Hiking Trails in Maine?

[WhiteMTHike]

I'm possibly (my boss hasn't officially given the OK yet) going to a business conference in Maine during the third week of September. The conference is in Portland. IF I can find the time to escape and hike I'd like to go on a nice trail for a few hours.

Are there any trails in the Portland area? How far from Portland? I'll have my vehicle so transportation won't be a problem. I'll need a trail within reasonable distance from Portland since this IS a business confernece and I will have to spend some time working . Anything in the area that qualifies as a good nature hike?

If anyone on this board works in the GIS field, this is a GIS conference. I noticed one of the workshops scheduled is entitled: A Map-Based Approach to Conserving Maine's Natural Landscape for Plants, Animals & People. I'll have to attend that one. In fact I might find out about some good trails in that workshop.

But if anyone can give some advice and share some experience on Maine trails, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[MEB]

Hi WhiteMTHike,

Pleasant Mountain (now called Shawnee Peak) is just over an hours drive from Portland. The most popular route to the top is the Fire Wardens Trail and it's about 2 1/2 miles and offers great panoramic views towards the Whites...great reward for minimal effort! There's also an old fire tower on the summit and an old cabin just before you reach the top. Round trip up and down is usually takes me about 3 hours...and that with a nice long break on the top. It makes a great 1/2 day hike if your time is limited.

-MEB

 

[injektilo]

I really enjoy Wolfes Neck Woods outside of Freeport. Probably only 30 minutes from Portland. Nice woods walk with trails along Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River.

Bradburry Mountain State Park is nice too. Also probably 30 minutes from Portland. Another nice woods walk with some open ledges that look out over the rolling wooded landscape that is southern Maine... on a clear day you can see Downtown Portland.

Both are nice hikes with very little effort.

On a non-hiking note, Portland is a very charming city with lots of things to see and do. If you have time I suggest strolling around downtown as well. Lots of old red brick buildings, cobblestones, and sea gulls!

 

[ExploreTheEast]

If you're talking about a midweek dayhike, check out Mt Aggy (short for Mount Agamenticus) in York. It's an old ski resort, probably about 40 minutes south of Portland. There's some pretty cool trails that you could probably make anywhere between a 3 to 5 hour loop out of, and you can see Mount Washington on a clear day from the top. Total elevation gain is maybe 500 feet.

Edit: I wouldn't recommend hiking there any other time than a weekday though, cause the mountain bikers'll run you down on the weekend.

 

[Artex]

Ditto what MEB, injektilo, and ExplorethEast said. I've done all three and they're great. The trails in the mountains in Camden are another great option. It's probably about a 2-hour drive from Portland, if that. Several trails lead up to mountains that overlook the town and the ocean. Very beautiful.

 

[Mad Townie]

There are lots of trails right in Portland. Check out, for example, http://www.trails.org/map_files/fore_sanct_page_maps.html . The Portland Trails web site (www.trails.org --wonder how they got THAT domain name?!?!?) has other maps and things.

If you're a rock climber, bring your shoes and go to Fort Williams for lots of bouldering. If you want hills, do what people have said in previous posts.

BTW, there's a 4 mile walking/running trail around Back Cove that's good for just plain exercise.

 

[Toe Cozy]

Favorite nature stroll

Okay, I'll preface this by saying this "hike" travels about 2 miles over a paved-ish kind of "road", so it's definitely not a "hike". It is, however, one of my favorite places to walk in Maine. It's called Morse Mtn. and is on land owned and managed for protection by Bates College (I think?). The path goes through some marsh land then through forest and there's a nice view from the top of the hill. If you continue down the path toward the ocean you'll find on old farm house in the middle of nowhere really, this is where I want to live. It's not regularly occupied, I always go peek in the windows! The best part is the amazing amount of wide open beach that you eventually get to. It's huge and beautiful and almost always pretty empty. These are directions I found on the web. I can never remember how to get there until I'm on my way.

"This privately owned conservation area in Phippsburg provides a pleasant 20-minute walk along a partially paved road to Morse Mountain. The top of the small hill provides beautiful vistas of the ocean and surrounding marshlands.. The hike can then be continued for another 20 minutes down to secluded Sewall Beach with plenty of shoreline for walking and relaxing. Directions from Brunswick: Take Route 1 North to the Bath High Street exit. Follow route 209 south for 11.1 miles. Route 209 will turn left, but continue straight on Route 216 for .9 miles. Parking will be found on the left at Morse Mountain Road. No dogs are allowed.
Telephone: (207) 786-6078
Website: www.bates.edu/Morse-Mountain.xml"

Going to Wolfe's Neck State Park in Freeport (as someone mentioned) and Morse Mtn on the same beautiful Maine summer day with some seafood and wine in the Old Port to finish it off would be a heavenly way to spend a day. I'm envious!

Have fun. Oh, the Flatbread Pizza on the waterfront has great woodfired pizzas BTW

 

[king tut]

i can 2nd the suggestion for the camden hills, since i live about 2 miles away. There are 4 or 5 good mt's that rise 1,000-1,300 from the ocean, with great views of the ocean and islands, even over to acadia. The drive is about 1 1/2 hours in normal traffic, but this time of year it can take longer w/ the hordes of tourists on rt 1.

 

[WhiteMTHike]

This is what a love about VFTT, you ask one question and get many responses with all kinds of help. I've been on some (non-hiking) bulletin boards and seen people get flamed for asking a question. VFTT is # 1 in my eyes.

First, I wish to thank ALL of you who responded. Everyone offered good advice and I plan to print out this entire thread before I go to Portland.

MEB, I've heard of Pleasant Mountain. I'd like to get over thre but it sounds like it might be a bit out of the way due to time contraints of the conference. However, conferences such as this one usually end early on the last day. That might be a good chance to hit Pleasant Mountain.

injektilo, I went on the Bradburry Mountain State Park web page. I think during the conference I might be able to get there if it's only 30 minutes from Portland. The place looks beautiful.

Mad Townie, thanks for the links. I love Audobon Society trails. I'll certainly hit Fore River Sanctuary while in Portland.

IF I get to go this conference, I noticed that it's the week after my vacation which I'll be spending in the Whites. I might be able to parlay the two and increase the number of trails on my list. I think the weekend between the two will afford me the chance to do this.

Again, thanks to all of you. If all goes well, I'll be able to hit ALL the trails in this thread.

Thanks,

WhiteMTHike

P.S. Mad Townie, the second link you gave me was a broken one. I tried this one and found some good info on Portland trails. Thanks Again.