Maine’s a beaut. Ain’t no doubt about it. She’s smart, too, and has quite the personality, but we can’t help stopping to stare at her rocky coast, cascading falls, and miles of mountaintops. No matter where you go in this state, there’s something unique to gawk at, but we’ve culled together a list of just some of the finest spots to get an eyeful of Maine.

Items are listed randomly.

Timber Point Trail, Biddeford

www.fws.org/RachelCarson | Google Map

Part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, the Timber Point Trail winds 1.4 miles between the Little River and Curtis Cove, giving visitors alternating views of salt marsh, forest, mudflats and the rocky and Atlantic coast. Bring binoculars to better view the migratory birds – and the views. For a different perspective, take a paddle between the point and Timber Island, just offshore.

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FILED UNDER: York-County, Hiking, Paddling | Show-All



Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center

www.maineaudubon/scarboroughmarsh.org | Google Map

The beauty here is not just for the eyes – there’s also a healthy dose for the ears as the tide ebbs, birds call and marsh grass flutters in the breeze. Try a nature trail, rent a canoe or kayak or put your own in to paddle the maze of waterways that make up the 3,100-acre estuary. Whether the sun is glistening on the ripples of high tide or the footprints of egrets and herons are displayed in the mud of low tide, there’s plenty explore.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Hiking, Paddling | Show-All



Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park

nps.gov/acadia | Google Map

Quaint carriage roads deliver you to the 3.3-mile Shore Trail that allows visitors to this Acadia National Park icon to hike just feet from the water. The glacier-formed tarn is said to have a visibility depth of more than 40 feet and is framed by the North and South Bubbles. Enjoy the contrast of cool blue against the vivid green vegetation in summer or save your trip for the Kaleidoscope of colors that come in the fall.

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FILED UNDER: Hancock-County, Knox-County, Hiking | Show-All



Fort Foster, Kittery

www.kitteryme.gov/fort-foster-park | Google Map

Settle in on the rocky beach or in the grassy areas near some of the remaining parts of Kittery’s WWII military fortress and enjoy views of the Piscataqua River. Check out the concrete pier that stretches into the water near the remains of submarine net cribs that lead to picturesque Wood Island, home to a refurbished 1908 life saving station.

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FILED UNDER: York-County, Beach, Swimming | Show-All



Fort Allen Park, Portland

portland.gov/fort-allen-park | Google map

Parking your picnic blanket on this 10-acre path of green on Portland’s East End can cause your head to swivel. To the left you’ll have a view of Mackworth Island and the sailboats that float along off East End Beach. Behind you stand some of the city’s most stately historic homes. And ahead will be the brilliant blue of Portland Harbor, complete with sightings of Fort Gorges, South Portland’s Bug Light and several Casco Bay Islands. Gaze. Relax. Enjoy.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Parks | Show-All



Rangeley Lake

www.maine.gov | Google Map

You can see this huge patch of blue from many parts of Rangeley, but it’s so much better to be on it. Preferably with a paddle in hand. The seat of a canoe or kayak provides the best vantage point to admire the expanse of the lake, surrounded by expansive mountains. Stick to the shoreline for views of impressive camps and homes or maneuver around Narramantic Island just a short paddle from the edge of the state park.

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FILED UNDER: Franklin-County, Swimming, Paddling, Beach, Camping | Show-All



Quoddy Head State Park

www.maine.gov | Google map

Home to red-and-white striped West Quoddy Head Light, Quoddy Head State Park stretches over 541 acres in picturesque Lubec. It’s the eastermmost point of land in the U.S. and, around the equinoxes, is the first spot in the country to see the sunrise. Be on the lookout for whales frolicking as you gaze out to the rolling Atlantic.

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FILED UNDER: Washington-County, Lighthouse, Parks | Show-All



Screw Auger Falls

www.mainetrailfinder.com/screwaugerfalls | Google map

Take a walking path from Route 26 to this natural wonder in Grafton Notch State Park. The 23-foot waterfall follows a narrow gorge along the Bear River and offers shallow wading pools. The best view of the falls is from the rock ledge overlooking the gorge.

