The 5 Best Winter Hikes to Take in Maine

Acadia National Park is one of the best places to go for a hike in the entire state of Maine, but during the warmer months it can get quite crowded. That isn't the case during the winter, when the Park Loop Road is closed for the season, keeping most of the usual tourist crowd at bay. Grab a pair of snowshoes, cross-country skis, or warm winter boots and hit the Witch Hole Loop trail for a 3.3 mile trek that takes you along a scenic path past Witch Hole Pond. During the summer, this is one of Acadia's famous carriage routes, but in the winter it converts into a great hiking trail instead. Wide, well marked, and easy to follow, it is a spectacular walk through a snowy setting. 

Located in Portland, Maine the Forest City Trail is an impressive 10-mile long route that passes through a thick hardwood forest, without ever really straying all that far from town. The trail's accessibility makes it a popular one all year round, but during the winter it is easy to find plenty of solitude as you march along the route. One of the best sections of trail meanders through the Fore River Sanctuary, an 85-acre preserve that is home to the city's only natural waterfall. The path also wanders along the banks of the Stroudwater and Presumpscot Rivers, providing excellent scenery along the way. The trail isn't groomed during the winter months, so bring appropriate footwear for the trek. 

While the facilities at Roque Bluffs State Park are officially closed during the winter, visitors are still allowed to wander into the park on foot. Those that do will want to take the Pond Cove Trail, which is just two miles in length but offers fantastic views of Pond Cove from an overlook at Rose Ledge. More adventurous souls looking for a bit longer walk can add the Mihill Trail loop to their agenda, which extends their winter hike by another 2 miles. That route takes visitors past the Great Cove as well, which is worth the extra effort too. 

If epic views of the surrounding landscape covered in snow are what you crave, then add Great Pond Mountain to your list of must-do winter hikes in Maine. The trail takes you up to the top of a 1000+ foot granite cliff that overlooks the main peaks of Acadia National Park, not to mention nearby Camden Hills, Penobscot Bay, and Blue Hill Bay. The trail itself is a relatively easy hike covering just 2.5 miles, although the surrounding Great Pond Mountain Wildlands offers another 15 miles of paths to explore, spreading out across its 4500 acres of wilderness. If weather conditions are good, plan on spending some time on the summit, as you'll want to soak in the entire skyline before heading back down. 

Camden Hills State Park is a wonderful outdoor playground all year round, and its trails are even well maintained during the winter months. The park features numerous hiking routes of varying lengths and difficulties to explore, but for those looking for a true winter adventure the hike up Megunticook Mountain is the way to go. Approximately 3.5 miles in length, this trail wanders through a lush forest for much of its length. Near the top of the 1385-foot peak those tress give way to reveal two granite outcroppings—Maiden Cliff and Ocean Lookout—that provide spectacular views of the surrounding wilderness.