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This gem of a trail leads through an old apple orchard and open meadow, a wooded path along a hidden pond, and a beach with red sand. The red-sand cove, Jordan Point, is located at the western end of Crescent Beach State Park. This sweet spot is separated from the larger sand beach by a rocky ledge, so unless you follow the trail I'm about to share, you'd never know it was there. I heard about "the trail leading through the woods to Crescent Beach" from my friend Meghan many

This was my first big, snowy hike of the season, and it provided everything I was looking for after the Christmas holiday: quiet trails, gorgeous views, and a great workout. I love the holidays - the lights, the time with family, the excitement of our kids - but it's a busy, overstimulating time of year. I'm always eager to get to the mountains for a good, replenishing hike when it's all over. When planning a winter hike, there are several things to consider: Snowshoes or mic

My husband suggested I create a hiking checklist for myself, since I have a loooong history of forgetting important items when setting out on my adventures. Like the microspikes I forgot to bring on our recent hike in the snowy Whites. Or my wallet, which I left at home while traveling to Vermont for hiking research. Lists have become my life-line, because my brain is not always functioning like that of a full-grown adult. If you’re anything like me, I hope this hiking hack h

Follow this popular route partway or all the way to the summit of Mount Washington. Hermit Lake and Tuckerman Ravine. Photo credit: Henry McMahon Options are a beautiful thing. I love a trail that offers a variety of lengths and levels of challenge, and Tuckerman’s certainly does. This hike features an additional bonus: it brings you to an iconic backcountry ski destination where you can watch brave souls trek up an insanely steep bowl with skis on their packs, to enjoy a thr

I've done this hike with groups several times and can confidently say it's an ideal adventure for a range of ages, abilities, and dogs....

Calling all mountain bikers! This gorgeous 64-acre parcel includes up to 4 miles of beginner-friendly trails winding through mixed forest filled with ferns, boardwalks and sunlight filtering through the pines. You can also hike, run, snowshoe, and cross-country ski here. Located at Brunswick Landing (formerly Brunswick Naval Air Station), Neptune Woods was the first parcel here to be actively conserved and developed for recreation. A number of community partners were involved

This was my second hike up Deer Leap and my fourth trip to Vermont in less than a year, thanks to the trail guide I’m working on. Living...

Me below Piazza Rock. Photo by Jaime Gagnon. The jaw-dropping reward at the outer end of this hike evokes wonder for nature’s majestic...

If you've never heard a dog scream, watch a 120-pounder, who can't swim, fall in a lake. Lucky for Romy, I was able to pull her out by...

A must-see waterfall if you're in Stowe! Less than 5 miles from the Sterling Pond Trail , which I shared details on last week, is an easy...

A moderate, 3-mile loop featuring grand views, cascading streams and stone stairs. Just outside of downtown Camden in Midcoast Maine, the...

Last weekend, I joined eleven women in a large cabin heated by wood stove, and there was no cell phone service. It was the perfect reset...

This shorter day hike offers an exposed summit with 360-degree views, including a clear shot of Mount Washington. For that wide-open...

Photo by Henry McMahon This moderate 3.5-mile loop is located off the Kancamagus Highway near Conway, NH. The trail begins with a walk...

With all the fresh snow we've had this past week, I feel like a kid in a candy shop! Finally, winter has arrived, along with all the outdoor recreation this season has to offer. This past weekend, we spent Saturday and Sunday at Riverside Golf Course in Portland for sledding and cross-country skiing. The beauty of Riverside is that it offers something for everyone, even your dog, who is welcome on these trails. While cross-country skiing with friends, our kids hit the sleddi

After renewing my annual Portland Trails membership, I received an updated 5th edition PT paper map and was excited to find several new trails on the list! A couple of them were in Westbrook, where my mom lives, so I invited her to explore the Blue Spruce Trail with me this past weekend. It was covered in a blanket of fresh snow, which makes any trail remarkable, but I also enjoyed the hilly path, quiet woods, and the way it hugged the Stroudwater River a good part of the way

Maybe I was a strange child, but I had a pet cemetery under a tree in the backyard of my childhood home. It wasn't for our family pets...

Located just 15 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort, Buck's Ledge is a quick hike to open views of Mount Abram, The Mahoosuc Range, and...

Emmons Preserve is located at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust's headquarters, surrounded by trails, woods, and the Batson River. One of the highlights of this property is a wheelchair and stroller-accessible Community Labyrinth, designed in the same 7-circuit pattern found on ancient archeological sites. From early December through January 6th, the path is lit by solar lights after dusk for the holiday season. I'd only experienced the labyrinth under the summer sun and

This post was written in April 2022. I learned three things today: 1. Adventures in large groups can be fun - as long as you're...