Wildflowers near beginning of Rockland Bog Overlook Trail, Rockland, Maine
The Rockland Bog Overlook Trail is a short lollipop loop trail on land owned by the town of Rockland and maintained by the Georges River Land Trust (GRLT), both of whom have maps on their websites. The trail begins at a small gravel lot off Bog Road, where there were three other cars when I went there midday in late August. This parking lot is plowed in the winter, allowing for winter use. The narrow, blue-blazed path started with a variety of wildflowers, which give way to ferns and forest as you cross a small wooden bridge.
Rockland Bog Overlook Trail, Rockland, Maine
Apple trees off to the right and a stonewall to the left indicated what appeared to be a former orchard. Now, the quantity of insects was consistent with the proximity to a bog. Just past a dry creek, shortly after crossing over the stonewall, the trail split at about a quarter mile into the lollipop loop portion, which I took counterclockwise.
Stone wall, Rockland Bog Overlook Trail, Rockland, Maine
I heard plenty of birds, including the loud cawing of crows and eastern wood pee-wees. At the end of the trail, a massive mushroom sat by a tree marking the end of the trail, which appears to be under construction to continue longer.
Viewpoint of bog, Rockland Bog Overlook Trail, Rockland, Maine
About halfway down the return loop, an overlook is available of the bog, which was impressive. A beaver lodge was visible even through the tall grass, through which birds moved back and forth. From here, it was a short walk back to the parking lot, a total of just under 3/4 of a mile, easily completed in under 20 minutes.
The Tower Hill Trail is part of the great trails maintained by the Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT), centered in Grand Lake Stream. The parking lot for the trail (well-marked with a wooden sign) is on Tower Road, just past its namesake cellular tower (physical address is 86 Canal Street, Grand Lake Stream). The road is a bit bumpy, and if you’re driving a vehicle with low clearance, you want to either take it very slow, or just park at the public boat launch, which will only add another .6 miles to your hike. This is the same spot from which you can access the Little Mayberry Cove Trail. Dogs are allowed, under control, and you must clean up after them.
Tower Hill Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME
The trail itself is a little over a tenth of a mile up Tower Road, clearly marked with another wooden sign and a sign-in kiosk. The well-maintained trail, marked alternately by blue paint blazes and the attractive blue DLLT placards, begins through a mixed forest. The path, while carpeted with pine needles, contains a fair amount of rocks and roots underfoot throughout. The relatively open forest allowed for the sound of a hermit thrush to echo through it (and about 3/4 mile in, I ended up seeing a hermit thrush alight from the trail and land on a tree branch).
Lightning-burnt hollow tree, Tower Hill Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME
A low green area to the right of the path appeared to be a bog or a stream during times with a little more rain, but due to drought, I didn’t see any water. About 4/10 of a mile in, there are wooden signs offering the destinations Bonney Brook Lake (forward) and Town (back to the start) as well as a turnoff for the Storybook Trail which was listed as closed. The trees continued to shade the path which was appreciated on this sunny August day, and a breeze off the lake kept the worst of the bugs in check. The trail was very quiet, despite it being a summer Sunday, with no other cars in the parking lot, and only one other party, a family with children, on the trail.
A gentle climb takes you to the top of a hill and then a series of switchbacks back down to its base as the trail parallels Bonney Brook Road, then eventually crosses it. A wooden sign on the opposite side marks its new path. Shortly after the road crossing, an unmarked footpath down to the right through the grass leads to views of Bonney Brook, but more importantly in August, a high stand of ripe blueberries.
Bonney Brook Lake, Tower Hill Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME
Bonney Brook Lake appeared off to the right, overlooked by a sturdy deer stand. A more traditional view was available at about one and a half miles in, via a side trail down to the lake, even equipped with a bench for sitting. The lake is impressive, covered in green pads and white lilies. The path itself is lined with huckleberry bushes, with a few tall wild blueberries poking their way through, as well. At a second viewpoint, a large rock jutted into the lake and next to it on a smaller rock, a turtle performatively splayed one back leg in the air.
View through trees of Bonney Brook Lake, Tower Hill Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME
The trail, narrowed by blueberry growth winds a little bit higher before letting out again on Bonney Brook Road at a little over 2 miles, and then a brief walk to the on the road reconnected to Tower Hill Trail on the left. From here, it’s about a mile to complete the 3.2 mile loop. After a wooded section, a wooden sign turns you left to the trailhead down a road listed on the map as Pappy‘s Way. It’s a quiet gravel road, allowing room for a breeze, and follow the DLLT signs uphill until about 3/4 of a mile to the left, (you’ll be breathing a little heavier), you will turn onto Tower Road again to complete the loop.