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FILED UNDER: Oxford-County, Waterfalls | Show-All



Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land

www.maine.gov | Google map

A visit to Cutler Coast is an adventure filled with variety. Find blueberry barrens, woodlands and peatlands in 12,234 acres, along with 4.5 miles of headlands. Explore pocket coves and enjoy sightings of many species of birds. Sightings of seals, porpoises and whales aren’t uncommon during summer and fall.

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FILED UNDER: Washington-County, Hiking, Camping | Show-All



Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

www.mainegardens.org | Google map

Already one of the country’s most distinguished botanical destinations, CMBG is still a youngster after opening in 2007. New elements are added each year and blooms are present nearly until the snow flies. With trails and forests included in the layout, the non-profit is open year-round. The winter Gardens Aglow event is a must-see.

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FILED UNDER: Lincoln-County, Hiking | Show-All



Land’s End, Bailey Island

Facebook.com/BaileyIslandMaine | Google Map

The views along the drive are almost as good as the end result as you travel the length of Orr’s Island and across the famous cribstone bridge to your destination. You can grab a chair on the deck of the Land’s End Gift Shop, but the better spot is on the rocks that stretch out to the ocean. Watch the gulls, admire the boats, soak in some sun. You may have to leave when the tide creeps in, but you won’t want to.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Beach | Show-All



Two Lights State Park

www.maine.gov | Google map

Forty-one acres of rocky headlands make up the Cape Elizabeth park where rolling surf combines with sweeping views of Casco Bay and the Atlantic beyond. Stroll the small beach area or through the grasses atop the cliffs or climb along the rocks with a lighthouse in view.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Lighthouse, Beach, Parks | Show-All



Popham Beach State Park

www.maine.gov | Google map

For a great view of the sandy beach and dunes, walk to neighboring Fox Island at low tide. Popham is bordered by both the Kennebec and Morse rivers and, in addition to Fox, Wood Island can also be seen from the shore. A stroll along the edge of the Atlantic may result in a treasure trove of shells and sand dollars.

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FILED UNDER: Sagadahoc-County, Beach, Swimming, Paddling, Parks | Show-All



Table Rock

www.maine.gov | Google map

The hike to Table Rock, a granite ledge overlook, is short but challenging, and the views of Grafton Notch State Park are amazing. The park, located near Newry, contains 12 of the toughest miles of the Appalachian Trail and is a favorite destination of birdwatchers.

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FILED UNDER: Oxford-County, Hiking | Show-All



Hamlin Peak, Baxter State Park

4000footers.com/Hamlin | Google Map

It takes some work to get to the 4,756-foot summit of Maine’s No. 2 peak but oh the sights you’ll see: Baxter Peak and Knife’s Edge across the way, Chimney Pond down below, and the dizzying Great and North basins, which sit on either side of Hamlin Ridge Trail. While everyone else crowds the other peak for their Katahdin summit photo, enjoy your quiet time taking in the expansive views of mountains and valleys, sky and clouds as far as you can see.

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FILED UNDER: Piscataquis-County, Hiking, Camping | Show-All



Tumbledown Mountain

alltrails.com/tumbledown-mountain | Google map

Packing for the trek to this mountain summit should include swimming attire as the bonus of tackling Tumbledown is a dip in chilly pond, which sits just below the summit. Tumbledown offers views of cliff faces, bald ridges and closely-clustered peaks including Parker Ridge and Little Jackson. But the pond is the big draw and it’s easy to linger near its edge, admiring where you are and how you got there.

