Events & News
Now is the time to get outside and into the great outdoors. Whether you are returning to a favorite haunt or have wanderlust for a new location there are beautiful places throughout Maine from which to choose. Suggestions are listed below by activity. For additional listings use the Find Parks and Lands feature and search by activity.
Not only will you benefit from the fresh air and nature immersion, but your overall fitness and well being will improve as well.
June 2 is National Trails Day and a great day to introduce others to hiking or ask about volunteering to help maintain your favorite trail!
June 17 (Father's Day) is Maine Resident's Day. Maine residents will be admitted free of charge at Maine State Parks and Historic Sites 9 a.m. to closing for day-use*. No rain date will be available. *Exceptions: Acadia National Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW), Baxter State Park, the Maine Wildlife Park (IF&W), Peacock Beach, Scarborough Beach, Swan Island (IF&W), Penobscot River Corridor (PRC) or the Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect, though admission to Fort Knox State Historic Site will be free that day. View the flyer (PDF 310KB)
 Bicycling is a great aerobic activity that builds muscle and bone strength without the chance of pounding on the knees. Mt. Bikes are best for the on-trail riding listed below.
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Androscoggin Riverlands State Park (PDF 1.7MB) - The Old River Road Trail offers 9.5 miles one way and skirts along the river for the mid-section of the ride. The southern most section is technical; best for experienced riders.
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Bigelow Preserve & Flagstaff Lake Public Lands (PDF 2MB) - The Esker Trail is an easy 4.0 mile ungroomed singletrack forested trail that follows the old 1960's haul road. It is built for Mt. Bikes and is maintained by the New England Mt. Bike Association (NEMBA).
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Down East Sunrise Trail (PDF 1.2MB) offers 87 miles from Ellsworth trail addition to Ayers Junction on the old rail bed, now a multiple use trail. Linked guide shows Washington Junction to Ayers Juntion and highlights points of interest along the way.
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Hiking builds muscle and bone strength; improves balance, coordination and cardiovascular function, and is a great stress reliever.
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Camden Hills State Park affords beautiful views of the Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay plus a great variety of hiking trails; short and easy to several miles and moderate to challenging. This park also has a campground. Make reservations through www.CampWithME.com
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Nahmakanta Public Lands (PDF 3 MB) offers a backcountry experience near Nahmakanta and the Debsconeag Lakes plus access to the Appalachian Trail (AT).
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 Paddling strengthens not only the arms but back, hips and legs as well. Switch your paddle to the opposite hand every half hour or so to keep from creating muscle imbalances.
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 Swimming provides a complete aerobic workout without stressing joints. Whether you prefer lake beaches or ocean surf there are many great places to swim in Maine.
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Ferry Beach State Park offers a life guarded swim area on the white sand beach between Camp Ellis and Old Orchard Beach.
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Reid State Park and Popham Beach provide access for ocean swimming. Please note that life vests and personal flotation devices are not permitted on swimmers at these surf beaches; they make it more likely that a strong current will pull the swimmer quickly out to sea.
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Lily Bay State Park (PDF 846KB) offers a swim beach with nearby playground and picnic area on the shore of Moosehead Lake.
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The Junior Ranger Program is offered at three State Parks: Lamoine, Mount Blue, and Sebago Lake. It offers youngsters the opportunity to:
- Have fun discovering the park.
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Observe the animals and plants that live in the park.
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Help the park staff conserve and protect the park.
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Tell others about the wonderful things to see, do and learn at the Park.
To get started, request the Junior Ranger booklet at on your next visit to Lamoine, Mount Blue or Sebago Lake State Parks. The booklet is filled with lots of fun activities to complete as step one of the process. Steps two and three are described in the booklet and a park ranger can get you started on them. Complete all three steps and you will get a Junior Ranger certificate and badge!
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 Moon-pulled water churned
from deep, birthing fog reaching
back through woods and time.
Dramatic tidal ranges and cold waters upwelling to the ocean surface make the Quoddy Head area a remarkable place full of beauty and diverse marine and bird life.
The cold waters generate frequent fog-which in turn influences the area's temperature and forest composition. Fog and a wild coastline also were cause for the construction of historic West Quoddy Head Light in what is now Quoddy Head State Park. This famous candy-striped lighthouse and over 4 miles of trails await visitors at this park in Lubec.
Don’t forget to come prepared for potentially cool coastal air and fog-dampened trails.
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Group shelter, view and gazebo at Moose Point State Park.
Family reunions, weddings, and other gatherings are extra special when held at a Maine State Park.
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 The Maine Conservation Corps (MCC), an AmeriCorps program within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), recently welcomed over 60 new AmeriCorps Members. This brings the total of MCC members serving the State of Maine to over 70. Members come from around the country to serve either on a Field Team in Maine State Parks and Public Lands, or as an Environmental Steward, serving individually with a local agency.
Over the next 6 months, these members will make valuable contributions to the State of Maine by constructing and rehabilitating hundreds of miles of recreational trails, and performing education and outreach to the public on behalf of the host site they are serving.
Project/Host Sites Include:
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge – Wells
- Bradbury Mt. State Park – Pownal
- Mt. Blue State Park – Weld
- Department of Environmental Protection – Augusta/Portland
- The Nature Conservancy – Brunswick
- Baxter State Park – Millinocket
- Wolfe’s Neck Center – Freeport
- Biological Research Institute – Portland
- Moosehead Lake Region – Greenville
- City of South Portland
Field Team and Environmental Stewards on location.
 The Upper Kennebec Region Management Plan has been in the works for more than 18 months and will address the Holeb and Cold Stream Units and more than a dozen smaller lots in northern Somerset County, in total covering over 43,000 acres.
Planning process information and Plan documents are available on the plan webpage:
www.maine.gov/dacf/upper_kennebec.
An Advisory Committee meeting to review and discuss the Draft Plan has been scheduled for Wednesday June 20, at the Quimby Middle School gymnasium in Bingham, beginning at 5:30 PM. The public is welcome to attend and comment on the Plan.
Photo detail: Small waterfall on Cold Stream at the Cold Stream Forest Unit; the Unit was acquired by the State in March 2016 through a partnership with the Trust for Public Land, Trout Unlimited, and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
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Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site
Damariscotta Lake State Park
Holbrook Island Sanctuary
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
Photo detail: Beach in day-use area at Sebago Lake State Park.
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