WRITTEN BY AISLINN SARNACKI
Weaving through 14 states, up and over mountains, the famous Appalachian Trail begins in Georgia and ends in Maine. It’s a simple, continuous footpath, marked with white-painted blazes and dotted with campsites. Each year, hundreds of hikers set out to walk the entire thing.
Though the trail was designed for long-distance treks, it’s also a great destination for day hiking or weekend backpacking trips. In other words, you can easily get a taste of the trail without walking on it for months.
Just setting foot on it for a few hours can be a special experience.
The trail has a rich history, with the first version of it being completed in 1937. Over the years, sections have been improved and re-routed. Today, the trail spans about 2,190 miles total.
Maine is home to about 282 of those miles. Entering the state in the mountainous west, the AT traces the Appalachian Range all the way to the top of our tallest mountain, Katahdin.
The vast majority of Maine’s AT is maintained by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, a nonprofit organization made up of devoted volunteers. MATC publishes a series of detailed maps, which break the Maine trail into seven segments. This resource is extremely useful for AT thru-hikers and day hikers alike. (Always hike with a good map.)
Trailhead parking areas scattered along the trail make it easy to plan hikes. However, be sure to arrive prepared with the appropriate gear, clothing, and footwear. Maine is home to some of the most challenging and remote sections of the trail.
Expect plenty of tree roots, rocks, standing water, flowing water, and uneven terrain. Don’t expect or rely on cellphone service.
Whether you’re looking to hike a rocky mountain, visit a scenic waterfall, or simply stroll through a mossy forest, you can do that along Maine’s section of the AT. Here are some of the many day hikes and overnight adventures you can enjoy while following the trail’s white blazes.
Bigelow Range near Carrabassett Valley
Strenuous
If looking for a challenging day hike or a two- to three-day backpacking trip, check out the Bigelow Preserve. It features about 30 miles of hiking trails, including a long stretch of the AT as it travels up and over the long Bigelow Range. Campsites can be found at the edge of tranquil ponds and nestled between the dip of two of Maine’s highest peaks.
The mossy forest in this preserve is enchanting. Multiple locations along the mountain range offer open views of the region. Bigelow’s Avery and West peaks are among Maine’s 4,000-footers, of which there are 14.
Campsites are first come, first serve, and the preserve can get busy in the summertime. Dogs are permitted. Access is free. For more information and a trail map, visit maine.gov/bigelowpreserve.
Directions: There are a few different parking areas for the preserve, so you’ll need to choose the one that fits your hiking itinerary. They’re located on East Flagstaff Road, Stratton Brook Road, Route 27, Currie Street, and Bog Brook Road. And there is additional parking in other locations if you want to hike in on trails that are outside of the preserve.
Little and Big Niagara Falls near Millinocket
Easy
Visit two powerful waterfalls on a family-friendly hike in Baxter State Park, one of Maine’s top outdoor destinations. This is a great way to explore the AT without hiking a big mountain.
From the parking area at Daicey Pond Campground, the hike is just 1 mile along a relatively easy section of the AT to Little Niagara Falls and another 0.3 mile to the even more impressive Big Niagara Falls. This makes for an out-and-back hike that’s about 2.5 miles.
In the summer, this stretch of the AT will include beautiful mushrooms and a variety of understory plants, and — in July and August — you’ll find wild blueberries to pick near Daicey Pond Campground, where you can also rent a canoe or hike around the pond on a nature trail.
Entrance to the park is free for Maine residents. Non-residents pay $16. Dogs are not permitted. For more information, visit baxterstatepark.org.
Directions: Enter Baxter State Park by its south gate, called Togue Pond Gate, and check in at the ranger station. Veer left and the fork after the gatehouse and drive 10.4 miles on the Park Tote Road to the side road that leads to Daicey Pond Campground, which will be on your left. Park in the designated day-use parking lot and walk to the campground, where the hike begins.
Pleasant Pond Mountain between Caratunk and The Forks
Moderate to difficult
Rising 2,447 feet above sea level, Pleasant Pond Mountain features a lovely hike that leads to expansive views atop a dramatic open ledge. Throughout the diverse forest, you’ll find an abundance of mushrooms and understory plants. You’ll also have the opportunity to take a short side trail to visit an AT lean-to and campsite, which features a spacious outhouse.
This is a great option for people who want to hike a mountain on the AT but are worried about biting off more than they can chew. From the parking area in Caratunk, it’s just 1.6 miles to the summit. Pro tip: The best view is south of the summit. So, you’ll need to hike a bit farther on the AT to reach it.
Access is free. Dogs are permitted.
Directions: From Caratunk Village, head uphill on Pleasant Pond Road. At 3.9 miles, take a left onto North Shore Road, which will soon turn into gravel. At 5.3 miles, bear right. At about 5.5 miles, the parking area is marked with a sign.
Little Wilson Falls near Monson
Easy to moderate
This little hike visits the celebrated 100-Mile Wilderness, which is the longest stretch of the AT that doesn’t cross a major roadway or visit a town. It also visits one of Maine’s most spectacular waterfalls — or series of waterfalls.
Surrounded by slate walls that reach up to 90 feet tall, Little Wilson Falls is actually three waterfalls. A side trail, blazed in blue paint, leads from a parking area to viewpoints of the two smaller waterfalls, then turns onto the AT to visit the largest and most dramatic of the three falls.
The hike, out and back, is just under 2.5 miles. However, you might have to add 1.6 miles onto that, depending on where you park. Access is free. Dogs are permitted.
Directions: There are two parking options: About 7.5 miles down Elliotsville Road from Route 6 in Monson, just before the bridge over Wilson Stream, is a parking lot on your left. You can park there and walk into the trailhead on the narrow, gravel Little Wilson Falls Road. Or, if you have a vehicle with high clearance, you can drive down Little Wilson Falls Road about 0.8 mile to the day-use parking lot at the end. This is where you’ll find the trailhead, marked with a sign.
Katahdin
Strenuous
Several different trails can be used to hike Katahdin, Maine’s tallest mountain, but only one is a part of the AT. Marked with telltale white blazes, Hunt Trail travels up the mountains west side over Hunt Spur, a narrow, rocky ridge. It also visits Katahdin Stream Falls.
The trail is 5.2 miles, one way. And what goes up must come down. Therefore, you’re looking at a 10.4-mile out-and-back hike, unless you arrange transportation so you can descend another trail.
This is the northernmost stretch of the Appalachian Trail. When you reach the sign atop Baxter Peak, you’re at the northern terminus. If hiking this in late summer or fall, you’ll likely witness AT thru-hikers completing their months-long journeys.
This is known as one of the most challenging hikes in the state. Plan and prepare accordingly.
Entrance to the park is free for Maine residents. Non-residents pay $16. Dogs are not permitted. For more information, visit baxterstatepark.org.
Directions: Enter Baxter State Park by its south gate, called Togue Pond Gate, and check in at the ranger station. Veer left at the fork and drive about 8 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground day-use parking. This parking area fills quickly during the summer, especially on weekends. Making a parking reservation ahead of time.
Tips for AT day hikers
- If you see a thru-hiker (someone carrying a big pack), offer them right of way. They’re carrying more than you, and for longer.
- Consider carrying special snacks and drinks to offer thru-hikers you see along the way. This is called “trail magic” and being a “trail angel.”
- Side trails, marked in blue blazes, often lead to interesting destinations such as waterfalls and overlooks.
- Practice Leave No Trace principles by picking up trash, respecting fellow hikers, and maintaining the beauty and tranquility of the wilderness.
