You'll find this fantastic hidden gem of nature as you head north into the Rangeley Lakes region -…read moreand it's well worth a stop! The main draw (for me anyway) is the 15-foot waterfall where the Swift River gushes over the smooth carved boulders - it's beautiful! Definitely a lovely visit in the fall colors - they were just starting to show on my visit in late September. But it's my understanding that this is a great place to frolic in natural swimming holes and jump off the rocks and enjoy the water in the warmer months. I had a great time exploring the area! There were butterflies EVERYWHERE!! Many different species - but one species was being particularly cooperative and I had a great time with my camera - and turns out it was a Pink-edged Sulfur which is the State Butterfly of Maine! It's easy to find - right off Swift River Rd and it's free. Theres a picnic area with several tables and a fun giant chair with a story about Paul Bunyan next to it. Everything is well maintained and there's a campground nearby. I didn't see any bathrooms.

Actually I love this place. But Cassie made me feel very very unwelcome. I have been a Coos Canyon…read moreand rented cabbage twice, the first time I just figured maybe Cassie was having a few bad days because I did stay a few days. But the second time I went she was even worse. It's a shame that a wonderful place like this has such a mean spirited and rude person working for them

We camped at Rangeley for the 4th of July in our pop-up. We had site 20 which was nice (water and…read moreelectric) but we wished we were across the street because those sites have water views and some have access paths through the trees. Try site 19. But no hook-ups over there. The bathrooms were nice and clean, and the dishwashing station was too. The best hike in the area is Bald Mountain. They sell ice and wood at the ranger station.

Edie was so wonderful, she helped me change our reservation when our camp for tonight was…read morecancelled, due to floods. She got us in and we are here for two nights instead of sleeping in the Walmart parking lot.

Grafton Notch State Park occupies 3,129 acres (1,266 hectares) surrounding Grafton Notch, the…read moremountain pass between aldpate Mountain and Old Speck Mountain. The drive to it along ME 26 was beautiful, despite the intense and brutal heat on the day of our first visit. There are roadside turnouts for both Mother Walker Falls and Screw Auger Falls; the water flow at the falls was markedly curtailed due to the current drought conditions. You'll find signage that explains this area's glacial and geologic history. The trails leading to the waterfalls are short and well-marked, with uneven rock and forest flooring. Tip: Apparently Screw Auger Falls is so named because it looks as like someone took a giant auger and drilled large quantities of rock out of this quite sizable granite rock formation formation Tip: Dogs are allowed here for no additional fee. They're permitted throughout the park and on the trails; but not on the beaches I totally enjoyed everything I saw here on my first visit, and have already gone back a week ago. I expect to make visiting this very special destination a regular habit :-)

Grafton Notch State Park, one of Maine's scenic byways, is always going to have a really special…read moreplace in my heart: it's the first time I stepped on the Appalachian Trail! And, I don't know, you don't forget that do you? Screw Auger Falls - Anytime I get the chance to play on rocks and waterfalls, I'm going to! The Bear River has areas of expansive smooth rocks that may or may not be accessible (depends on how much water is flowing). On one side, there's a tinier waterfall; the other side, the gorge where Screw Auger spills down. The rocks here are so interestingly carved and worn because of the years and years (and years) of water washing over them. Mother Walker Falls Turnout - I think this is where The Abandoned Road is, an interesting stone stairway, a wee cave, and some information about "this section of Bear River in the deep gorge below is called Mother Walker Falls. Roaring over broken rocks and falling into little pools, the river gradually drops a total of 98 feet." You can't see much because of the density of the trees. Moose Cave - This is a 1/4 mile loop of mostly packed surface, stairs, some boardwalks and planks, and a few steep drop-offs. There's a reindeer moss garden before Moose Cave which was formed when a great slab of granite broke away from the mountainside. Supposedly at some point an unlucky moose got trapped here. Eyebrow Trail/Table Rock - So now we get to some hiking. I did some research that suggested Table Rock (2380°, 2.4 miles; specifically going orange to blue to white [AT]) was slightly easier than Eyebrow (2600°, 2.1 miles; specifically going orange to white [AT]). Either way, you get to spend some time on the AT, and some folks are here just to step foot, snap a photo, and move on. We decided to do Eyebrow Trail and it was one of the toughest hikes I've ever been on in the best way possible; it ignited a passion in me I didn't know I had! There were areas where you had to scale the mountainside with an iron cable bolted into the ground; other areas where you had to climb vertically on a rock surface via an iron ladder. The summit's views reminded me of areas of the Highlands in Scotland; and, I don't know that I've ever smelled pine so raw and cold and crisp before. I will never forget this hike; maybe sometime I can come back and do Old Speck (4180°)! Spruce Meadow Turnout - We stopped here to have lunch. If you walk a little further then where most of the picnic tables are, there's a lone table facing an expanse of stunning mountain. It's a good place to have a good meal with a good friend. Scenic Turnout - There's not much that here, a trio of signs/placards that talk about the area. What a beautiful Maine spot this is!

