How many hard hikes are listed in Maine?

18 routes currently meet both this guide’s filter and the directory quality gate. Each submitted route has a traceable source, mapped geometry and sampled elevation data.

What is the average distance and ascent?

The average mapped distance is 87.1 km with 1,488 m (4,882 ft) of recorded ascent. The longest route in this set is 519 km.

How are the routes ordered?

Appalachian Trail currently ranks first. Ordering uses the directory score and route-data completeness; it is not a claim that editors have field-tested every route.

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

No route in this set is currently rated easy. In every category, verify surface, exposure, access and current conditions independently.

Hard Hiking Trails in Maine

The directory currently contains 18 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maine. Their average mapped distance is 87.1 km and average recorded ascent is 1,488 m (4,882 ft); the longest route in the set is 519 km.

This subset represents 8% of the 224 quality-checked routes in Maine. Its average distance is 87.1 km, compared with 9.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,488 m (4,882 ft), versus 202 m (663 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

This set contains routes rated hard or expert from their available distance and elevation measurements. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 18 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (11%) 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

4.6 km

Abol Slide Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

203 m

Sebago to the Sea Trail

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

Return logistics

1 recorded loop

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.

Expert

Appalachian Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 414 km
Elevation gain: 8,667 m
Typical duration: 111 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Expert

International Appalachian Trail New-Brunswick

Maine · United States

Distance: 519 km
Elevation gain: 1,586 m
Typical duration: 125 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Sentier Frontalier 1

Maine · United States

Distance: 77.6 km
Elevation gain: 3,488 m
Typical duration: 23 hr

Mountain
Waymarked route
Long-distance path

Hard

Abol Slide Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 4.6 km
Elevation gain: 1,058 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 33 min

Mountain

Expert

Great Circle Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 44.9 km
Elevation gain: 768 m
Typical duration: 11 hr

Mountain

Expert

Sebago to the Sea Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 50.1 km
Elevation gain: 203 m
Typical duration: 11 hr

Expert

Maine Huts Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 74.6 km
Elevation gain: 774 m
Typical duration: 18 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Grafton Loop Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 54.0 km
Elevation gain: 2,782 m
Typical duration: 16 hr

Mountain

Expert

Hundred-Mile Wilderness

Maine · United States

Distance: 147 km
Elevation gain: 2,654 m
Typical duration: 38 hr

Mountain
Long-distance path

Expert

Newport/Dover-Foxcroft Rail Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 48.3 km
Elevation gain: 159 m
Typical duration: 11 hr

Mountain

Hard

Whistle Stop Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 25.4 km
Elevation gain: 71 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 42 min

Hard

Cross Falmouth Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 18.1 km
Elevation gain: 287 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 18 min

Hard

North Peaks Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 8.3 km
Elevation gain: 1,013 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 15 min

Mountain

Hard

Northwest Basin Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 12.5 km
Elevation gain: 1,049 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 10 min

Mountain

Hard

Traverler Mountain Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 12.9 km
Elevation gain: 1,098 m
Typical duration: 4 hr 20 min

Mountain

Hard

Doubletop Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 12.3 km
Elevation gain: 693 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 36 min

Mountain

Hard

Wassataquoik Lake Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 21.1 km
Elevation gain: 300 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 1 min

Lake

Hard

Freezeout Trail

Maine · United States

Distance: 23.1 km
Elevation gain: 126 m
Typical duration: 5 hr 15 min

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
Route	Distance	Ascent	Time	Difficulty	Best season
Appalachian TrailMaine	414 km	8,667 m	111 hr	Expert	April to October
International Appalachian Trail New-BrunswickMaine	519 km	1,586 m	125 hr	Expert	April to October
Sentier Frontalier 1Maine	77.6 km	3,488 m	23 hr	Expert	April to October
Abol Slide TrailMaine	4.6 km	1,058 m	2 hr 33 min	Hard	April to October
Great Circle TrailMaine	44.9 km	768 m	11 hr	Expert	April to October
Sebago to the Sea TrailMaine	50.1 km	203 m	11 hr	Expert	April to October
Maine Huts TrailMaine	74.6 km	774 m	18 hr	Expert	April to October
Grafton Loop TrailMaine	54.0 km	2,782 m	16 hr	Expert	April to October
Hundred-Mile WildernessMaine	147 km	2,654 m	38 hr	Expert	April to October
Newport/Dover-Foxcroft Rail TrailMaine	48.3 km	159 m	11 hr	Expert	April 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 →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

How do these routes differ?

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

Return logistics

Trails

The shortlist, side by side

Frequently asked questions

How many hard hikes are listed in Maine?

What is the average distance and ascent?

How are the routes ordered?

Does an easy rating mean beginner-safe?

Plan with more confidence

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Related guides

People also search for