State and Local Parks
State & Local Parks in Maine
Maine's parks are as diverse as the state itself. The most famous is probably Acadia National Park, outside of Bar Harbor, ME, but it's far from the state's only park. Some of Maine's parks encompass beaches. Others may feature a lighthouse, like Fort Williams Park, not far from Portland. Head to Camden Hills State Park for hiking trails with ocean views, or Aroostook State Park, the northernmost park in the state, for adventure.
23 listings
Pownal, ME
Bradbury Mountain State Park
528 Hallowell Road 207-688-4712Situated on Route 9 about halfway between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn, this park is best for its wonderful views and for hiking on multi-use trails that allow horseback riders, mountain bikers and snowmobilers. (Snow shoe rentals are available.) West of Route 9, the Summit Trail is the quickest route to views from the top of Bradbury Mountain. Trails on the east of Route 9 are favored by mountain bikers. Fall is a popular time for visits by people to see the fall foliage and enjoy bird watching. Spring is best time to watch hawk migration; it is time for the annual hawk watch. - Trail Maps: West Side - East Side
Prospect, ME
Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory
740 Fort Knox Road 207-469-6553Historic fort adjacent to bridge and 420-foot-tall observatory overlooking Penobscot River Valley
On the west bank of the Penobscot River, Fort Knox is a well-preserved fortification that overlooks the Penobscot Narrows. The fort has many interesting architectural features. The fort is also the entranceway to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge boasts an observation tower, 420 feet above sea level. The tower provides a view of the Penobscot River Valley, and it is unique in the Western Hemisphere. The observation platform has 360-degree views and placards naming the mountains, lakes and towns.
Hours: The Observatory is open May 1-October 31, 9am - Sunset. The grounds are open year round.
Camden, ME
Camden Hills State Park
280 Belfast Road 207-236-3109Camden Hills State Park is parked atop Mount Battie, with vast views of Camden and Penobscot Bay and its islands, Mount Megunticook, the highest peak in the park, is a moderate climb by foot trail. The family-friendly campground has hot showers, a group picnic shelter, picnic area, RV dumping station, RV hookups for electricity and water, and wireless Internet access. Activities at the park include birdwatching, camping, cross-country skiing, hiking (trails), horseback riding, off-road biking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, walking, and nature viewing. - Trail Map (PDF)
Hours: Open year-round, 9am - Sunset. A fee is charged.
Stockton Springs, ME
Fort Point State Park
Cape Jellison Road 207-941-4014Located on a peninsula of a peninsula in the Penobscot River, this park has picnic spots on the waterfront, and pier for fishing and boating, and a scenic trail for bicycling. The park’s 120 acres include a mile of rocky shore, a tidal sandbar, and lots of plants and wildlife. The rubble of of Fort Pownall on this site contain interpretive panels. Bicyclists can enjoy a seven-mile trail around Cape Jellison. - Park Brochure with Map (PDF)
Open: mid-May thru Columbus Day, 9am - Sunset. An entrance fee is charged.
Georgetown, ME
Reid State Park
375 Seguinland Road 207-371-2303This oceanfront park features a saltwater lagoon and Mile Beach. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, and picnic areas. Open year-round. - Park Map (PDF)
Phippsburg, ME
Popham Beach State Park
711 Popham Road - ME Route 209 207-389-1335Bordering the south side of the mouth of the Kennebec River, Popham Beach State Park has a fantastically long stretch of sand beach with views of offshore island and the the Kennebec and Morse rivers. Sand movement has had a strong effect on Popham Beach, causing shoreline change and dune erosion. Certain tide conditions can result in high water and little sand area. Call during the summer for current tide and parking information.
Open: Year-round, 9am - Sunset unless otherwise posted.
Bar Harbor, ME
Acadia National Park
Maine Route 3 207-288-3338This magnificent park on the rugged coast of Maine is on Mount Desert Island; it surrounds the town of Bar Harbor.