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FILED UNDER: Franklin-County, Hiking, Swimming | Show-All



Wells Reserve at Laudholm

www.wellsreserve.org | Google Map

Your $6 entry fee goes a long at the reserve where easy-to-navigate trails lead through fields and woods to the edge of the marshland, rivers and to the rocky edge of Barrier Beach. The trails are always open – think walking when the leaves turn and snowshoes when the flakes fall. See the sights on a guided walk or kayak tour or visit for during the annual nature crafts festival in September.

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FILED UNDER: York-County, Beach, Hiking | Show-All



Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

lighthouse.cc/pemaquid | Google map

The impressive lighthouse was selected by residents to represent Maine in the 50 State Quarters Program and is one of the most photographed on the Maine coast. The scenic landscape of the park includes exposed bedrock stretching to the sea and visitors can lounge on the rocks with the Atlantic below.

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FILED UNDER: Lincoln-County, Lighthouse | Show-All



Kettle Cove

Google map

Sit on sand and gaze out to sea or sit on grass and take in the sights of Crescent Beach State Park. Sunsets are inspiring here and those relaxing can often watch local paddleboarders easing along atop the water.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Beach, Swimming, Paddling | Show-All



Monhegan Island

monheganwelcome.com | Google map

Located 12 miles off the coast, Monhegan Island is accessible by ferry from Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor and Port Clyde. Visit to walk the cliffs, view the lighthouses, chat with the islanders and observe the artists at work. Adjacent Manana Island is part of Monhegan Harbor.

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FILED UNDER: Lincoln County, Hiking, Swimming | Show-All



Gulf Hagas

www.northmainewoods.org/gulfhagas

Found in the 100-mile wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail, Gulf Hagas is known as the Grand Canyon of the East. You’ll understand why when you see the towering rock walls, the network of trails and the series of waterfalls that plunge as much as 500 feet past the rock formations. The three-mile-long gorge is home to the Pleasant River, and attracts both serious hikers – you’ll likely meet some AT thru hikers – and day-trippers admiring the falls. Your way in is past the Katahdin Iron Works, a state historic site dating to 1845.

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FILED UNDER: Piscataquis-County, Waterfalls, Hiking, Swimming, Camping | Show-All



Height of Land

www.tripadvisor.com/heightofland | Google map

The Height of Land scenic overlook is a stopping point – and gawking point – on Route 17 near Rangeley. “Crowds can be found gathering at the Height of Land, where even on a hazy day the view pours over Mooselookmeguntic Lake and Toothaker and Students islands,” wrote Deirdre Fleming, staff writer at the Portland Press Herald. On a good day the site lets a visitor travel in their mind over Rangeley and Cupsuptic lakes, west to the White Mountains and east to Saddleback Mountain. Dusk draws locals to see a sky full of shades of purple and orange.

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FILED UNDER: Franklin-County | Show-All



Mt. Battie

www.maine.gov | Google map

Located in Camden Hills State Park, a drive up the Mt. Battie Auto Road reveals sweeping views of Camden, Penobscot Bay and surrounding islands. (Hike instead of drive and enjoy some nature along the way.) When the weather is clear, visitors can see all the way to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

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FILED UNDER: Knox-County, Hiking | Show-All



Moxie Falls, The Forks

www.mainetrailfinder.com | Google map

Moxie Stream flows from Lake Moxie to the Kennebec River and the falls, one of the highest in the state, drop more than 90 feet into a deep pool. You’ll find several plunges, cascades and pools along the way during the 20-minute hike in. Several wooden observation platforms give visitors a variety of looks at the powerful plunging water.

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FILED UNDER: Somerset-County, Waterfalls, Hiking, Swimming | Show-All



Crescent Beach State Park

www.maine.gov | Google map

This Cape Elizabeth location has a little bit of everything – sandy beach, salty coves, grassy dunes, rocky ledges and shady wooded areas. It earned its name from the shape of the mile-long beach and is a perfect spot to watch for sea birds and fishing boats.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-Coounty, Beach, Swimming, Paddling, Parks | Show-All



Cranberry Isles

www.cranberryisles.com | Google map

See the Cranberry Isles from Acadia National Park or visit them on a 30-minute ferry ride and look back on Mount Desert Island. Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry welcome visitors, but Bear, Sutton and Baker islands do not.