My All Trails app clocked it at about 3.3 miles, which Pig and I did easily in less than an hour and a half on a hot August afternoon. Need something to eat or drink? Sometimes the lack of choices in a place are a good thing, and Grand Lake Stream’s Pine Tree Store is a full service outdoor and food stop.
Pig negotiating plank bridge, Tower Hill Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME
May-blooming trillium flowers on Moxie Falls Trail, The Forks, Maine
Moxie Falls, located in The Forks, Maine, has a drop of about 80 feet, making it one of the biggest in New England, and a truly impressive spectacle. The easy, well-traveled trail is about 2 miles north of Route 201, which follows the path of the Kennebec River in this area. There is a large, well-marked parking area (“Moxie Falls Scenic Area”) on the left side of Lake Moxie Road. The trail itself is about 2 miles, depending on how many diversions you take. On a sunny late May day, we followed the trail in a Y-shape to the upper falls, then the main event, Moxie Falls, totaling about 2.4 miles, and taking about an hour. Dogs under control are allowed, there is no camping or fires, and carry-in/carry-out policy is in effect. We used AllTrails to navigate (download beforehand, as very little cell service in the valley through which the falls run). A full description and map is also available in the great Hiking Waterfalls Maine book.
Moxie Stream Upper Falls, Moxie Falls Trail, The Forks, Maine
The path itself is wide and easy, starting as a gravel woods road, bounded by hobblebush, cedar, and wildflowers. An aged wooden sign documents the gift of 217 acres, the land for the scenic area, by the Coburn Lands Trust and agreement with Central Maine Power. We saw white and red trillium, lady slipper, jack-in-the-pulpit, blue-bead lilies, and many other flowering plants. Birds abounded, with the calls of robins, vireos, jays, and the least flycatcher. Bugs can be a problem here, and we saw at least one group wearing headnets, but likely due to some cold nights and a stiff breeze, the mosquitoes and black flies were not a factor.
Moxie Stream, Moxie Falls Trail, The Forks, Maine
We first turned right to make our way to the Upper Falls, and the presence of spiderwebs on the trail indicated that most people bypassed it to head to Moxie Falls. These smaller falls were quietly beautiful, and we turned toward the slow downhill, with steps, that leads to Moxie Falls, and its viewing platforms. Serviceberry flowered next to Moxie Stream, with birds flying back and forth, searching for insects and small fish.
Moxie Falls, Moxie Falls Trail, The Forks, Maine
Moxie Falls are impressive, and recent rains made for a crashing spectacle, viewable from a series of platforms and breaks in the trees along the trail. We took our photos, felt the spray, and turned toward the parking lot. On this occasion, we had packed some sandwiches that we enjoyed at The Forks Rest Area, a quiet spot with picnic tables and a pit toilet at the intersection of Route 201 and Lake Moxie Road. Previously, we have eaten at The Hawk’s Nest Restaurant and Pub, which has tables overlooking the Kennebec.
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Stroudwater River, Stroudwater River Trail, Portland, ME
Stroudwater River Trail, part of Portland Trails’ extensive Forest City Trail network, is a 3.3 mile one-way (6.6 mile out-and-back) path beginning at Rivers’ Edge Drive, off outer Congress Street, that primarily follows the slow, muddy, meandering Stroudwater River where Portland meets Westbrook, crosses Spring Street, and ends at Smiling Hill Farm. This trail is popular with mountain bikers, trail runners and dog walkers.
Stroudwater River Trail, Portland, ME
The full trail (see Portland Trails’ page) is unavailable from November 1 to April 1, as the area west from Portland’s Blueberry Road to Westbrook’s Cardinal Street is closed in the winter as a deeryard to provide a winter habitat for these animals. Stroudwater Trail is an island of green in a fairly developed area of Maine, and the sounds and smells of industry and transit permeate much of the walk.
USMC Osprey flying over Stroudwater Trail, Portland, ME
The trail crosses underneath noisy I-95, and is flown over by thundering Jetport air traffic, but still maintains intervals of peace and quiet. On one late June day, we saw a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey vertical takeoff/landing plane doing test flights overhead.
Plank bridge, Day Ridges Preserve, Gouldsboro, Maine
Day Ridges Preserve, off Route One in Gouldsboro, is maintained by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy. Their site includes a trail map, as well as a paddling map, as the Preserve has access to West Bay Pond, as well as a suggested canoe route (and a canoe to borrow, if you plan ahead). Hunting is not allowed at Day Ridges. Dogs are allowed at Frenchman Bay Conservancy Preserves, off-leash if under voice control, unless otherwise posted.