Visitors come for many attractions and activities, like bicycling, bird watching, boating, rock climbing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, scenic drives, swimming, skiing and snowmobiling. Featured places are Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on Mount Desert Island; Cadillac Mountain; Isle au Haut; and the Wild Gardens of Acadia. The park is laced with 19th-century carriage trails for walking, biking, and driving.
Visitor Centers: Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Route 3, and the Sieur de Monts Nature Center are open May through October; Park Headquarters is open November through mid-May. - Park Maps
Near Lubec, ME
Roosevelt Campobello International Park (Canada)
459 Route 774, Welshpool, New Brunswick 506-752-2922The park is located on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada, just across the FDR Memorial Bridge from the U.S. town of Lubec. This was the summer home for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Now a 2,600-acre park, visitors can see the home or hike on more than eight miles of trails.
Grounds open year round from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Visitor Center and Roosevelt Cottage open daily from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Columbus Day, 9am to 5pm.
Dennysville, ME
Cobscook Bay State Park
40 South Edmunds Road 207-726-4412Cobscook Bay surrounds this park on three sides and offers the natural beauty of dramatically changing tides, from 24 to 28 feet, compared to an average of 9 feet along Maine's southern coast. The park has 106 campsites for tents and recreational vehicles (RVs) along a sheltered inlet within the larger bay. There is a boat launch, but boaters should be aware of dangerous rapids created by fast-moving tides. Lots of fun trails to explore. - Park Guide & Map (PDF) - Campground Map
Presque Isle, ME
Aroostook State Park
87 State Park Road 207-768-8341The northernmost of all Maine state parks is set alongside Echo Lake. 577 acres offering hiking and cross-country ski trails, fishing, swimming areas and picnicking. Boating and canoeing are permitted in the lake. Public campgrounds are available for a fee. Reservations are suggested. - Park Map (PDF) - Campground Maps
Millinocket, ME
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive 207-723-5140A wilderness of more than 200,000 acres, Baxter State Park is a hiking and fishing paradise. Within the park borders are 46 mountains, 175 miles of hiking trails, and 10 public campgrounds. Ample fishing and canoeing is available in lakes and streams, and regulated hunting is permitted. Baxter is also the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Wintertime offers cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and limited snowmobiling.
Season & Hours: Open year-round - In the summer daily 8am - 4pm, in the winter M-F 8am - 4pm.
Newry, ME
Grafton Notch State Park
1941 Bear River Road 207-824-2912Grafton Notch State Park is in the mountains Mahoosuc Range. The land is rugged terrain for backcountry hikers. The reward for summiting these steep peaks is spectacular views. Visitors can find shorter walks leading to waterfalls and gorges. The park is part of the Maine Birding Trail, where people can see peregrine falcons and songbirds. Property is use in winter by snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers enjoy exploring the lands. The popular snowmobile route ITS 82 runs across this region from Andover to New Hampshire's Trail 18. - Park Map (PDF)
Casco, ME
Sebago Lake State Park
11 Park Access Road 207-693-6231Located on beautiful Segabo Lake at the foot of the While Mountains, this park has sandy beaches, extensive woodlands, ponds, a river, and a large range of wildlife.