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FILED UNDER: Hancock-County, Beach | Show-All



Otter Cliff

www.acadianationalpark.com/ottercliffs | Google map

The rocky shoreline of Monument Cove is nestled in just before Acadia National Park’s Otter Cliff, making the headland seem even higher than its 110 feet. Walk the Ocean Path and pass by powerful Thunder Hole on your way to the cliff where the views are unmatched.

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FILED UNDER: Hancock-County, Hiking | Show-All



Nubble Light

NubbleLight.org | Google Map

Sohier Park in York, and the rocks that surround it, put you as close as you can get to this picturesque 1879 lighthouse. You can look, but you can’t touch the National Register of Historic Places light as it sits out on Cape Neddick Peninsula, a “nub” of rock separated from the park by the ebb and flow of the tides. Take a Nubble selfie in summer, then make a plan to visit on a winter evening to see it dressed in holiday lights.

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FILED UNDER: York-County, Lighthouse | Show-All



Mt. Kineo

www.mooseheadlake.org | Google map

Looming beside Moosehead Lake in Piscataquis County, Mt. Kineo features 700-foot cliffs rising dramatically from the water. The mountain is made of hornstone and is the largest known mass of this rock in the nation. Find a viewing tower at the summit, where hikers can get spectacular views of the lake.

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FILED UNDER: Piscataquis-County, Hiking | Show-All



Mt. Megunticook

www.maine.gov | Google map

The highest of the Camden Hills offers plenty of hiking opportunities that lead to views similar to those atop Mt. Battie. Lake Megunticook sprawls below the peak, which is the highest on the mainland. The spot is particularly popular during leaf-peeping season when the surrounding hillsides are awash in fall colors.

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FILED UNDER: Knox-County, Hiking | Show-All



Portland Head Light

www.portlandheadlight.com | Google map

Towering over Casco Bay in Fort Williams Park, Portland Head Light has long attracted tourists to Cape Elizabeth. The iconic lighthouse is Maine’s oldest and is recognized near and far. The park is open year-round with a small beach, rocky ledges and plenty of grassy recreation areas.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Lighthouse, Beach, Swimming, Parks | Show-All



Baxter State Park

baxterstateparkauthority.com | Google map

More than 200,000 acres of wilderness and public forest make up this scenic park, which is home to Mt. Katahdin. Hikers will encounter plenty of wildlife and lush vegetation on more than 200 miles of trails. At 5,258 feet, Katahdin is Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

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FILED UNDER: Piscataquis-County, Hiing, Camping, Swimming | Show-All



Sebago Lake from Douglas Mountain

alltrails.com/douglas-mountain-sebago | Google maps

Located near the town of Sebago, a stone tower at the summit of Douglas Mountain offers an expansive view of Sebago Lake that can’t be found elsewhere. In the other direction, see spectacular views of the White Mountains when the weather is clear.

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FILED UNDER: Cumberland-County, Hiking | Show-All



Cadillac Mountain

www.nps.gov | Google map

Cadillac Mountain, part of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, is 1,532 feet of spectacular views. A winding, scenic 3.5-mile road brings visitors to the summit where many of the mountains on and around Mount Desert Island can be seen. From early October to early March it’s the first place in the U.S. to view the sunrise.

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FILED UNDER: Hancock-County, Hiking, Parks | Show-All



Allagash Wilderness Waterway

www.maine.gov | Google map

Stretching for 90 miles, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway includes a plethora of natural sights, including 40-foot-high Allagash Falls, Twin Brook Rapids, Round Pond Rips and Churchill Depot. Views are best from the water but paddlers should use caution with frequent low water depths and exposed rocks mixing with rapids.

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FILED UNDER: Aroostook-County, Piscataquis-County, Camping, Paddling | Show-All



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