One of the prettiest areas Laura and I have visited in Maine is the Belgrade Lakes region. There are many lakes, parks, and plenty of natural beauty to go around. And there’s lots of wonderful hiking as well. Over the past few years, we’ve visited both Great and Long Ponds. We’ve also driven around with the goal of general exploration in mind. In the town of Rome, which is just north of Belgrade, we’ve hiked French’s Hill and Mount Phillip, which were our favorites. In this post, I discuss hiking Mount Phillip; a wonderful hike indeed. I also show off far too many photos. Enjoy! Continue reading…
Houston Brook Falls, Bingham, Maine
Houston Brook Falls is located in Bingham, Maine and is a must visit New England waterfall. Depending on the time of year you visit (which generally dictates the amount of water going over the falls), you may experience either a trickle or a roaring beast. When we hiked the trail to these falls, we were met with heavy mist about 100 yards away. Needless to say, the river was alive that day! Check in to view some photos and video I took of this natural wonder. Continue reading…
Powder House Hill Trails, Farmington, Maine
If you’re looking for a quick hike and you’re in the Farmington, Maine area, consider Bonney Woods. It’s a 10 acre nature trail system that’s close to the heart of town. As a matter of fact, if you park your car near the action on Broadway or Main Street, the walk to Bonney Woods is a short one; just one third of a mile. Once there, you’ll be greeted by trails that are just over a half mile long and hemlock trees that tower over everything. Be sure to bring your camera because there’s a nearby historic cemetery as well as abundant wildlife. Continue reading…
Ship Harbor Trail, Acadia National Park, Maine
The Ship Harbor Trail in Acadia National Park, Maine is one of the most beautiful trails I’ve ever been on. From the start, the scenic views arrive in short order. From the harbor itself to the rocky coast, to the mossy green pine forest, there isn’t much to disappoint even the most discerning of travelers and hikers. There are many lovely and scenic hikes in Maine, but only a handful combine the coastline with the wonder of the forest like this one does. It’s a gem. In this post, I show off some of my many photos of this natural wonder and write about my adventure. Click through to see it all. Continue reading…
French’s Mountain Trail, Rome, Maine
French’s Mountain Trail in Rome is an extraordinary adventure that’ll lead you through some beautiful forest to the top of a mountain that overlooks two ponds in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine. The best part of the hike is that it’s less than a mile long, so if you don’t have a lot of time, but are interested in some stunning scenery, this one’s for you. French’s Mountain is actually one of my favorite hikes in Maine; I have yet to find another that offers what the top of this mountain does. As you browse through my photos in this post, I think you’ll see exactly what I’m referring to. Choose a nice clear autumn day and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Continue reading…
Bangor City Forest, Maine
The Bangor City Forest is huge. It covers more than 680 acres and offers over nine miles of trails for walking, biking, and horseback riding. While you can’t ride horseback on all nine miles, there’s plenty of room to do so. When Laura and I visited this trail system, we were primarily interested in the bog section. Within the system is a boardwalk that’s just about three-quarters of a mile long. It traverses the bog. The bog itself covers just about 616 acres (not all of the bog is in the forest) and is over 10,000 years old. If you’ve never seen a bog close up, I recommend doing so. It’s quite the experience. Click through to view some photos I’ve taken of our visits to this area. Continue reading…
Pico Ridge Hike, Industry, Maine
Getting to Pico Ridge requires a short hike up a small mountain located in Industry, Maine. The hike is only around a third of a mile long and the incline is relatively gentle. When you arrive at the ridge (a cliff), you’ll enjoy a wonderful view over Clearwater Lake all the way to the Record Hill Wind Farm in Roxbury. On a clear day, you may even see the White Mountains in New Hampshire. More close by mountains include Mt. Blue, Mt. Abraham, Saddleback Mountain, and Tumbledown Mountain. During our hike to this ridge, we took in the views and captured some beautiful images. Continue reading…
Reed Brook Falls (Jericho Steps), Maine
The Reed Brook Falls trail and Jericho Steps in a very cool natural area located in Kingfield, Maine (just south of Carrabassett Valley). If you’re looking for an easy hike that’s only about .6 miles long and something that can be handled well by children, you may want to give this one a try. The trail was created and is maintained by a fellow called Carrabassett Jack and is super fun because of all its signage and bridges. The falls at the end of the trail are an extra special treat. If you hike on a day after some rain or during a wetter time of year, you’ll see quite the show. Be sure to respect all the hard work that’s gone into creating the atmosphere, as it obviously took a long time to complete. During our visit, Laura and I were surprised at all the enjoyment this short excursion provided. Click through to read about our adventure and to see lots of pictures of the trail and falls, from bottom to top. Continue reading…
Center Hill Nature Trail, Mount Blue State Park, Maine
Mount Blue State Park is huge. It covers 7,489 acres and is located in Weld, Maine, which is in Franklin County. There’s a lot to do in the park, from swimming and boating in Webb Lake to camping and hiking in designated areas. What’s interesting about the park is that it isn’t contiguous, but rather bifurcated. Part of the park includes Mount Blue itself and land to the west of it, but it also includes a section of land that touches the western shore of the lake. These two sections don’t touch one another and it’s in the smaller area along the lake that the primary campground can be found. There are many different areas to hike within the park and I’m sure we’ll get to all of them at some point. In this post, I share the story of how Laura and I hiked the Center Hill Nature Trail, which is only a half mile long. It’s got some great western views though, so if you plan on making this trip, you might want to consider watching the sunset from the cliff. It’s a beautiful area and one that we’ll surely return to. Continue reading…
Blackledge River, Marlborough, Connecticut
The Blackledge River that flows through Marlborough and Hebron, Connecticut is a lovely river Laura and I hiked alongside quite often during our time in the area. Within a few steps of our home, we were able to access a trail system that skirted the water for a good portion of its overall distance. I remember those walks well. We’d do some wandering through the tree lined pathways until we were up and over the hill. Then, we’d make our way down to the river to see that sparkling water and those stone walls that had become so familiar to us. The area in which we hiked was far away from the hustle and bustle of civilization – perhaps that’s why we enjoyed it so much. Click through to see some photos we took during one particular outing near this wonderful place. Continue reading…