We were in the are to go white-water rafting and our guide recommended stopping by Moxie Falls …read more It was a fairly easy hike; the near-peak foliage was gorgeous; and reaching the falls was one of those "perfect moments" in life!

If you are in the area, definitely stop by! It's a ~20 minute walk from the parking lot (free) and…read morenot a bad walk at that. Mostly flat with a couple of hardwood steps at the end. Well-maintained trail. The waterfall was beautiful from all 3 platforms, which provided various angles of the waterfall. If I went back, I'd bring a swimsuit next time- there were a couple families taking a refreshing dip in certain areas at the falls.

This was a cool hike up. We parked in the parking lot that was right at the midpoint where you can…read morego left or go right. It was muddy as heck that day, so I would recommend not going that route because once we were done with the climb, we noticed that there was literally a shortcut at the bottom to the main road with a parking lot across the street, so there was no need for that extra hike to get to the climb. You're welcome!

Amazing hike with a payoff view that is spectacular. This is a moderate level hike and should be…read moretaken only by people who are OK with climbing rocks, boulders and can handle heights well. That said, my wife and 2 daughters (both under 12y/o had no problem traversing the trails and were ear to ear smiles at the end.

Maine beauty at it's finest! Really wish we had gotten here about a month sooner, temp would have…read morebeen a little warmer (it was in the 30's thankfully) and we would have had a ton more color than what was left on the trees. But, none the less, this is still an amazing place to visit. Easy hike up the side of the mountain (it really never is overly steep)... I'd say the difficulty rating would be moderate (at best). Nice views of the stream as you hike your way up. You can even get off the path easily to take shots up stream of the Step Falls. As you hike closer and closer you can hear the rush of water passing through the space that was eroded down on the steps. Amazing views looking up and amazing views looking down into the valley area once you reach the top. I would say you can go at your own pace, but it is entirely possible to do this in 90 to 120 min round trip. Maybe 3/4 of a mile all the way in to the top with a pretty groomed trail all the way through. Good place for kids and several people even brought their pups along for some fun. Check this one out!

Old fashioned camping exists! This is a perfect family campground-- kids can ride their bikes,…read morefolks can stroll through the campground or adjacent trails, and meeting and chatting with other campers and rangers is a joy. The beach has the best view of any in the world. Area hiking trails are challenging and breathtakingly beautiful. Coos Canyon is nearby and a super fun day trip. There are flush toilets and showers and a brand new playground. This is a jewel.

Summer review! Get…read morethat Maine State Park Pass out and head to Mt Blue State Park Campground (even if it's just for a day outing)! It's like a smaller, more intimate, more highly concentrated version of everything you love about Sebago and Rangeley. Clear, clean, cold water to swim in; surrounding mountains (like Mt Blue) that ring Webb Lake making it picturesque in every way. There's also some low stakes hiking, including a 1-mile loop (apparently called Hopping Frog Nature Trail) near the Nature Center. The Nature Center is also very cool, offering hands-on exhibits, interpretive programs, and displays about the local flora and fauna. I learned how big my wingspan is and played a round of outdoor checkers. I was extremely delighted by this spot and can't wait to explore it again in the future!

Wonderful hiking trail to the top of a mountain in Rome. Good amount of parking with a large sign…read morewith plenty of info on the trail, mountain, and area. The trails are well marked in most spots (went off in one spot but quickly realized our mistake). While the view isn't panoramic it is quite a nice view of Belgrade lakes. The mountain will gain you about 350 feet in elevation and will take you about 45 minutes to do the loop. There were some spots on the trail where you needed to maneuver through uneven rocks and spots where the climb got a bit tough, but nothing too hard. I brought a 9 year old and he had a blast. I could see much younger kids pulling this off with no issues.

Great spot for hiking especially with your furry best friend. Not really any spots for viewing but…read morestill a good hike.

Bigelow Preserve is an absolutely gorgeous state-owned nature preserve in Western Maine…read more Established in 1976, this protected land is open to the public for hiking, camping, boating, fishing, fall foliage, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and so much more! At over 36,000 acres... you're sure to find something of interest. The flora and fauna are just breath-taking and it is absolutely worth a visit! I visited this vast parcel of land with the intent of climbing four out of the seven peaks of the Bigelow Mountain Range that are contained within the preserve. As some of the tallest mountains in all of Maine, I was excited for the challenge. The mountains are named after Major Timothy Bigelow who summitted the peaks in the late 1700s. There are many trails, including the famous Appalachian Trail, that snake through this forested playground. The Maine Appalachian Trail Club maintains these tracks and provides caretakers at the backcountry camping sites. From the mountains there are impressive views of Flagstaff Lake and the mountain range itself. Open all year round. One of the most scenic hikes I've completed in a while! Breath in the fresh air and get outside.