With the temperature finally rising, we are all itching to leave campus and explore the beautiful state that we’re in. You and your buddies are probably dying to go back to Acadia after COOT. Or you might be planning a trip down to Popham Beach during reading week, to sunbathe or take a dip in the ocean. But let’s be real here: we are in the most heavily forested state, with over 3,400 miles of Atlantic coastline. There are countless parks, hiking trails, and beaches that only a seasoned resident would know. So, I asked the experts: The Maine-iacs. And we are ready to un-gatekeep some of our favorite spots.
My recommendation: Wolfe’s Neck State Park in Freeport, Maine. Wolfe’s Neck is my favorite coastal hike. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic on the rocks while watching the tide crash against the beach. Visitors embark on a short hike down through the woods to the rocky coast. Plus, the bathroom situation is relatively tolerable—a hot commodity at any state park.
Mia is a local from Kennebec Valley who was super excited to share their favorite hike: Western Head Preserve. The trail is in a little coastal town called Cutler, Maine, about three hours east of campus. Mia discusses the beautiful scenery in detail: “It’s a quick hike, but it’s got a really lovely little beach segment. The green of the moss and the red of the brush are super vivid in the fog (as well as some incredibly bright yellow lichen, depending on the season!) The sound of the tides changing is awe-inspiring.”
Lora is a mathematics major at Colby. She also happens to be a bona fide Mainer. She grew up in Woolwich. Her favorite hike is the Giant Stairs Trail in Harpswell. The town of Harpswell is on Bailey Island, about an hour south of Waterville, and half an hour away from Brunswick. Lora says, “It’s a beautiful part of the rocky coast where you can watch for seals, see the crashing waves, and climb around on the rocks.” Lora also points out that the Giant Stairs Trail is usually not busy at all. “It’s breathtaking. It’s even better on rainy days because the waves are insane.”
Don is a lifelong resident of Maine. He worked for the state’s Department of Forestry for about 40 years. As a result, Don grew to know (and love) dozens of state parks. One of his favorites is Grafton Notch State Park in Newry, Maine. The park is about two hours west of Colby. The hiking trails follow about 12 of the hardest miles of the Appalachian Trail, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry website. The park has breathtaking views of mountain streams cascading down the rocks. Don loves to tell the story of when his youngest daughter, just three years old at the time, had the most endurance of all her siblings on their family hike.
Oliver Beardsley, a photography major at Colby, has lived in Pownal, Maine, for most of his life. His outdoorsy upbringing led to his passion for examining people’s interactions with their environment through photography. Oliver grew up near to Bradbury Mountain State Park—a woodland hike about an hour south of Colby. He says his upbringing “makes [him] appreciate having natural spaces near where people live.” The mountain was an escape for him and a place to engage in outdoor recreation such as mountain biking. Or, as Oliver highlighted, frog catching. “There are some really cool beaver bogs, and I used to look for frogs there growing up!”
Bohdi is a childcare worker and a lifelong Maine resident. He currently lives in China, Maine. His favorite spot is Peak’s Kenney State Park in Dover-Foxcroft, about an hour north of Colby. Peaks-Kenney boasts plentiful hiking trails, camping spots, and a beautiful beach on Sebec Lake. Bohdi loves how the woods are full of life: “There are moss-covered rocks, and lots of wildlife.” His grew up camping at Peaks-Kenney, and says it’s his favorite spot because of the lake. “The lake is super clear, and is a great place to canoe or kayak, because you can see all the fish!”
It is clear that Mainers, including myself, possess a great pride in our beautiful state. There is truly something for everyone in the state parks of Maine, whether that be a light hike, a dip in a large body of water on a hot day, or a memorable camping trip with your best friends.
Please make sure to pick up your trash and any belongings—leave no trace!
For more places to explore in Maine, visit the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry website: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/about/state_parks.shtml
~ Alayna Blier `26
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