Camping Gems - Maine

Maine Island Trail
You can spend a day, a week, or a month exploring the 350-mile long Maine Island Trail -- a "water trail" that's meant for kayaks and canoes, not hiking boots.  Running up the coast between Portland's Casco Bay and the border with Canada, this trail runs past rocky shores and open bays where you'll find seals, bald eagles, and shorebirds.

Bradbury Mountain State Park
Head to the deep woods! This 610-acre forested park is the perfect place for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. In the winter, bring your snowmobile, cross-country skiis, or snow shoes (rentals are available).  Be sure to catch the leaves changing color in the fall. (on Route 9 about halfway between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn)

Kennebec River Rail Trail
Walkers, runners, bikers, and cross-country skiiers -- Maine has a new trail for you!  Thanks to state efforts and volunteer labor, a paved trail now follows the Kennebec River between Augusta and Gardiner.  The 6.5-mle trail makes a perfect afternoon bike ride.  If you like, volunteer to help complete and continue the trail.

Rockland
Maine's midcoast is famous for its rocky inlets and coves.  Rockland offers sailing cruises, fabulous kayaking and canoeing, a charming shopping district, and a lively arts scene.  Most importantly, it's the site of the annual Maine Lobster Festival, held in late July and early August. 

Maine Wildlife Park
Bears, moose, lynx, raccoons -- where can you see all these animals?  At the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. More than 25 different species (that were injured or orphaned) call this park home.  Visitors can see barred and great horned owls, hawks, bears, and much more.  The park is open from mid-April to Veteran's day. (9:30 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. Visitors must exit the park by 6:00 p.m.)

Baxter State Park
The massive size of Baxter State Park is enough to lure any visitor who values quiet woods and secluded lakes. This park includes several mountains, among them the massive Mount Katahdin.  Hike to the waterfalls, watch for birds and wildlife, or explore the trails on your mountain bike. This is also a rock climbing hot spot.

Orr’s Island
It doesn't get more remote than camping on an island that's in Casco Bay, one of Maine's most picturesque. Set in a string of 47 islands (some of which are uninhabited), this is a terrific place to explore by water, paddling into secluded bays and coves.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad &  Museum
All aboard! Take a ride aboard antique rail cars that are pulled by hard-working steam and diesel locomotives. From your train, you'll see spectacular views of 19th century forts, lighthouses and the islands of Casco Bay.  Be sure to explore the museum for a bit of railroad history.

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
Scattered along 50 miles of coastline in York and Cumberland counties, the refuge consists of ten divisions between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth and will contain approximately 9,125 acres when land acquisition is complete. Watch for sea and shore birds, raptors, and wild mammals of all kinds.

Cobscook Bay
As well as being a romantic get-away spot, Cobscook Bay is famous among bird watchers as a birding hot spot. This is the home of the annual Down East Spring Birding Festival that takes place over the Memorial Day Weekend.  Visitors can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, fishing, golfing, hunting, bicycling, lighthouse watching, lobsters, snowmobiling and snow-shoeing, and whale watching.