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Moderate Hiking Trails in Maine

The directory currently contains 109 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Maine. Their average mapped distance is 3.7 km and average recorded ascent is 152 m (499 ft); the longest route in the set is 15.9 km.

This subset represents 49% of the 224 quality-checked routes in Maine. Its average distance is 3.7 km, compared with 9.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 152 m (499 ft), versus 202 m (663 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 11 (10%) 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

1.4 km

Beech Cliff Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Saddle 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

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
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
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
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 Cliff Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
247 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Coastal
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
Moderate

Gorge Path

Maine · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
271 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Jordan Pond Trail Bridge and the North Bubble in Acadia National Park, Maine
Moderate

Jordan Cliffs Trail

Maine · United States

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

Pemetic East Cliff Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
116 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Coastal Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
58 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Coastal
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
Sail Rock, the easternmost point in the United States of Alaska. Located in Quoddy Head State Park, Maine.
Moderate

Quoddy Coast Guard Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Coastal
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
Valley Cove, Southwest Harbor, ME
Moderate

Valley Cove Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
113 m
Typical duration
29 min
Moderate

Dipper Cove Path

Maine · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
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
Moderate

Long Creek Trail

Maine · United States

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

Cathedral Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
698 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
Moderate

Spruce-Fir Forest Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Dudley Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
633 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
Moderate

Owl Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Typical duration
40 min
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

A Murray Young Path

Maine · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
25 min
Moderate

Beachcroft Path

Maine · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
298 m
Typical duration
50 min
The Precipice Trail on the east side of Champlain Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine.
Moderate

Precipice Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
17 min
This is the view from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, US looking East.
Moderate

Cadillac-Dorr Connector

Maine · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
141 m
Typical duration
24 min
Moderate

Emery Path

Maine · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
26 min
View west along Mount Katahdin's Knife Edge Trail towards South Peak from a point about 0.1 miles west of Pamola Peak in Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine
Moderate

Knife Edge Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
22 min
Moderate

Kurt Diederichs Climb

Maine · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
10 min
Moderate

Ladder Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
190 m
Typical duration
25 min
Moderate

Schiff Path

Maine · United States

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
43 m
Typical duration
24 min
and Champlain Mountain from 'the Beehive' in Acadia National Park
Moderate

Beehive Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
120 m
Typical duration
23 min
Moderate

Bowl Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
13 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
Valley Peak TrailMaine2.4 km222 m50 minModerateApril to October
Saint Sauveur Mountain TrailMaine2.9 km68 m42 minModerateApril to October
Canon Brook TrailMaine3.1 km29 m41 minModerateApril to October
Helon Taylor TrailMaine4.5 km9 m57 minModerateApril to October
Beech Cliff TrailMaine1.4 km247 m40 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
Champlain North Ridge TrailMaine1.6 km264 m43 minModerateApril to October
Dorr Mountain North Ridge TrailMaine1.5 km300 m46 minModerateApril to October

Valley Peak Trail, Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail, Canon Brook 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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