Day Ridges Preserve, Gouldsboro, Maine
The parking area is well-marked, and just off Route One, with an information kiosk. To reach the trails or the canoe launch, use the woods road. On the sunny August day that Pig the dog and I checked out the Preserve, the road was under construction. It was hot and sandy, lined with sweet fern, and birds popping out of the tree line. At a little under a quarter mile in, a marsh lined the road, and beavers had obviously been busy fortifying their watery territory.
Cedar swamp, Day Ridges Preserve, Gouldsboro, Maine
We ended up turning around at about 3.4 of a mile, due to the heavy machinery on the road, and decided to take the wooded trails instead of going all the way to West Bay Pond. We turned off onto the white trail marked with its namesake blazes. The White Trail started with a plank walkway over moss and ferns, a much more pleasant experience than the dust-choked road in progress. After winding through winterberry, blueberry, and sweet fern, we took a left on the white trail to make a somewhat longer loop. This trail had just a slight elevation to it, a climb up hills and next to big, bruising boulders. The mixed forest was full of birds, including northern flicker, chickadee, and the unmistakable call of a hermit thrush through the mixed forest. We continued on the outer loop, taking a left onto the blue trail.
Boulders on Schoodic Mountain Trail, Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land
Schoodic Mountain (1,069 ft) is a relatively low mountain with excellent views due to its open summit and prime coastal location in Hancock County’s Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land, just south of the Blackwoods Scenic Byway (Rte 182). This is about a 2.8 mile loop, and it took about an hour and a half, with plenty of stops to enjoy. Consider adding more time to take a swim at Schoodic Beach. Full description and maps are available in the excellent books Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine or the AMC Maine Mountain Guide, or free/printable from Maine’s DPPRL site. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the trails, if under strict control, but must be on-leash at beaches and campsites, and cleaned up after at all places.
Schoodic Mountain Trail, Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land
Prior to 7 AM on a Monday morning in August, the parking lot on Schoodic Beach Road was almost entirely full, mostly with people staying overnight at the camping areas. Pig (the dog) and I found a parking spot and then the trailhead for the Schoodic Mountain Trail, which is right next to the outhouse. This path starts downhill, marked by blue blazes, and crosses over a small bubbling stream. After this, the trail shifts uphill over rocks and roots.
Schoodic Mountain Trail, Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land
Up the hill there’s a field of massive boulders, with the trail weaving its way through them. Pig and I continued winding up the gentle ridges on switchbacks over rocks and roots through moss, boulders and ferns. At just under half a mile, the view to the right begins to open up as the trail climbs up the ridge, taking on a more rolling (up and down) aspect, following some obstructed views.
View from Schoodic Mountain summit, Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land
Low wild, blueberry bushes line both sides of the trail, and in this mid-August heat, the leaves were still green, but the fruit had since gone by. A few dry powder-blue berries remained. Higher up, there were a few more huckleberries. The trees were lower and scrubbier as the climb continued.
Steeper climbing, Trout Brook Mountain, Baxter State Park
At the beginning of the trail up Trout Brook Mountain, the emerald colors of hobblebush contrast with the darker forest, particularly as it transitions to evergreen. The trail winds through this forest and climbs rocky ledges dressed in soft green moss, with excellent northward views at about 3/4 of a mile up toward Trout Brook, Grand Lake Matagamon and the north woods.
View north of Grand Lake Matagamon and mountains in Aroostook from Trout Brook MountainContinue reading →
Lower South Branch Pond from Pogy Notch Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine
Howe Brook Falls is a spectacular four mile total out-and-back waterfall hike from South Branch Pond Campground in the northern half of Baxter State Park (BSP). I have tacked this hike on to a South Branch Pond Loop hike, which is covered separately in another post, but also done all or part of the Howe Brook Falls hike by itself, which can be done in three hours or less. A detailed description and map of this hike is found in the books Hiking Maine’s Baxter State Park and Hiking Waterfalls Maine, and a Baxter State Park downloadable map of South Branch Pond is available on BSP’s website.
Howe Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine
The hike begins at the Pogy Notch trailhead in the southeast corner of the South Branch Pond Campground. The beginning of this trail contains the iconic “You Are Entering Maine’s Largest Wilderness” sign, which encourages caution and self-sufficiency, and turnaround times are calculated in a table at the kiosk. A straightforward, flat mile-long hike leads along the eastern shore of clear, quiet Lower South Branch Pond to a left turn onto the Howe Brook Trail.
