Animal lovers also enjoy visiting the mountains and state parks in this Northern state because there is a huge variety of wildlife living in the mountains. Moose, which are the state animal, are often found in the plains of Maine. In the mountains of Maine you can find black tailed deer, black bears, and Canada lynx. And if you keep your eyes on the skies you just might see some bald eagles soaring in search of prey.
10 Mountains In Maine
It’s hard to choose the best mountains in Maine when there are so many stunning mountains in Maine to pick from. These mountains are not all very tall but they are some of the most beautiful mountains for hiking in Maine:
Mount Katahdin
Located in: Baxter State Park Height: 5,267 feet Nearby City: Millinocket Known For: Mount Katahdin is one of the most famous mountains in the country. It’s the northernmost point of the Appalachian Trail and usually it is the end of the trail. Technically hikers can start at Mount Katahdin and hike to Georgia or start in Georgia and hike to Mount Katahdin. Most thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail choose to start in Georgia in the early spring and hike towards Mount Katahdin. There’s a lot of prestige in finishing the Trail and ending up at the summit of Mount Katahdin. Katahdin is also the tallest mountain in Maine. It soars over a mile up into the sky and looks over the scenic beauty of Baker State Park. It’s possible to complete a day hike from the base to the summit but there are also trails like the one that begins at Trout Brook which take multiple days if you prefer a longer hike.
Old Speck Mountain
Located in: Grafton Notch State Park Height: 4,180 feet Nearby City: Newry Known For: Old Speck Mountain is one of the less-traveled mountains in Maine but it has some truly spectacular views. If you love to hike but don’t want to deal with crowds Old Speck is a mountain you should check out. The trail to the summit of Old Speck is about 7.5 miles out and back. Even in warmer weather this mountain can have patches of snow and ice because of the elevation so you should bring climbing spikes or shoes fitted with ice spikes if you’re going to hike to the summit. It’s a great trail for hiking and for snowshoeing if you want to brave the cold and snow of a Maine winter. The views from the summit in the winter are nothing short of stunning. There is an observation tower at the summit to give you the best possible view of the Grafton Notch State Park wilderness below the mountain.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Located in: Carabassett Valley Height: 4,240 feet Nearby City: Wilton Known For: Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine is home to one of the most popular ski resorts in the country. Ask any skier if they have ever skied Sugarloaf and they will know exactly what you are talking about. In the winter this mountain is packed with people enjoying some world-class skiing, skating, and snowboarding. Experienced hikers may also want to give some winter trekking a try. Sugarloaf isn’t just popular in the winter. During the spring and summer when the conditions aren’t right for skiing there is plenty of hiking to be done on Sugarloaf Mountain and camping in nearby Baxter State Park. Moose watching is a fun summertime activity on Sugarloaf Mountain. So is hiking up to the summit to see gorgeous views that can be obscured by snow in the winter. If you’re planning on hiking to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain be prepared to scramble. The only trail to the summit is accessed through Caribous Valley Road where the Appalachian Trail hits the road and the trail to the summit begins.
Saddleback Mountain
Located in: Rangeley Lakes Height: 4,116 feet Nearby City: Rangeley Known For: Saddleback Mountain is another popular skiing destination. From the ski resort on Saddleback Mountain it’s a challenging 5 mile hike to the summit. Hikers can also start at the bottom of the mountain and hike all the way up to the summit. But, the hike is not really appropriate for beginners. There is a fair bit of rock scrambling necessary to get to the top. Saddleback Mountain sits near Saddleback Horn, which is made up of a special type of rock called Redington Pluton that some experts say is more than 400 million years old. The Appalachian Trail runs across the entire summit of the mountain on its way to Katahdin, which is not that far away. One of the unusual things about Saddleback Mountain is the number of strange rock formations that are found on the mountain. Anyone hiking through the mountains on food is bound to come across some fascinating natural rock formations that pop up all over the mountain.
Mount Redington
Located in: Carabassett Valley Height: 4,010 feet Nearby City: Kingfield Known For: Mount Redington is one of the tallest mountains in Maine, but you can’t get to the summit of this mountain. There are only two mountains in Maine that have an elevation over 4,000 ft that don’t have a maintained or marked trail to the summit of the mountain and Mount Redington is one. Owl’s Head is the other mountain that has no maintained or marked trail to the summit. The Appalchian Trail should pass right over the top of Mount Redington but the AT actually goes around this mountain instead of over it. If you do want to try and get to the top of Mount Redington there is a rough trail that has been created by other hikers that will give you a vague path to follow. However, you will be bushwhacking and scrambling your way to the top and you must have a great GPS with you because there are no marked trails and no easy to walk maintained trails. You will be on your own making your own way to the summit. If you make it to the top look for the white canister strapped to a tree. You can leave your name and your thoughts about the trek to the top for future hikers to read and you can immortalize your climb to the summit of Mount Redington.
