Hiking in Maine:

Popular hiking trails in Maine:

In Maine there are a variety of hiking options available.  We have difficult trails that are above tree line, we have trails that meander through cool pine forests, and we have trails that run along Maine's rugged coast.   This is list of a variety of trails Maine has to offer.  This is certainly not a complete list.  We encourage you to have a safe hike and request that you send us a trail description, picture, or a story of your venture into the Maine woods.

We have included only the hikes that are a daytrip from The Oak Lodge.  For more information see www.maineoutdoors.com , a website that has great information about outdoor activities in Maine. 

Mount Katahdin and Baxter State Park: (Baxter State Park is about a two and a half hours from The Oak Lodge)

Katahdin is Maine's highest peak and one of the most challenging on the East Coast.  The mountain is 13 feet shy of a mile in height but it is very exposed and the weather can change quickly.  One of the biggest challenges of the mountain is when you start your starting elevation is 600 feet and most trails rise quickly.  On average they rise 2,000 feet every 2 miles of trail.  Mount Katahdin is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.  Being on the top of Mount Katahdin when a hiker is completing the entire length of the Appalachian Trail is quite a sight to see.  If the challenge of Katahdin is not up your alley there are plenty of trails within Baxter State Park and the 200,000 acres that comprise the park.  With the large number of campgrounds available within the park, day hikes to a variety of peaks are available.

Gulf Hagas (Katahdin Region) - about 1.5 hrs. from The Oak Lodge.  Gulf Hagas has been deemed the "Grand Canyon of the East" and offers hikers some fabulous views.  Gulf Hagas is located in an area of land managed by the North Maine Woods Group.  To access the area by car there is a dirt road off Route 11 north of Brownville Junction which heads into an area called the Katahdin Iron Works.  There is a gate at the Katahdin Iron Works site, which
is a restored blast furnace and kiln of a once thriving iron mill.  There is a fee charged at the gate.  Proceed up the working logging road to the well-marked trailhead / parking lot.  From the parking lot you will proceed a short distance and promptly cross the Pleasant River.  There is no bridge here so be prepared to cross about 100 feet of knee deep water.  This crossing is not recommended during spring run off.  There is a bridge down river.  Once you cross the river proceed along the Appalachian Trail.  You will gradually rise and intersect the trails that make up the Gulf Hagas loop.  You will also find an area up here called Screw Auger Falls.  You can also proceed north on the Appalachian Trail toward Whitecap Mountain.

Sally Mountain (Jackman Region) - the trailhead for this hike is only a half-hour from The Oak Lodge).  If you plan to be in the Jackman region try a day hike to Sally Mountain.  To find the trailhead locate the dirt road off US Route 201, directly opposite the Maine route 15 intersection.  Follow the dirt road 3 miles to where it intersects a stream that connects Wood and Attean ponds, and a railroad track.  Park here and follow the railroad track west 1.8 miles to a signal post, #770.  The trail can be found on the south side of the tracks.  The trail begins fairly level but rises sharply to the summit.  Excellent views of the Jackman region can be found here.

A note from us - Of course the best hike of all from The Oak Lodge is the hike to the top of Kineo Mountain!  The trailhead is only a five-minute walk from the lodge!  There is an easy and a hard way up, and up on the top is a fire tower.  One can climb the fire tower and on a clear day have views of the entire 40-mile length of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains.

Revised:  January 18, 2008