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Best Riverside Hikes in Maine

The directory currently contains 20 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maine. Their average mapped distance is 5.4 km and average recorded ascent is 68 m (223 ft); the longest route in the set is 15.9 km.

This subset represents 9% of the 224 quality-checked routes in Maine. Its average distance is 5.4 km, compared with 9.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 68 m (223 ft), versus 202 m (663 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the river tag. The tag does not establish how much of the mapped line follows water or whether crossings are safe. Within this set, 9 routes (45%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) 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

0.8 km

Long Creek Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Kebo Brook 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

Moderate

Canon Brook Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • River
  • Canyon and gorge
Bar Harbor – USA – Hunters Brook –Bridge - Park Loop Rd – Acadia – Champlain Rd
Easy

Kebo Brook Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Typical duration
21 min
  • River
Moderate

Long Creek Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • River
Moderate

West Side Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
13.7 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
212 m
Typical duration
3 hr 10 min
  • River
Easy

Fore River Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Typical duration
22 min
  • River
Moderate

Hunters Brook Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
144 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • River
Easy

Cold Brook Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • River
Moderate

River Link

Maine · United States

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
176 m
Typical duration
2 hr 6 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
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
Easy

Abol Stream Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Typical duration
24 min
  • River
Moderate

Presumpscot River Trails

Maine · United States

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
1 hr 34 min
  • River
Moderate

Sebois Riverside Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
11.2 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
106 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • River
Moderate

Wadleigh Brook Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
15.9 km
/ 9.9 mi
Elevation gain
130 m
Typical duration
3 hr 32 min
  • River
Moderate

Mill Brook Preserve Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
163 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • River
Easy

River Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • River

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
Canon Brook TrailMaine3.1 km29 m41 minModerateApril to October
Kebo Brook TrailMaine1.7 km0 m21 minEasyApril to October
Long Creek TrailMaine0.8 km22 m12 minModerateApril to October
West Side TrailMaine13.7 km212 m3 hr 10 minModerateApril to October
Fore River TrailMaine1.8 km0 m22 minEasyApril to October
Hunters Brook TrailMaine3.9 km144 m1 hr 2 minModerateApril to October
Cold Brook TrailMaine0.7 km25 m11 minEasyApril to October
Roaring Brook Nature TrailMaine1.2 km0 m15 minEasyApril to October
River LinkMaine8.8 km176 m2 hr 6 minModerateApril to October
Pleasant River TrailMaine14.3 km126 m3 hr 10 minModerateApril to October

Canon Brook Trail, Kebo Brook Trail, Long Creek Trail 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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