Mount Abram
Located in: Carabassett Valley Height: 4,049 feet Nearby City: Kingfield Known For: Mount Abram, which is also called Mount Abraham, is not a suitable hike for beginner hikers. In order to get to the summit hikers have to cross the second largest Alpine field in Maine which is more than 350 acres of cold, snow, ice, and rocks. It’s tough climb even for experienced hikers. In the winter months or during bad weather the trail to the summit is almost totally exposed with no shelter and hikers need to be prepared and be careful. It’s absolutely essential to look for the blue trail markers and make sure that you stay on the trail. The primary trail to the summit is the Fire Warden Trail and it’s very well marked below the tree line. Once you get above the tree line it can be difficult to find the trail markers. If you make it to the summit the reward is some dazzling 360 degree views of the entire Hike Peaks region of main and stunning views of other mountains in Maine. There is also a side trail from the summit that will lead to the Appalachian Trail.
Cadillac Mountain
Located in: Acadia National Park Height: 1,530 feet Nearby City: Town Hill Known For: Cadillac Mountain is far from being one of the tallest mountains in Maine but it does have the most unique claim to fame of any mountain in Maine. From October through early March the summit of Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the Continental United States to get daylight each day. If you can make the trek to be on the summit when that daylight hits it’s really a once in a lifetime experience. And you probably won’t be alone. Thousands of people make the journey to Cadillac Mountain during the winter months to enjoy the experience. Because it’s such a popular destination it’s easy to get to the summit of Cadillac Mountain even though this mountain is on an island. There is a paved road that goes all the way the summit and a big observation area at the top. There are also gift shops, restrooms, and places to get coffee, breakfast, and other refreshments. If you’re going to drive on Cadillac Mountain you will need a reservation though because they limit the number of cars allowed at certain times of the day. You can also hike to the top of the mountain or ride a bike.
Doubletop Mountain
Located in: Baxter State Park Height: 3,489 feet Nearby City: Millinocket Known For: Doubletop Mountain is a great place for people who want to practice snow and ice hiking because the elevation isn’t high, but the trails do get plenty of ice and snow. Even into the late spring portions of the trail will be covered with ice and snow. Bring your spikes and snowshoes and you can get in some great practice on dealing with wintery hiking conditions. But you should probably avoid hiking this mountain in the winter unless you are well prepared for temperatures that can go to -30 or more. The most popular time of the year for hiking on Doubletop Mountain is May through September. The trail from the base to the summit is just over eight miles out and back. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but because the conditions can be rough it can feel a lot longer. You can access the trail that leads to the summit at Fosters Field where there is also a great spot to camp.
Mansell Mountain
Located in: Acadia National Park Height: 949 feet Nearby City: Town Hill Known For: Mansell Mountain is a stunning hike. Hiking on Mansell Mountain is suitable for beginners as well as more advanced hikers looking for an easy day hike. This mountain, or tall high really, is located on Mount Desert Island in the beautiful Acadia National Park. It’s an easy two mile trek to the top. From there is a main trail that goes all the way around the mountain so you can stop on any side of the mountain to get gorgeous views. The trail is easy to walk. And there are stone steps at tough inclines so that you don’t need to do any rock scrambling. But, hikers recommend doing the trail around the mountain in the clockwise direction. That way you aren’t having to do the stairs when you’re already tired. Summer is a great time of the year to do this hike, but if you don’t mind slightly colder temperatures the view of the autumn riots of color in the trees makes it worth it to wait and complete this hike in the fall.
Mount Kineo
Located in: Moosehead Lake Height: 1,789 feet Nearby City: Rockwell Known For: Mount Kineo has a unique location right on the shores of one of the largest lakes in the entire country, Moosehead Lake. Getting to the top is easy on either the Bridle Trail or the Indian Head Trail. Both trails are easy for anyone, including children. If you have been searching for a destination hike that can include the entire family the Moosehead Lake experience is the one you’ve been looking for.
10 Tallest Mountains In Maine
Mount KatahdinSugarloaf MountainOld Speck MountainCrocker MountainBigelow MountainNorth Brother MountainSaddleback MountainMount AbramThe HornMount Redington
Highest Point In Maine
Mount Katahdin – 5,267 feet
Up Next
The 5 Best Fish to Catch in MaineDiscover the 9 Largest Animals in MaineThe 5 Best Places to Camp in Maine
From October through early March the summit of Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the Continental United States to get daylight each day. What is unique about Saddleback Mountain? Saddleback Mountain sits near Saddleback Horn, which is made up of a special type of rock called Redington Pluton that some experts say is more than 400 million years old.
