%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,467 reviews

Cadillac Mountain

The East Coast's highest mountain at 1,530 feet and Acadia's best known sight.

Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States

Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island is, at 1, 532 feet, the highest point along the North Atlantic Seaboard and the first place in the United States to be touched by the light of a rising sun from October 7 through March 6 of each year. How's that for a notable piece of trivia? It also is the only mountain on Mount Desert Island--there are more than 20 of them--that has a road that travels all the way to the summit. The 3.5-mile road to the top opened in 1931. Cadillac Mountain is composed largely of pink granite, giving it a strong reddish appearance at sunrise or sunset. Spruce and pitch pine are the dominant trees on the mountain combined with tiny subalpine plants and wild blueberries. Views? Look in every direction. To the East, there is the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland. There are several islands off the coast of Mount Desert Island, including Sheep Porcupine and Bald Porcupine. To the Northeast is the business district of Bar Harbor. To the North is Trenton. To the South is Islesford. To the Southwest is Southwest Harbor. To the West is Eagle Lake and Blue Hill Mountain. Yes, it is more scenic than a trip to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado.

6. Hog Island

ME +1 843-340-8673 http://www.maineaudubon.org/explore/centers/hogisle.shtml
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8 reviews

Hog Island

7. Cabbage Island

Linekin Bay, Boothbay Harbor, ME +1 207-633-7200 http://www.cabbageislandclambakes.com
Excellent
85%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 463 reviews

Cabbage Island

Reviewed By TigerGirl0

Traveling in the time of covid means staying flexible, lowering the bar a bit, and remembering that everyone (with a few exceptions) are trying their best to keep things afloat. This Clambake is a long-standing summer tradition for my family, and when I found out we'd be able to still ship out on the Bennie Alice this summer even though the pandemic is on, I was purely thrilled. Wondering what to expect, given how much trouble places are having with the staffing, but figuring that several hours on Cabbage Island would be great no matter how the Clambake went. Happy to say that if it hadn't been for everyone wearing masks on the boat (absolutely required, no arguments) and inside the building, I'd never have known anything at all was amiss. The family was just as friendly - and the matriarch was even there as usual, to greet us all as we came off the boat - as ever. The food was just as great as ever, the island was just as beautiful as ever, the cruise (even with masks) was just as nice as ever. And everyone was taking the infection control seriously and behaving responsibly (without getting nutty and weird), so no worries on that front. This Clambake is always an amazing event, which is why so many people make it an annual tradition, and this year it also gave us the gift of briefly forgetting about all of this crazy stuff, and just being able to relax and not worry about any problems bigger than how to keep stains off our t-shirts. Lovely. Would absolutely recommend!

8. Acadia National Park

20 McFarland Hill Dr, Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, ME 04609-7387 +1 207-288-3338 http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,883 reviews

Acadia National Park

Reviewed By emktraveller2018 - Richmond, United States

This was our second trip to Acadia and it didn't disappoint. We hiked for two days - the Great Head Loop Trail - Otter Cliffs, Thunder Hole, hike/walk around Jordan Pond, tea and popovers at Jordan Pond Restaurant, sunrise at Cadillac Mountain, the Beech Mountain trail and the Ship Harbor Nature Trail.

9. Camden Hills State Park

280 Belfast Rd, Camden, ME 04843-4519 +1 207-236-3109 http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=14
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 753 reviews

Camden Hills State Park

Thirty miles of hiking trails keep the staunchest hiker trekking along.

Reviewed By cardou27 - Greenwich, United States

Great views overlooking the harbor of Camden from Mount Battie and an informative map on the top (near the stone tower which is currently closed for Covid) showing the surrounding islands. A leisurely drive to the top of about 1.25 miles or a hike from one of the many parking lots. Also, plenty of hiking trails of a variety of difficulty and parking for campers.

10. Ferry Beach State Park

95 Bayview Rd, Saco, ME 04072-1701 +1 207-283-0067 http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/index.pl?search_radio=1&state_park=8&historic_site=&public_reserved_land=&shared_use_trails=&town=&distance=&submit=Go+%BB
Excellent
54%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 105 reviews

Ferry Beach State Park

Located between Old Orchard Beach and Saco, this 117-acre park offers white sand beaches with swimming, picnicking, trail hiking and guided nature programs.

Reviewed By H9118APdavidb

Bathrooms, life guards in the summer, and a wonderful sandy beach. Not crowed, and if it is, the beach goes on for miles

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