The 12,050-acre Crocker Mountain property is located in the town of Carrabassett Valley and houses three of the tallest mountains in Maine: Crocker, South Crocker, and Sugarloaf. It is part of the largest high-elevation forest in the state and includes a 10-mile section of the Appalachian Trail. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) led a Read More
Hiking
We are fortunate that Maine has hundreds of miles of trails to explore. These locations are great for all levels of hiking—from winding trails along Maine's coast to high mountain peaks in western Maine and beyond. Always check the weather before heading out, and let a friend or family member know where you are headed if you are hiking alone. Don't forget to check in when you return. Enjoy your time exploring Maine's public lands!
Branch Lake & Branch Lake Public Forest
In 2010, the City of Ellsworth, the Trust for Public Land, the Forest Society of Maine, and the Frenchman Bay Conservancy all worked together to purchase conservation easements on two parcels of land in the Branch Lake area. The success of this conservation project was due in part to financial support provided by the Land Read More
Great Pond Mountain Wildlands
The Great Pond Mountain Wildlands property is a sizeable nature preserve and recreation area located in East Orland. Its 4,500 acres are comprised of woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and several small mountains, including the property’s 1,029-foot-tall namesake. Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust (GPMCT) made their first purchase of land in the area in 2005 and have Read More
Piney Knoll Conservation Area
Located just steps away from the University of Maine’s campus in Orono, the Piney Knoll Conservation Area presents visitors with diverse wildlife, varied terrain, and bountiful recreational opportunities. Its 57 acres encompass riverside marshes, lovely meadows, and pristine forest stands, including the group of tall white pines atop a knoll from which the area derives Read More
Libby Hill Forest
Libby Hill Forest, located near Sebago Lake in southern Maine, houses more than 11 miles of multi-use trails in a pleasant, wooded environment. A majority of the preserve is owned by the Gray Community Endowment, an independent 501(c)(3) organization, with the remainder belonging to the Town of Gray and its school district. The plethora of Read More
Millinocket Forest — Mud Brook & Sandy Stream
Located directly east of Baxter State Park, the Millinocket Forest presents visitors with some quality recreational opportunities and great views of Katahdin. With the help of funds from the Land for Maine’s Future program, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) purchased the 5,061-acre Sandy Stream property in 2011, which they then conveyed to the Maine Read More
Hunter Cove Uplands
The 172-acre Hunter Cove Uplands property lies right next to beautiful Rangeley Lake in Franklin County. Owned by Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, this forest preserve’s key feature is its trail system that winds all throughout the property. This system includes two loops that vary in length but are both moderately challenging. The lower loop is Read More
Roberts Farm Preserve
Roberts Farm Preserve is a lovely 165-acre property located just south of Lake Pennesseewassee in Norway, Maine. Formerly the site of a dairy farm, the property now houses a 7.5-mile trail network that winds through pastures, orchards, streams, stone walls, and woodlands. Western Foothills Land Trust purchased Roberts Farm in 2009 with help from the Read More
West Grand Lake Forest
With charming lakes, pristine wooded areas, diverse wildlife, and bountiful recreational opportunities, the West Grand Lake Forest offers excellent examples of so much that makes Maine’s nature extraordinary. It is located within a network of more than 1.4 million acres of preserved land that extends all the way into Canada. It shares a border with Read More