Greenbush MaineHIKING TRAILS & PLACES TO HIKE
Listed below are the best hiking trails and places to hike near Greenbush, Maine.
1. Coastal Trail
SCENIC COASTAL WILDERNESS
The Coastal Trail is a challenging 5.2-mile route that offers spectacular views of Maine's rugged coastline. Hikers will experience significant elevation changes with 679 feet of ascent and 774 feet of descent throughout the journey. The trail provides an immersive natural experience that showcases the diverse ecosystems of coastal Maine.
2. French Mountain Trail
MODERATE MOUNTAIN ASCENT
French Mountain Trail is a 0.9-mile hiking path that provides a moderate elevation gain of 209 feet. The trail offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape with a slightly challenging terrain that most hikers can manage. Visitors will appreciate the natural beauty and relatively short distance that makes it perfect for a half-day adventure.
3. Sundew Nature Trail
FAMILY-FRIENDLY NATURE LOOP
Sundew Nature Trail is a gentle 0.7-mile loop that's perfect for families and casual hikers. The trail features modest elevation changes with 43 feet of ascent and 69 feet of descent, making it accessible for most fitness levels. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the diverse plant life and potential wildlife sightings along this serene path.
4. Rockland Breakwater Path
HISTORIC HARBOR WALK
Rockland Breakwater Path offers a unique 1-mile walking experience along a historic granite breakwater extending into Penobscot Bay. The path features minimal elevation change with just 1 foot of ascent, making it accessible for hikers of all abilities. Visitors will enjoy panoramic ocean views and the opportunity to see Rockland Harbor Lighthouse at the end of the breakwater.
5. Beehive Trail
THRILLING CLIFF ADVENTURE
Beehive Trail is one of Acadia National Park's most exhilarating hiking experiences, featuring iron rungs and steep cliff faces. This challenging trail rewards hikers with breathtaking panoramic views of Sand Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its relatively short length, the trail's exposed sections and vertical climbs make it suitable only for experienced hikers without a fear of heights.
6. Ocean Path
SCENIC COASTAL WALK
Ocean Path is a spectacular trail that follows the eastern shoreline of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park. The path offers stunning views of the rugged Maine coastline, with numerous opportunities to explore tide pools and granite outcroppings. Hikers of all abilities can enjoy this relatively flat trail that connects popular attractions like Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff.
7. Cadillac North Ridge Trail
SUMMIT MOUNTAIN VIEWS
Cadillac North Ridge Trail offers hikers a direct route to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The trail provides spectacular views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Porcupine Islands as it steadily climbs through mixed forests and over pink granite ledges. At the summit, hikers are rewarded with a 360-degree panorama that is especially magical at sunrise when the first rays of light touch the United States.
8. Precipice Trail
DARING VERTICAL CLIMB
Precipice Trail is Acadia National Park's most challenging and thrilling hiking route, featuring iron rungs, ladders, and narrow ledges along exposed cliff faces. The trail ascends nearly 1,000 vertical feet in less than a mile, offering heart-stopping views and an adrenaline-pumping experience. This non-technical climbing route is frequently closed during peregrine falcon nesting season, typically reopening in late summer.
9. Streaked Mountain Trail
CHALLENGING PANORAMIC SUMMIT
Streaked Mountain Trail is a short but challenging hike that rewards adventurers with fantastic views of the Oxford Hills, White Mountains, and Presidential Range. The trail rises approximately 700 feet in its half-mile ascent, with the latter portion traversing a steep granite face that offers continuous scenic views. Hikers should exercise caution in wet weather when the granite becomes slick or in autumn when fallen leaves can obscure the loose, uneven footing on the lower section.
10. Bethel Community Forest Trails
WILDLIFE WATCHING PARADISE
Bethel Community Forest Trails offer a network of hiking paths managed by Inland Woods + Trails that loop through the picturesque Bethel Community Forest and Bingham Forest. These trails are especially noted for their excellent wildlife watching opportunities in a serene woodland setting. Visitors can enjoy varying difficulty levels while experiencing the natural beauty of western Maine's forests and potentially spotting local wildlife species.