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.
(TheBates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area can be crowded, particularly in the summer and on weekends. They advise to plan your trip accordingly, and note that they “turn cars away once the parking lot is full.” You can check the status of the lot online at https://www.bmmparking.com/)
Your five-year old could do this, but everyone in the family will love it. It’s the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area near Phippsburg, Maine, a 3.8 mile out-and-back hike over Morse Mountain (433 feet) to Seawall Beach. Wife/mother of the hiking family here again to report that I think I may have found my favorite “hike” so far! (Full disclosure: while I love the outdoors, I am not on the hard-core side of the hiking spectrum, preferring instead to walk at a steady pace for up to three hours in nice weather. Furthermore, I do not get an adrenaline rush from dangerous climbs so I avoid them.) Hike is in quotations here because this particular adventure may be more of a beautiful walk, given the minimal altitude, the terrain (mostly paved) and the distance. This hike checks all the boxes for me in all seasons. Let’s begin!
Sprague River Salt Marsh, Phippsburg, ME
This trailhead is well-marked. From Route 1 in Bath, you follow Route 209 south to Route 216 to Morse Mountain Road where there is a small parking lot on your left. Arrive early, particularly on summer weekends, because parking is limited (see note and link at beginning to check on it last-minute, particularly with less parking lot capacity due to social distancing). We have been turned away on Father’s Day weekend. At about 8:30 am on a summer Saturday, people are trickling in, but there are usually still spots available. By half an hour to an hour later, all the spots can be full (On New Year’s Eve, the lot was mostly full by mid-morning). There is a friendly attendant there in the summer, giving maps, selling crafts and answering questions (donations accepted).
Salt Marsh trail at entrance to Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Phippsburg, Maine
If you are turned away, consider the nearby hikes at Reid State Park Loop, Hermit Island Loop (in winter only), Sprague Pond Loop, or Cooley Preserve. Additionally, there is a very short trail, the Bill Jayne Trail, accessible from the parking lot. Head back down the road away from the Morse Mountain Trail, and you will reach the trailhead, which leads to a Phippsburg Land Trust trail (marked “Salt Marsh Access Trail,” only several hundred yards long, ending at a bench overlooking the Small Point marsh.
Morning light through trees, trail over Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach
The entire trail is paved, as this is a service road, so it is wide enough for a bunch of people to walk together and chat (I doubt you will need a trail map, but if you do: Morse Mountain Map). Shortly after departing the lot, you notice the area is quite well maintained by the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Corporation with members from the St. John Family (who originally conserved the area), Bates College and the public. For those with four-legged friends, dogs are not allowed in any season. Additionally, radios or speakers are not permitted, so listen to the ocean and birds.
View from Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine
Bugs can be a big problem here. Very early or late in the season, or with enough of a breeze, they won’t bother you too much. Otherwise, bring strong (Deet-based) insect repellent, and walk fast. About halfway into the hike, you will see a fork in the road and you head right to get to the summit. “Morse Mountain” is really not much more than a hill, yet there are fantastic views at the lookout: the snaking Sprague River, the cliffs in the distance and the gorgeous…drum roll…beach and ocean!
Low tide, Seawall Beach, Phippsburg, Maine
Yeah, I really can’t wait any longer to tell you that this hike ends at Seawall Beach and for those of you who thought you died and went to heaven when you saw nearby Popham Beach, you will be counting your blessings when you see this two-mile stretch of gorgeous sand that is Seawall Beach. After you leave the summit and return to the main path, you have roughly a mile to go to reach the beach. Then, kick off your shoes and enjoy this huge, uncrowded beach.
Seawall Beach in winter, Phippsburg, Maine
We headed right upon entering the beach area and walked for approximately a mile to the “red pole” which is marked on the map and signals the end of the conservation area. A left turn will eventually bring you to Popham Beach. Try to hit this beach at low tide if you can so you will have plenty of room to roam. Daughter loved the large clam shells, sand dollars, sea gulls, ospreys, and little plovers. The beach is constantly changing with tides, seasons, and weather. On a July trip, we saw plenty of seals, as well. In October, the changing leaves and fall grasses were reflected in the Sprague River. On a late-December trip, a storm had coughed up lobster traps and buoys, which were lined up at the high tide line like a used-car lot.
