3 Must-Do Hikes in Southern Maine
Contrary to popular belief, Southern Maine has more to offer than gorgeous beaches, breathtaking lighthouses, and delicious food. It also has a great deal of hiking trails that range from walks in the woods to moderate climbs rewarded with stunning summit views. After hiking a handful of mountains in southern Maine, I thought it was time to share the dirty deets about my three favorite hikes. So, without further ado, here are 3 must-do southern Maine hikes (in no particular order).
Trail Name: Highlands Loop via Pismere Bluff Trail
Location: Raymond, Maine
Distance: 2.1 miles
Elevation gain: 580 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Pets: Allowed
Up first is Pismere Mountain. Pismere Mountain is located in Raymond Community Forest, which is maintained by Echo Land Trust. It has a nice large dirt parking lot and is dog-friendly. This trail is one of my favorites for three reasons: the climb is both gradual and challenging, the trail is not as trafficked as other hikes, and it has really great summit views of surrounding lakes and mountains. I also really like that this trail has a few loop trails that can be added onto your hike. All of the trails are very well marked, which means you can easily find your way back to the parking lot. If you’re hiking Pismere Mountain in the summer, be sure to indulge in a post-hike swim or picnic at any of the nearby lakes. All things considered, this hike is a great option for all hiking abilities.
To read my full-length blog post on hiking Pismere Mountain, click here.
Trail Name: Bald Pate Mountain Preserve
Location: South Bridgton, Maine
Distance: 2.3 miles
Elevation gain: 820 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Pets: Allowed
Next is Bald Pate Mountain. Bald Pate Mountain is located in South Bridgton, about an hour outside of Portland, to the west of Sebago Lake. Similar to Pismere Mountain, Bald Pate is also maintained by Echo Land Trust. There is no need to worry about parking at this trail, as there is a huge dirt parking lot. This mountain features seven different hiking trails that vary from easy to moderately difficult, which means you can really customize your hiking experience and cater to all hiking abilities. Having so many options also means hikers are well dispersed throughout the mountain, making the trails less crowded. Although this mountain has stunning summit views year-round, it’s especially beautiful during the Fall months. The trails become overrun with bright colored leaves. I would daresay it’s one of my top 3 places to photograph fall foliage in Maine.
To read my full-length blog post on hiking Bald Pate Mountain, click here.
Trail Name: Bradbury Mountain via Northern Loop and Boundary Trail
Location: Pownal, Maine
Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation gain: 305 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Pets: Allowed
Last, but not least, let’s talk about Bradbury Mountain. Bradbury Mountain is located in Bradbury Mountain State Park, which resides in Pownal, Maine. It’s only a 30 minute drive from the Greater Portland area and has so many amenities, such as: hiking, camping, skiing, mountain biking, and snowmobiling. It also has bathroom facilities, which is a huge bonus. Similar to the last two mountains, Bradbury has an extensive trail system that allows hikers (and mountain bikers!) to personalize their hiking experience. The west side trails lead to the summit of Bradbury Mountain, whereas the east side trails are flatter, longer trails that are less trafficked. In the fall, Bradbury rightfully becomes a hot spot for fall foliage tourists (myself included).
To read my full-length blog post on hiking Bradbury Mountain, click here.
All three of these hikes are located within an hour of Portland, making them perfect day hikes. There’s nothing like conquering a mountain in the morning and having the rest of your day to brunch, solve world hunger, or binge watch Netflix. If you live too far away from Portland to do these hikes in one day, add them to your Maine vacation to-do list! Trust me, they’re worth it.
Happy hiking, friends!
