Strong MaineHIKING TRAILS & PLACES TO HIKE
Listed below are the best hiking trails and places to hike near Strong, Maine.
1. Mount Abraham Fire Warden Trail
CHALLENGING 4000-FOOTER SUMMIT
Mount Abraham Fire Warden Trail offers a challenging day hike leading to one of Maine's 4000-foot peaks with the second largest alpine zone in the state. The well-marked trail features a memorable boulder scramble and rewards hikers with sweeping views from the summit. This traditional non-Appalachian Trail approach climbs the eastern slopes of the mountain, which is part of a Maine state ecological reserve.
2. Bradbury Mountain State Park
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUMMIT VIEWS
Bradbury Mountain State Park features over 24 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding as one of Maine's five original state parks. The summit offers impressive views of Casco Bay, the Portland skyline, and spectacular fall foliage colors. The Northern Loop Trail provides a gradual one-mile ascent to the summit, passing historical sites including a 1920s feldspar quarry and a 19th-century cattle pound.
3. Gulf Hagas Rim Trail
MAINE'S GRAND CANYON
Gulf Hagas Rim Trail takes hikers through what's known as Maine's Grand Canyon, a 2.5-mile section of slate canyon walls up to 400 feet high. This strenuous 10-mile trail follows the West Branch of the Pleasant River as it drops over a series of waterfalls and rapids, descending 500 feet through the gorge. Declared a Registered National Landmark in 1968, this challenging hike can take up to 7 hours to complete but rewards visitors with some of Maine's most dramatic scenery.
4. Sugarloaf Mountain
ICONIC MAINE PEAK
Sugarloaf Mountain offers hikers challenging trails leading to Maine's second-highest peak at 4,237 feet. The mountain provides spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Western Maine mountains and valleys in all seasons. While known primarily as a premier ski destination, Sugarloaf's summer and fall hiking trails attract outdoor enthusiasts seeking a memorable alpine experience.
5. Mt. Blue State Park
DIVERSE MOUNTAIN RECREATION
Mt. Blue State Park encompasses 8,000 acres of diverse terrain with trails for all skill levels in western Maine. Hikers can summit Center Hill for moderate difficulty views or tackle the more challenging Mt. Blue Trail to reach the 3,187-foot peak. The park offers a complete outdoor recreation experience with pristine Webb Lake, camping facilities, and beautiful forests making it a popular year-round destination.
6. Tumbledown Mountain
ALPINE POND SUMMIT
Tumbledown Mountain features several trails of varying difficulty leading to its distinctive three peaks and rare alpine pond. The Loop Trail offers the most challenging route with iron rungs to assist climbers through a chimney section known as Fat Man's Misery. Hikers reaching the 3,068-foot summit are rewarded with spectacular views and the chance to swim in Tumbledown Pond, one of only a dozen alpine ponds in New England.
7. Bigelow Preserve
SCENIC WILDERNESS RANGE
Bigelow Preserve encompasses over 36,000 acres of public land with extensive hiking opportunities along the spectacular Bigelow Mountain Range. The preserve features the Appalachian Trail traversing the ridge of the range, with several peaks exceeding 4,000 feet including Avery Peak and West Peak. Hikers can experience pristine wilderness, remote ponds, and panoramic views of Flagstaff Lake and the surrounding mountains in this carefully protected natural area.
8. Bald Mountain
ACCESSIBLE SUMMIT VIEWS
Bald Mountain offers a relatively short but rewarding hike with a 1.5-mile trail leading to expansive views of the Rangeley Lakes region. The moderate climb through mixed forests culminates at an open summit with a restored fire tower and panoramic vistas of surrounding mountains and lakes. This family-friendly trail makes for a perfect half-day adventure when visiting the Rangeley area, particularly during peak fall foliage season.
9. Mount Kineo
DRAMATIC MOOSEHEAD LAKE PENINSULA
Mount Kineo rises dramatically 800 feet from Moosehead Lake on a peninsula that can only be reached by boat. The mountain features one of the largest formations of rhyolite, a volcanic rock once prized by Native Americans for making tools and arrowheads. Several hiking trails of varying difficulty lead to the summit fire tower, which offers spectacular 360-degree views of Maine's largest lake and the surrounding wilderness.
10. Little Jackson Mountain
CHALLENGING OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TREK
Little Jackson Mountain offers a challenging 8.2-mile round-trip hike with 2,900 feet of elevation gain through less-crowded terrain near Tumbledown Mountain. The trail features a steep, rocky ascent that rewards hikers with spectacular open summit views extending from the White Mountains to Mount Katahdin. This demanding trek provides a wilderness experience with panoramic vistas that rival more popular mountains but typically with far fewer fellow hikers.