Swallowtail butterfly near end of life cycle, Seawall Beach, Phippsburg, Maine
Since access is limited, there are so few people on this beach! For three people who hate crowds and love the ocean and the sand, it was kind of hard to leave. The trail is easy and beautiful so the 33 minutes it took to walk back were very pleasant. Here is my advice for your trip to Morse Mountain:
Go to the bathroom before you get on the trail and do not plan to drink much liquid unless you are a camel. There are no restrooms and since the trail was fairly crowded, you cannot just “pop off the trail” and go behind a tree very easily without being seen. The ocean is an option, but it’s Maine-cold.
Bring bug spray.
Consider staying awhile at the beach, which means that you might need a towel, sunscreen, hat, and snacks! The beach is that good.
Go early in the day to get a parking spot. If it’s full, you can wait, go to Popham Beach State Park, or try a nearby Phippsburg hike, as described above.
Try to hit low tide.
This truly is a Maine gem and when visitors come and ask where to go, this is going to be on the top of my list as it showcases the beauty that Maine has to offer without the crowds. A little exercise, fresh air, woods, marsh, beach, snacks, family and friends – you can’t beat it.
View from trail over Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach
Birch Stream in morning light, Oak Point Trail, Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, Milford, ME
The Oak Point Trail is a 2.8 mile out-and-back trail at Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Milford, Maine, a town on the Penobscot just north of Bangor. Sunkhaze NWR is a 11,485 acre refuge that protects the Sunkhaze Meadows peat bog, as well as a large concentration of migratory birds. I navigated using the AllTrails app, but the best description and map are hosted by the Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows. Oak Point Trail is in the middle of the three trails on the south side of the NWR, next to Johnson Brook and Carter Meadow Trails, and directly across from The Nature Conservancy’s Bradley-Sunkhaze Preserve. As with all these trails at Sunkhaze NWR, they can be oppressively buggy and wet in late spring and early summer. I enjoyed the brisk, bug-free chill of mid-September. Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed at all times. Hunting is allowed, so wear blaze orange during hunting seasons.
Oak Point Trail, Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, Milford, ME
There’s a clearing between the trail and County Road that does not appear designed for parking. It’s better to park in the lot across County Road by Birch Stream. Small side trails to the right shortly after the hike’s beginning the hike have views from the banks of slow-moving Birch Stream. The surrounding forest rang with the morning calls of many large, loud jays. This trail is grassy and a bit overgrown, but easy to walk and to navigate. The light behind the forest to the right (east) slowly begins to open up to the large open marshy meadow behind it.
Viewpoint, Oak Point Trail, Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, Milford, ME
The marsh itself is visible through short spur trails to the right close to the end of the trail, and then at the end of the trail. I could see small songbirds hiding in the bushes surrounding the marsh, with many jays calling again. The tracks and flattened and trampled grass left behind by deer and moose were passive evidence of the recent presence of these larger animals. At the trail’s end there were more limited views, but several yellow-rumped warblers, hovering and moving around, waiting impatiently for me to leave. The easy, flat path was about an hour.
Morning light on Oak Point Trail, Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, Milford, ME
Johnson Brook Trail, Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge, Milford, Maine
Johnson Brook Trail is a 3.3 mile loop trail at Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Milford, Maine, a town on the Penobscot by Orono/Old Town. Sunkhaze is a 11,485 acre refuge that protects the Sunkhaze Meadows peat bog, as well as a large concentration of migratory birds. I navigated using the AllTrails app, but the best description and map are hosted by the Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows. Johnson Brook is the farthest east of the three trails on the south side of the NWR, next to Oak Point and Carter Meadow Trails. Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed at all times. Hunting is allowed, so wear blaze orange during hunting seasons. I started early (right at sunrise) on a mid-September morning from the small parking lot, with a definite chill in the air. From experience, Sunkhaze much earlier in the season can be pretty wet and buggy. I started along the flat, easy trail, with the sound of barking dogs at a nearby residence giving way to jays and chattering red squirrels.
Beaver pond spur on Johnson Brook Trail, Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge, Milford, Maine
The righthand spur heads east off the loop trail at about 4/10 of a mile, and I took this to see the beaver pond. The changing colors of the ferns and the deciduous trees, as well as the mist rising from the pond in the cool morning made this trip (less than a third of a mile) well worthwhile. At a little over a mile on the loop trail, you will reach a couple of raised boardwalks over the marsh, just before the second spur trail, which goes off to the right. At the time I came through, this spur was clearly marked off by a sign with a red line through a hiker, so it’s closed for now.
