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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

Photo Credit: Brian Threlkeld, Photography For The People As if six months of winter in Maine wasn’t enough of a challenge, some add cold-water immersion to their wintry list of outdoor activities. These hardy souls submerge themselves in frozen lakes and ice-cold oceans during the coldest time of the year. Last March, 15 swimmers took it to the extreme with a “Super Plunge” in Ogunquit - a fundraising event involving 24 polar plunges in 24 hours. While they did raise $80,000

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

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...

Photo by Northern Outdoors (Post originally published in August of 2023) White water rafting offers unrivaled family fun. Lucky for us, we have access to three places to raft in Maine: the Kennebec River, the Dead River and the Penobscot River. The Kennebec and Dead Rivers converge at The Forks in Somerset County and include class 2 - 4 rapids. The Penobscot River runs through Baxter State Park and is a bit more intense with class 5 rapids. I've never rafted the Penobscot, bu

Located within the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, this 4-mile out-and-back hike is among the most stunning in midcoast Maine....

This 4.5-mile out-and-back hike involves a steady ascent to stunning views of Lake Willoughby, one of the deepest lakes in the...

Located near Stow in Western Maine, this out-and-back hike is just over five miles with an elevation gain of 1,257 feet. The summit...

I'm having a hard time containing my excitement about this trail, so get ready for a lineup of exclamation marks! This lollipop loop...

My family recently spent a few days in Bethel and while there, explored several swimming holes and waterfalls in the area. On day one, we...

Where there's a swimming hole in Maine, there's often an old bridge or rope swing with people of all ages hurling themselves into the water. It's good old-fashioned fun and a favorite activity during our brief season of hot weather. This idyllic float/paddle spot off of Gambo Road in Windham, is not far from Babb's Bridge Swimming Hole in Gorham...one is just upriver from the other. It includes easy parking, a trestle bridge and rope swing, and access to the Mountain Divisio

We just found another spectacular swimming hole and it includes a short hike. Thanks to my friend Sarah M. for sharing the details of this secret beach with me. It was our very last day of OMP Camp today and this was the perfect place to celebrate two years of outdoor adventuring with some incredible kids. The path to this beach is part of the Sebago to Sea Trail, which is a continuous shared-use trail connecting Sebago Lake to Casco Bay. Managed by the Presumpscot Regional L

It's August, it's hot, and we have another hidden swimming hole for you to check out! We learned about this one from two women paddle boarding near Babb's Bridge last week, one of whom had grown up in Gorham. I really love learning about new trails from locals. It happens ALL the time and never gets old. Locals know the very best places. The 1-mile lollipop loop at this preserve runs along the Presumpscot River, just south of the Dundee Dam in north Gorham. It follows a hist

On hot summer days, it's good to know about Babb's. This covered bridge spans one of the best swimming holes near Portland. It's also Maine's oldest covered bridge, built in 1840. It crosses the Presumpscot River between Gorham and Windham and is located on Hurricane Road (parking is on the side of the road before arriving at the bridge). The original bridge was burned by vandals in 1973 and an exact replica was built with lumbar milled locally in Gorham. The water is clear a

Last week I brought a group of seven 4th and 5th graders to Rines Forest as part of OMP Camp (an outdoor after school program). This trip confirmed something that I've known in my heart for years. Something that has been made increasingly clear in the last two years of running this camp. Here it is: If given natural spaces to explore and friends to be with, kids will not only create their own play, they will actually thrive. All on their own, with no adult intervention. I've

Less of a trail, more of a swimming destination, Babb's is an adyllic spot for cooling off in the summer. If you are interested in adding a trail to this adventure, there are several great ones close by, including: Shaw Park , Mountain Division Trail and Gambo Preserve . Babb's Bridge is Maine's oldest covered bridge, built in 1840. The original bridge was burned by vandals in 1973 and an exact replica was built with lumber milled locally in Gorham. It spans the Presumpscot

Hugging trees, shade and the thing we are all longing for this week. Swimming holes. This trail is yet another sweet surprise that's owned and managed by the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. It is also a great one for hot weather, as it offers swimming and shade. Located at 54 Tow Path Road in Gorham, the 1 mile loop winds along the Presumpscot River, then through the hemlock forest. This trail was once part of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal path. It was also part of the tr

The alewives have arrived. Booyah! Mill Brook hosts the largest fish migration from Casco Bay to Highland Lake, where the fish spawn each year, starting around this time (late May to early June). The best local trail for viewing Alewives is the Mill Brook Preserve. There are several trailheads for this secluded, peaceful trail...which truly tops my list of favorites. I've shared the Perry Court trailhead details with you, so today we will talk about the Mill Brook Preserve So

If you're wondering where Oxford County is, I'll start there. This mountainous region of western Maine is bordered by NH to the west and...