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Best Mountain Hikes in Maine

The directory currently contains 51 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maine. Their average mapped distance is 30.3 km and average recorded ascent is 646 m (2,119 ft); the longest route in the set is 519 km.

This subset represents 23% of the 224 quality-checked routes in Maine. Its average distance is 30.3 km, compared with 9.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 646 m (2,119 ft), versus 202 m (663 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 4 routes (8%) are rated easy, 13 (25%) are rated hard or expert, and 4 (8%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

2.4 km

Valley Peak Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

68 m

Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

Appalachian Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
414 km
/ 257 mi
Elevation gain
8,667 m
Typical duration
111 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sentier Frontalier 1

Maine · United States

Distance
77.6 km
/ 48.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,488 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Valley Cove, Southwest Harbor, ME
Moderate

Valley Peak Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
222 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Hard

Abol Slide Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,058 m
Typical duration
2 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
Sheep Laurel blooming at about 2,100 feet above sea level along the Helon Taylor Trail on Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine
Moderate

Helon Taylor Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Mountain
Looking east from the saddle of Mount Katahdin across the Great Basin in Baxter State Park, Maine.
Moderate

Saddle Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Typical duration
40 min
  • Mountain
A view of the north basin of Mount Katahdin, Maine from Hamlin Peak
Moderate

Hamlin Ridge Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
530 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
Shot from the side of Cadillac Mountain.
Moderate

Cadillac North Ridge Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
345 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Great Circle Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
44.9 km
/ 27.9 mi
Elevation gain
768 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
Cliff of Flying Mountain at Acadia National Park near Southwest Harbor, ME
Moderate

Flying Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
100 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Gorham Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Kebo Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
109 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Mountain
Adult fox yawning in Acadia National Park in Maine, US.
Moderate

Acadia Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
199 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Maine Huts Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
74.6 km
/ 46.3 mi
Elevation gain
774 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hamlin Peak of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine as seen from Baxter Peak
Easy

Baxter Peak Cutoff Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Mountain
A view of Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park, Maine.
Expert

Grafton Loop Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
54.0 km
/ 33.5 mi
Elevation gain
2,782 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
500px provided description: Climbed the mountain to see the view from the fire tower, got up just before a strong storm rolled in and poured rain at lower elevations. [#storm ,#pines ,#g12 ,#Canon ,#August ,#Maine ,#Acadia ,#Mt Desert Islan
Moderate

Beech West Ridge Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Hundred-Mile Wilderness

Maine · United States

Distance
147 km
/ 91.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,654 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
East from South Ridge Trail in Acadia National Park, Maine
Moderate

Cadillac South Ridge Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Bernard Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
295 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Benny's Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Moderate

Klondike Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Moderate

Day Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

The Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
175 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Wabassus Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
153 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Hard

North Peaks Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,013 m
Typical duration
3 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
Hard

Northwest Basin Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
12.5 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,049 m
Typical duration
4 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Pleasant River Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
14.3 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
126 m
Typical duration
3 hr 10 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Old Speck Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
826 m
Typical duration
2 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
Hard

Traverler Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,098 m
Typical duration
4 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
Hard

Doubletop Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
693 m
Typical duration
3 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Marston Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

OJI Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
6.7 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
715 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Sentinel Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
83 m
Typical duration
1 hr 17 min
  • Mountain
Easy

French's Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
70 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Mountain

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Appalachian TrailMaine414 km8,667 m111 hrExpertApril to October
International Appalachian Trail New-BrunswickMaine519 km1,586 m125 hrExpertApril to October
Sentier Frontalier 1Maine77.6 km3,488 m23 hrExpertApril to October
Valley Peak TrailMaine2.4 km222 m50 minModerateApril to October
Saint Sauveur Mountain TrailMaine2.9 km68 m42 minModerateApril to October
Abol Slide TrailMaine4.6 km1,058 m2 hr 33 minHardApril to October
Helon Taylor TrailMaine4.5 km9 m57 minModerateApril to October
Saddle TrailMaine3.2 km0 m40 minModerateApril to October
Hamlin Ridge TrailMaine2.0 km530 m1 hr 13 minModerateApril to October
Cadillac North Ridge TrailMaine3.4 km345 m1 hr 13 minModerateApril to October

Appalachian Trail, International Appalachian Trail New-Brunswick, Sentier Frontalier 1 currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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