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Hiking Trails Over 20 km in Maine

The directory currently contains 12 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maine. Their average mapped distance is 125 km and average recorded ascent is 1,798 m (5,899 ft); the longest route in the set is 519 km.

This subset represents 5% of the 224 quality-checked routes in Maine. Its average distance is 125 km, compared with 9.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,798 m (5,899 ft), versus 202 m (663 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is at least 20 km long. Whether it is normally completed in one day or in stages is not inferred from distance alone. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 12 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (17%) 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

44.9 km

Great Circle 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.

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
Expert

Great Circle Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
44.9 km
/ 27.9 mi
Elevation gain
768 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
Expert

Sebago to the Sea Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
50.1 km
/ 31.2 mi
Elevation gain
203 m
Typical duration
11 hr
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
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
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
Jay-Niles Memorial Library , Jay, Maine.
Hard

Whistle Stop Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
25.4 km
/ 15.8 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
5 hr 42 min
Hard

Wassataquoik Lake Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
21.1 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
300 m
Typical duration
5 hr 1 min
  • Lake
Hard

Freezeout Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
23.1 km
/ 14.4 mi
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
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
Great Circle TrailMaine44.9 km768 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Sebago to the Sea TrailMaine50.1 km203 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Maine Huts TrailMaine74.6 km774 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Grafton Loop TrailMaine54.0 km2,782 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Hundred-Mile WildernessMaine147 km2,654 m38 hrExpertApril to October
Newport/Dover-Foxcroft Rail TrailMaine48.3 km159 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Whistle Stop TrailMaine25.4 km71 m5 hr 42 minHardApril 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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