Johnson Brook Trail, Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge, Milford, Maine
After another boardwalk, the trail turns left to return to the east side of the loop. At this turn, there is a path back to County Road and there are two interpretive displays on vernal pools and songbirds. The trail and a bench on this part of the loop are dedicated to Janice Beckett, a former president of the Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows. I visited on a dry fall day, but the many boardwalks and plank bridges, the moss, and the dense cedar speak to how marshy this area is, typically. In mid-September, this was a nice, easy loop, taking about an hour, for late summer wildflowers and wildlife sightings.
Johnson Brook Trail, Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge, Milford, Maine
Morning light, Abol Stream Trail, Baxter State Park, ME
Some trails at Baxter State Park are quieter than others, and Blueberry Ledges, on the south side of the park, approximately midway between Katahdin Stream Campground and Abol Beach, is a beautiful spot you just might have all to yourself. Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hikers this close to Katahdin are unlikely to take side trails, and day-hikers are often focused on the more robust peaks to the north and east. The lollipop loop trail to Blueberry Ledges from the trailhead at the end of Abol Beach Road is a 6.6 mile hike (if you take all the side trails like I did), using the Abol Stream Trail to briefly leave the Park, then pick up the Appalachian Trail (AT) northbound on the way out, and Abol Pond Trail on the return. I’ve done this twice, both on bright mid-September mornings, using the route recommended by the book Hiking Maine’s Baxter State Park. The Blueberry Ledges are also accessible from the north by using the AT southbound from the Park Tote Road near Katahdin Stream Campground, an out-and-back hike of about three miles each way. The trails are all on the downloadable Kidney-Daicey map from Baxter State Park, and in my pack, as usual, was the durable Map Adventures’ Katahdin Baxter State Park Waterproof Trail Map.
Mount Katahdin from Abol Stream Trail, Baxter State Park, ME
Abol Beach, which is a quiet, often-empty picnic area (with an outhouse) with a decent-sized parking lot. I began by crossing the small bridge at the outlet of Abol Pond, following the trail along a wide, wooded floor dotted with colorful late-season mushrooms. The path rises on an esker above Abol Stream. A little over a quarter mile in, there’s a short side path along the stream, which dead-ends at a robust beaver dam, and after about .4 miles, a small sign-in kiosk for hikers. At about .7 and 1.1 miles are more turnouts with excellent views of Katahdin’s bulk rising clear and crisp over multi-colored marsh grasses. The trail at this point is an old woods road bounded by sweet fern and pine, and serenaded by the chattering of red squirrels, jays, winter wrens, and white-throated sparrows.
Dad and daughter atop Pleasant Mountain summit in 2017
Pleasant Mountain (2,006 ft) is a mountain in Bridgton right next to the former Shawnee Peak, now (since 2022) Pleasant Mountain ski area, with trails mostly on land owned by the Loon Echo Land Trust (see here for info and detailed maps). Dad and daughter hiked this first with our cousin in April 2017 as part of our preparation for our 100 Mile Wilderness trek via the (moderate) Southwest Ridge Trail (also known as the MacKay Pasture Trail), 5.8 miles up/back, but have done it since in February, August, and other months. Map and description are also available in the stellar Maine Mountain Guide. The preserve is open dawn to dusk, and dogs on-leash are allowed. Blaze orange is suggested during hunting season.
Morning light on Southwest Ridge Trail, Pleasant Mountain, Maine
This hike can be busy in summer, particular up the Ledges Trail, but an early start or a winter morning can provide solitude. There are always a few hikers, especially close to the summit, but I have also seen woodpeckers, crows, turkeys, and a winter herd of deer. The deer were using the same path, and bounded away from me, big white tails flashing, every time they heard my footsteps crunching in the snow, coming no closer than about fifty yards. In the summer, the call of loons carries up the mountain from Moose Pond.
Winter morning view of Moose Pond from near Southwest Summit, Pleasant MountainContinue reading →
Information kiosk at trailhead, Hart Farm, Holden, ME
The trails at 157-acre Hart Farm in Holden, Maine, have been preserved by the Holden Land Trust and the Maine Farmland Trust, and are open from dawn to dusk. Dogs must be leashed (livestock is present) and cleaned up after. A trail map is available at the town of Holden website (and on kiosk at beginning). I have stopped by here several times on the way to/from Washington County/Dowmeast and Bangor, just a slight diversion off route 1A. This makes a great stop for people or a dog to stretch their legs. The outer loop hike around the Pocket Field Loop Trail is an easy 1.3 miles in about 30-40 minutes.
View of hills and mountains across cow pasture, Hart Farm, Holden, ME
The easy trail network, marked with blue diamonds, begins from a kiosk next to the small parking area, through tall grass and wildflowers, with cows lounging in the large field to the right. Here, the cleared land allows views of the hills to the northeast. It’s also an opportunity for a dumbfounded pit bull to see cows.