Howe Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine
From this trail intersection, it’s only about a quarter mile to the lower falls and pools, so if you have kids who can’t make it the full two miles out and back, these lower cascades are sufficiently beautiful and entertaining for a day trip, splashing and swimming, and a picnic. After about a mile, the trail becomes a little steeper and veers farther away from the brook as the gorge narrows in the shadow of Traveler Mountain. The path to the upper falls is narrow and sometimes winding, but never overly strenuous, with views of the rushing water and moss-covered boulders of Howe Brook to the right.
Howe Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine
At the top of the trail is a truly impressive waterfall, dropping straight into a cold pool. This is the Upper Falls, capping this trip through the cascades. In the sunlit opening below, I have disturbed some ruffed grouse, who had been sunning themselves on the rocks, made unaware of me until the last minute by the white noise of the falls.
Clear pool below Howe Brook Falls, Baxter State Park, Maine
A pleasant downhill hike re-traced my steps, and allowed me to re-visit the mirrored pools and clearings of Howe Brook on the way back to South Branch Campground. This hike is amazing, even with low water flow in drier periods, and every tier of the path has amazing views and clear, cold pools.
Upper Falls, Howe Brook Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine
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Sun rising over Black Cat and South Branch Mountains from Traveler Loop
This loop route over Traveler’s bulk, which the AMC Maine Mountain Guide accurately describes as “starfish-shaped,” crosses Peak of the Ridges (3,254 ft), Traveler summit (3,550 ft), and North Traveler summit (3,152 ft). As it says on BSP’s website, “Preparation for a Traveler Loop hike is the same as a Katahdin hike,” due to the exposed nature of the hike, elevation gain, lack of available water, and distance. This is true, and in inclement weather, hikers should explore other options. To navigate, I used Map Adventures’ Katahdin Baxter State Park Waterproof Trail Map, but BSP’s official website also has free downloadable/printable trail maps, and the South Branch Pond map covers this area.
Lower South Branch Pond at dawn
The Traveler is a strenuous 10.1 mile loop hike over the rhyolite peaks of Traveler Mountain, the highest volcanic mountain in New England, with over 4,000 feet of total elevation gain. This full-day (6-10 hour) hike begins at Baxter State Park’s (BSP) South Branch Campground, and based upon advice from the AMC Maine Mountain Guide and Falcon Guides’ Hiking Maine’s Baxter State Park and BSP rangers, is best attempted counterclockwise via the Pogy Notch, Center Ridge, Traveler Mountain, and North Traveler trails. This is to avoid descending the steep, loose rock on the Center Ridge Trail.
Lower South Branch Pond from canoe launch in morning, Baxter State Park
Unlike Katahdin trailheads, no additional parking reservation is typically needed for the Traveler, and the closest parking to the trailhead is the South Branch Pond Campground day-use/back country lot. On each of the cool mid-September mornings I did my hike in 2020 and 2025, an early fog hung over South Branch Pond. The trail leads over plank bridges to a winding track along the edge of the pond, usually accompanied by the stuttering sound of a belted kingfisher. About .9 miles in, there are beautiful views of the pond from the south end at the canoe landing for the Howe Brook trail.
Balanced boulder, South Branch Pond, and the horizon from Center Ridge Trail, Baxter State Park’s Traveler Loop
The blue blazes lead up a steep rocky outcrop to continue up Pogy Notch Trail to its junction with the Center Notch Trail, with nice views along the pond. This is where the climbing really starts, and you’ll find yourself periodically grabbing for rocks and roots as handholds. I took a well-deserved rest after about 2 miles to make myself a coffee, let my feet air out a little, and send a proof-of-life text from elevation (South Branch Pond, like a lot of Baxter State Park, has no cell service).
What is a hike, really, but a long walk, preferably in the countryside? Sometimes the sense of getting away can be amplified by the journey to get to the hike’s starting point, whether it be a long drive through strange places, a bus ride, or in this case, a boat trip. While it may seem hard to escape the (relative) bustle of Maine’s largest city, a 4-mile loop with birds, flowers, and ocean vistas is only seventeen minutes away via Casco Bay Lines. Like Moosehead’s Mount Kineo, this hike begins after a short ferry ride, a trip across Portland Harbor to Peaks Island, part of the city of Portland.
Rugosa roses and view of Cushing Island from Peaks Island, Maine
The Casco Bay Lines Terminal is located at 56 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine, and the ferry schedule is posted here. As of November 2025, round-trip tickets are $7.20 for adults (14 and over), $3.60 for kids/seniors/disabled, and free for children under 5. These typically double in peak season, mid-April to mid-October. Dogs can go on the ferry, they must be leashed, and their tickets are $4.50. You can bring bikes for a small fee, or rent them on-island (golf carts can also be rented, but that’s not hiking). The voyage from Portland to Peaks allows views of Fort Gorges, the harbor, seabirds, and occasional seals.