Swimming, sport fishing, and boating are some of the summer activities enjoyed by visitors. Also, motor boating, canoeing, fishing, and trail hiking. There is a boat launch that accommodates trailers. In winter, park visitors do cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
There is a 250-site campground, with a group picnic shelter, playground, RV dumping station and hookups for electricity and water, and showers. Visitors enjoy walking on wooded and marked trail and bicycling on park roads. Open year-round, 9am - Sunset, unless posted at the gate. - Campground Map (PDF)
Lubec, ME
Quoddy Head State Park
973 South Lubec Road 207-733-0911Quoddy Head State Park is on the tip of America's easternmost peninsula, and adjacent to the historic West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. Great place for a picnic, to enjoy scenery or the earliest sunrise in the country, and to explore trails along the cliffs. Visitors can the towering red cliffs of Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick, Canada, across the Quoddy Channel. Open daily from May 15 to October 15, 9am - Sunset. - Park Map with Trails (PDF)
Saco, ME
Ferry Beach State Park
95 Bayview Road - ME Route 9 207-283-0067This small state park is located between Old Orchard Beach and Camp Ellis. Ocean beach for swimming, clam digging, surf fishing, picnicking. There is a changing room. Visitors can take a nature walk on a shaded trail. Dogs are not allowed on the beach from April 1 to September 30. Park is open daily from Memorial Day to October 1. 9am - Sunset. Day use fees are charged. - Trail Maps
Bowdoinham, ME
Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area (Swan Island)
Intersection of Routes 197 & 24 207-592-0579Swan Island in the Kennebec River - a state wildlife management area - has unique river, forest and meadow habitats for eagles, white-tailed deer, songbirds and wild turkeys. The island has hiking and mountain biking trails, an overnight campground, and spectacular scenery. Kayak and mountain bike rentals are available. Ferry service from Richmond town dock is provided. Check the website for admission and camping fees.
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Crescent Beach State Park
7 Tower Drive 207-799-5871Visitors to this seaside park will enjoy the beach, ocean swimming, and fishing, not to mention spectacular coastal views of Seal Cove and Richmond Island Harbor. A snack bar and bathhouses are available. There are picnic tables with grills.
Hours: Open daily 9am - Sunset unless posted otherwise. A fee is charged to enter the park.
Freeport, ME
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
426 Wolfe's Neck Road 207-865-4465This state park features hiking trails, fishing and picnic areas. Five minutes from shopping and dining in downtown Freeport, the park has climax white pine and hemlock forests, a salt marsh estuary, and rocky shorelines on Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River.
Hours: Open year-round, 9am - Sunset.
Eastport, ME
Shackford Head State Park
Deep Cove Road 207-726-4412Shackford Head State Park covers 90 acres on Moose Island overlooking Cobscook Bay. This undeveloped park on a peninsula has beaches, coves, and a dramatic headland at Shackford Head. Several miles of trails cross the headland. An easy hike of one mile from the parking area through the woods to the rocky headland allows beautiful views of Cobscook Bay. No admission fee. - Trail Map (PDF)
Bangor, ME
Cascade Park
600 State Street 207-992-4490Cascade Park, the city’s most beautiful and popular park, features a lighted water fountain and a water fall that's more than 20 feet high. The park, which overlooks the Penobscot River, also has a small gazebo, picnic tables, and short walking trails.
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Fort Williams Park and Portland Head Lighthouse
Off Shore Road 207-799-2661Fort Williams Park is large swath of land south of Portland and it includes the Portland Head Lighthouse, one of the most popular in Maine for visiting and photographing. The park has many paths for walking and bicycling, playing fields, picnic areas, and tennis courts. The tower of Portland Head Lighthouse is not open to the public, but the keepers’ quarters at 1000 Shore Road has a museum with many interpretive displays about these guardians of the coast. The park hosts several annual events, like family fun day and a Labor Day art show. The park is open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
Beaver Cove, ME
Lily Bay State Park
425 Lily Bay Road 207-695-2700Lily Bay State Park is located on the shore of Moosehead Lake. Activities at this parking include birdwatching, motor boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, trail hiking and walking, picnicking, and wildlife observation. There is a boat launch for trailered boats. There is a campground with a playground, showers, and an RV dumping station. In winter, cross-country ski trails are groomed and a parking lot for skiers and snowshoers is plowed. Visitors may use snowmobiles in the park.
A 2-mile walking trail follows the shoreline between the beach and Rowell Cove campground, offering easy terrain and nice views out to Moosehead Lake. Open daily, 9am - Sunset. - Park Map (PDF)
Woodstock, ME
Little Concord Pond
Off Shagg Pond RoadThis 600-acre parcel in the western mountains of Maine has a 26-acre pond and a moderate 1.2-mile hike to Bald Mountain, where hikers can enjoy at glorious view of the western Maine foothills. Tougher hikers can continue another mile to the open summit of Speckled Mountain, also on state park property. See website link for driving directions.