When it comes to outdoor recreation, Maine pretty much has it all. Maine has become a favorite destination for
canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts as well as those who love to hit the trail. There are literally hundreds of miles
of rivers and streams as well as countless lakes and ponds to explore. The hiking trails throughout the Pine Tree State
will keep any hiker engaged - whether they are interested in hiking the mountains, forests, or along the coast.
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway was established by the Maine Legislature in 1966 to preserve, protect, and enhance
the natural beauty, character, and habitat of a unique area. It is a magnificent, 92-mile-long ribbon of lakes,
ponds, rivers, and streams winding through the heart of northern Maine's vast commercial forests.
For more than a century "The Allagash" has been praised and enjoyed as a sportsman's paradise. Many famous
people, including Henry David Thoreau, have enjoyed its beauty and come away filled with determination to protect
it for future generations. The people of Maine have made this dream possible. The State of Maine, through the
Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Conservation, seeks to ensure that this area will be maintained
forever as a place of solace and refuge from the pressures of society.
Protection of the Waterway was further enhanced in 1970 when it was named the first state-administered component
of the National Wild and Scenic River System. There are no permanent human residents in this area, and visitors
show respect and care by leaving the fewest possible signs of their presence.
Baxter State Park
Hiking trails are the heart and soul of Baxter State Park and the Park has over 200 miles of hiking trails in some of the
wildest and most spectacular terrain in New England. Some of the trails are over 100 years old and the Park provides a
variety of hiking trails from an easy hike to Big and Little Niagara Falls to a strenuous all-day climb to Baxter Peak.
The Park was intended by Percival Baxter to be "available for those who love nature and are willing to walk and make an
effort to get close to nature." The hiking trails are very primitive, with many rocks and roots, even on the flattest
terrain. Visitors should have sturdy footwear and be prepared for obstacles including boulders and stream crossings.
Please consult an up-to-date map for elevation gains or stream crossings on trails. As a wilderness Park, bridges are
rarely found across streams.