The BEST HIKING TRAILS IN CAMDEN MAINE

With miles and miles of hiking trails and the open ocean, we have lots of space to SOCIAL DISTANCE!

Camden Hills State Park Offers the Best Hiking Trails in Camden, Maine

Overlooking Penobscot Bay and Camden Harbor along Maine’s distinctive rocky coast, Camden Hills State Park is a 5,710-acre park featuring high peaks, panoramic views, and campgrounds with awe-inspiring glimpses of Maine islands in the distance. On a clear day, you can see as far as Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. Camden Hills State Park is located on US Route 1 just north of the quaint New England Camden downtown with walkable Main Street shops near the harbor.

The park offers year-round recreational activities, including hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and camping, from 9:00 am to sunset. Day-use fees are collected year-round by park rangers stationed at the entrance gates, with special discounts offered for Maine senior citizens and all children.

Camden Hills State Park is home to an impressive network of 20 trails officially rated from “easy” to “moderate,” although some are fairly strenuous for even the most experienced hikers. Most of the park’s trails are open for multi-use recreation, but hiking is by far the most popular activity at the park. During this time of getting back to normal, it is important to recognize the  many mental and physical health benefits of hiking, such as improved balance, strengthened muscles, improved cardiovascular and pulmonary health, lowered stress, and improved mood. A pristine natural setting like Camden Hills State Park is an ideal place for releasing tension through exercise and exposure to the outdoors. Some studies have shown that “forest bathing,” or deep exposure to green spaces, can boost our moods and even strengthen our immune systems.

Below is our list of popular trails to hike for a rejuvenating nature experience at Camden Hills State Park.

1. Maiden Cliff Trail – 1 Mile (Each Way), Moderate

For a short day hike, take on the 50-foot ascent through the forest to cliffs towering over Megunticook Lake. The trail starts off gradually, but about halfway through the climb steepens. At the top of the 800-foot cliff, an imposing steel cross marks the place of 11-year-old Elenora French, who fell off the cliff to her ill-fated death in 1862. Access this trail from Rt 52 across from Megunticook Lake.

2. The Carriage & Carriage Road Trails – 0.5 Mile (Each Way) & 0.8 Mile (Each Way), Moderate

A brief hike, the Carriage Trail steadily rises through the forest for half a mile. It then intersects with the Carriage Road Trail, a slightly more strenuous uphill hike paralleling an old carriage road to the summit of Mount Battie. This is a great beginners trail or child friendly trail. Access these trails from Rt 52, approximately 1.5 miles from the downtown.

3. Mount Battie Trail – 0.5 Mile (Each Way), Moderate

Although the Mount Battie Trail is a relatively short half-mile, it is a challenging route suited for the experienced hiker with appropriate gear for steep pitches and a few brief rock scrambles. The difficult climb to the top rewards hikers who rise to the challenge with incredible views over Camden and Penobscot Bay, which are enhanced even further by ascending the Mount Battie Memorial Tower, an old stone tower with a spiral staircase leading to a scenic overlook with spectacular panoramic views.

After a day of hiking, come back to the Camden Riverhouse Hotel and properties and relax in one of our common areas, by the real wood firepit, or in the privacy of your room. Our location is right downtown, so no need to get in a car for dinner. Leisurely stroll to Main Street to nourish yourself and prepare for another day of hiking.

Stay at the best location hotel in Camden Maine, the Camden Riverhouse Hotel. Walking distance to everything! No need to enjoy MidCoast Maine from Home anymore!

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