We’ve got just the group of hikes to accommodate all skill levels for a family afternoon in nature! Let’s explore Maine.
- Harraseeket + White Pines, Wolfes Neck Woods State Park
ARK NEYMAN via Getty Images Outside Yarmouth is a gorgeous rocky shore trail following the Harraseeket River. You can do just the Harraseeket trail, out and back style for a 3.1-mile trip, or use the White Pines trail to make it a slightly shorter loop of 2 miles. These trails cross all over the park across the peninsula. The trails are kept clear and well-marked, but can be a little slippery during the wet season. If you prefer a solitary hike, this is a particularly great trail for the off-season.
Amanda Page via AllTrails Kids will love the many mushrooms that grow on the trees and the bird watching. The ospreys like to nest on nearby Googins Island when they return from their yearly sojourn to South America. A bird watching festival is held in the spring when the osprey nest and raise their young called Feathers over Freeport. As a salt marsh estuary, the park is a blend of fresh water and saltwater ecosystems all in one location.
- Albany Mountain Trail, White Mountain National Forest
kitz-travellers via Getty Images On the Maine side of the White Mountain National Forest is a mountainous area home to the Albany Mountain Trail. This trail is perfect for kids who are a little bit older and all about the view at the end.
kitz-travellers via Getty Images The many mountain creeks are sometimes damned by beavers. Depending on where they build and the season, the trail may get wet, but should still be passable. Wear waterproof shoes and use a walking stick for extra balance if necessary when crossing slippery areas. Mossy boulders line the trail and there are beautiful wild flowers in the summer. Go a little past the peak, following the cairns (rock stacks) to find the best views and take pictures.
- Hedgehog Mountain Loop
dogeared via Flickr A network of hiking trails cross Hedgehog Mountain and lead to the view at the summit. On a clear day, you can see Mount Washington.
dogeared via Flickr After you leave the small parking lot, you’ll see old stone walls, mushrooms, and wooden bridges.
dogeared via Flickr Some trail junctions are not well marked. New hikers may want to use an app to navigate or take a photo of the map at the trailhead.
All these hikes are friendly for children and permit dogs on leashes. Everybody is invited outdoors!
ARK NEYMAN via Getty Images
Outside Yarmouth is a gorgeous rocky shore trail following the Harraseeket River. You can do just the Harraseeket trail, out and back style for a 3.1-mile trip, or use the White Pines trail to make it a slightly shorter loop of 2 miles. These trails cross all over the park across the peninsula. The trails are kept clear and well-marked, but can be a little slippery during the wet season. If you prefer a solitary hike, this is a particularly great trail for the off-season.
Amanda Page via AllTrails
Kids will love the many mushrooms that grow on the trees and the bird watching. The ospreys like to nest on nearby Googins Island when they return from their yearly sojourn to South America. A bird watching festival is held in the spring when the osprey nest and raise their young called Feathers over Freeport. As a salt marsh estuary, the park is a blend of fresh water and saltwater ecosystems all in one location.
kitz-travellers via Getty Images
On the Maine side of the White Mountain National Forest is a mountainous area home to the Albany Mountain Trail. This trail is perfect for kids who are a little bit older and all about the view at the end.
The many mountain creeks are sometimes damned by beavers. Depending on where they build and the season, the trail may get wet, but should still be passable. Wear waterproof shoes and use a walking stick for extra balance if necessary when crossing slippery areas. Mossy boulders line the trail and there are beautiful wild flowers in the summer. Go a little past the peak, following the cairns (rock stacks) to find the best views and take pictures.
dogeared via Flickr
A network of hiking trails cross Hedgehog Mountain and lead to the view at the summit. On a clear day, you can see Mount Washington.
After you leave the small parking lot, you’ll see old stone walls, mushrooms, and wooden bridges.
Some trail junctions are not well marked. New hikers may want to use an app to navigate or take a photo of the map at the trailhead.
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Address: 100 Hedgehog Mountain Rd, Freeport, ME 04032, USAAddress: 426 Wolfe’s Neck Rd, Freeport, ME 04032, USAAddress: National Forest Road, National Forest Rd, Bethel, ME 04217, USA