Pig the pit bull sees cows, Hart Farm Trails, Holden, ME
An option is available at this point to turn left (west) and connect through the Fields Pond Connector Trail with the Shelterwood Trail of the neighboring Fields Pond Audubon Nature Center trail network (dogs not allowed there). Continue straight to stay on the Hart Farm trails. Off the trail to the left are some junked vintage cars, as the trail curves around the border of the cow pasture.
Goldenrod Field, Hart Farm Trails, Holden, ME
I chose to go counterclockwise, taking me past a field of goldenrod and into the woods. The trail here has trickier footing, with rocks and roots, and was full of birdsong. The sounds weren’t completely wild, as I could hear dogs barking, power equipment, and the sound of jets heading to and from the Bangor airport. The Middle Trail bisects this loop.
Hart Farm Trails, Holden, ME
As I completed the circle, close to the Bates Homestead, the path hugged the edge of a gully with a small valley, typically containing a creek, but dry in some summer months, running through it. A large sign marked the historic Isaac Bates and Ursula Jones Homestead, now consisting of only sunken foundations, which was built prior to 1807. Not long after, I returned to the parking area.
Vaughan Woods, surprisingly close to downtown Augusta and the capitol complex, is part of a 197-acre nature preserve adjacent to the historic Vaughan Homestead in Hallowell, Maine, free to the public and open from dawn to dusk. Dogs are allowed, on-leash. The Vaughan Woods website has trail maps, a historical walking guide, and a list of programs. The Woods, comprising 150 acres, are protected through a conservation easement held by the Kennebec Land Trust. Trailhead parking is available in a small roadside lot at the corner of Litchfield Road and Middle Street. If this is full, alternate parking is available (during non-school hours, weekends and holidays) at Hall-Dale High School at 97 Maple St. in Farmingdale, with trailhead access by the tennis courts. This trail, and our photo, was featured in Portland’s monthly magazine in July/August 2024’s “Micro Hikes” article (pg 55).
Driving Bridge over Vaughan Brook, Vaughan Woods, Hallowell, ME
On a hot July day, and more recently on a cooler May day, I took the Corniche Trail Loop for a lollipop loop of about two miles, taking less than 45 minutes, a good lunchbreak hike. The trail, starting from an information kiosk, starts through an overgrown open field uphill of the homestead, then moves onto a wooded ridge, with Vaughan Brook flowing at the bottom. It can be very muddy in sections, with the biting insects present that one would expect from recent rains. The positive is that the walk is mostly shaded.
Vaughan Brook, Vaughan Woods, Hallowell, ME
A series of well-built stone bridges cross the streams which feed down to the brook, running quickly underneath the trail. The Brook Trail, a short (.4 mile) wooded path, runs along Vaughan Brook. According to the guided walking tour, along this trail is a pool known as Louis Philippe Pool, as the future king of France, then the Duke of Orleans, supposedly fell in here while fishing during a visit between 1795 and 1797.
Page & Stickney Dam, Vaughan Woods, Hallowell, ME
A series of pools, waterfalls, and cascades led up to the stone Driving Bridge, from which the tall Page & Stickney dam holding back Cascade Pond is visible. Shortly after the bridge, I veered to the right to take the Corniche Trail Loop counterclockwise. The trails throughout Vaughan Woods are unmarked, so I used AllTrails to navigate (the trail map bin at the kiosk was empty). Here on the Corniche Trail, you can still hear the sounds of I-95 off to your right. Otherwise, the trail is quiet and shady, surrounded by a mixed evergreen and deciduous forest, and much less trafficked than the Driving Bridge area. I heard the calls of red-eyed vireo, ovenbird, pine warbler, and hermit thrush.
Corniche Trail Loop, Vaughan Woods, Hallowell, ME
A turn-off to the right led to the high school, but I continued left/clockwise, reaching a high point on Perkins Hill, overlooking an old granite quarry. Here, I heard Eastern Woods Pee-wee, and saw a white-breasted nuthatch, robins, and a line of six squirrels crossing the trail together. As the trail loops back to complete the lollipop, it opens up on a large pasture, covered in wildflowers, milkweed, birds and butterflies. To the left, a maple and a hemlock appeared to have grown together over the years, and their mixed canopy sheltered a series of ferns. I rejoined the original trail, and took a quick detour at the Driving Bridge to climb the stone staircase next to the dam, which led up to views of Cascade Pond.
Hiking in Maine 