Top Backpacking Trails in Maine
19 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Backpacking in Maine runs from long Appalachian Trail sections to remote ponds in the North Woods and cliff-top camping on the coast. The trips on this site cover Baxter State Park, the 100-Mile Wilderness, the Kennebec Valley, the Western Maine Mountains, Deboullie in the North Maine Woods, Katahdin Woods and Waters, and the Maine Coast. Expect rocky, rooty, and often wet tread, lean-tos and designated tent sites rather than open camping, and exposed ridges above treeline on the Bigelow Range, Saddleback, and the Mahoosucs.
The season is short. Baxter’s backcountry sites generally open May 15 and close October 15, and in 2026 the park closed Katahdin’s trails for the season on October 13. Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut runs from mid-June to mid-October, and the Kennebec canoe ferry ran from late May through September in 2026.
Camping rules vary by managing agency. Baxter and Duck Harbor require reservations and don’t allow pets, while Appalachian Trail sites and state public lands such as Cutler Coast and Nahmakanta are mostly first come, first served. Fires are limited to designated rings in many places and banned outright at some sites.
Unbridged fords are a real hazard on trips like the 100-Mile Wilderness, Russell Pond, and Caratunk to Monson, and they can be dangerous in high water. Deer hunting seasons also overlap late-fall trips, so check current dates before you go.
Quick picks
- Longest trip: Appalachian Trail: 100-Mile Wilderness
- Easy pond overnight: Katahdin Lake and Martin Ponds
- Katahdin base camp: Chimney Pond and Katahdin
- Coastal camping loop: Cutler Coast Fairy Head Loop
- Island lean-to trip: Duck Harbor Lean-tos on Isle au Haut
100-Mile Wilderness
- Appalachian Trail: 100-Mile Wilderness Appalachian Trail, Monson to Abol Bridge 99.4 miles Hard Lean-tos and campsites along the trail; no permit for the Wilderness itself
- Nahmakanta Great Circle Trail and Debsconeag Backcountry Nahmakanta Public Lands (Jo-Mary Road, west of Millinocket) 30 miles Moderate Primitive pondside campsites with privies and fire rings; first come, first served
Baxter State Park
- Chimney Pond and Katahdin Baxter State Park (near Millinocket) 6.6 miles Hard Reserved lean-tos and bunkhouse at Chimney Pond Campground
- Freezeout Trail and Webster Lake Loop Baxter State Park, north end (Matagamon Gate) 35 miles Moderate Reserved backcountry lean-tos and tent sites
- Katahdin Lake and Martin Ponds Baxter State Park, Katahdin Lake sector (Avalanche Field, Roaring Brook Road) 4.6 miles Moderate Three reserved backcountry lean-tos (Martin Ponds, North and South Katahdin Lake)
- Russell Pond via Roaring Brook Baxter State Park (near Millinocket) 14.4 miles Moderate Reserved lean-tos, tent sites, and bunkhouse at Russell Pond Campground
Katahdin Woods and Waters
Kennebec Valley
- Appalachian Trail: Caratunk to Monson Appalachian Trail between the Kennebec River and Monson 36.7 miles Hard AT lean-tos and campsites; no permit found
- Appalachian Trail: Carry Ponds and Pierce Pond to the Kennebec Appalachian Trail, Long Falls Dam Road to Caratunk 17.2 miles Moderate AT lean-tos at West Carry Pond and Pierce Pond; no permit found
Maine Coast
- Cutler Coast Fairy Head Loop Cutler Coast Public Land (Cutler) 9.7 miles Moderate Five designated tent sites; first come, first served
- Duck Harbor Lean-tos on Isle au Haut Acadia National Park, Isle au Haut (ferry from Stonington) 7.6 miles Moderate Five reserved lean-tos at Duck Harbor Campground; no other camping on the island
North Maine Woods
Western Maine Mountains
- Appalachian Trail: Bigelow Range Bigelow Preserve (near Stratton) 16.3 miles Hard Lean-tos and tent sites below treeline; no camping above treeline
- Appalachian Trail: Four Ponds and Sabbath Day Pond Appalachian Trail between Route 17 (Height of Land) and Route 4, Four Ponds Public Reserved Land 13.1 miles Moderate Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to and tent area; Little Swift River Pond Campsite; no permit found
- Appalachian Trail: Grafton Notch to Mahoosuc Notch Grafton Notch State Park and Mahoosuc Public Lands (near Newry) 22 miles Hard Lean-tos and tent platforms at Speck Pond and Full Goose; caretaker at Speck Pond
- Appalachian Trail: Old Blue and the Bemis Range Appalachian Trail between South Arm Road (Andover) and Route 17 14.3 miles Hard Bemis Mountain Lean-to; no permit found
- Appalachian Trail: Piazza Rock to Saddleback and the Horn Appalachian Trail near Rangeley 14.8 miles Hard Piazza Rock Lean-to and tent area; no camping above treeline
- Appalachian Trail: The Crockers and Crocker Cirque Appalachian Trail between Route 27 and Caribou Valley Road (near Stratton and Sugarloaf) 15 miles Hard Crocker Cirque Campsite (tent platforms, privy, fire ring); no camping above treeline
- Grafton Loop Trail Grafton Notch area, Newry 38.6 miles Hard Designated primitive campsites and AT lean-tos; no fires
Backpacking in Maine: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Maine?
It depends on who manages the land. No hiking permit was found for the Appalachian Trail sections on this site, and the Bureau of Parks and Lands sites at Cutler Coast, Deboullie, and Nahmakanta are first come, first served, though some public lands are reached through checkpoints that charge fees. Baxter State Park requires a reservation for every campsite, and its backcountry sites are booked by phone, mail, or in person rather than online, while Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut is reserved on Recreation.gov, with the whole season released at 10 a.m. on April 1. Rules vary by managing agency, so confirm with the park or land office before you go.
When is the best time to backpack in Maine?
Most trips on this site fit roughly late spring through mid-October. Baxter State Park's backcountry sites are generally open May 15 to October 15, and in 2026 the park closed all Katahdin and Traveler Ridge trails for the season on October 13. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy suggests southbound thru-hikers not start before June 1 and northbound hikers finish by October 15, and the National Park Service lists Duck Harbor's season as mid-June through mid-October. Opening and closing dates depend on weather, so check the managing agency.
Can you have a campfire while backpacking in Maine?
Only in certain places. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says campfires on the Maine A.T. are allowed only at designated sites, with no fires at Horns Pond, Avery Col, or Speck Pond, and Baxter State Park bans open fires at Chimney Pond and Davis Pond and does not allow outside firewood. On state public lands, open fires are allowed only at designated sites authorized for fires or with a permit, and the Maine Forest Service issues campfire permits for remote permit sites no more than two days in advance. Cutler Coast and the Grafton Loop Trail allow no fires, so carry a stove.
Can you bring a dog backpacking in Maine?
On some trips. Pets are not allowed anywhere in Baxter State Park or in Duck Harbor Campground on Isle au Haut. State public lands rules require pets to be leashed at campsites and under control elsewhere, Katahdin Woods and Waters requires a 6-foot leash per the trail page, and Maine Trail Finder lists dogs as allowed on several Appalachian Trail sections. Rules vary by managing agency, so check before you bring a dog.
Are there dangerous river crossings on Maine backpacking trips?
Yes, several trips include unbridged fords that can be dangerous in high water, such as Wassataquoik Stream on the Russell Pond and Katahdin Woods and Waters trips, Rainbow Stream on the Nahmakanta loop, and the branches of the Piscataquis between Caratunk and Monson. On the Kennebec River, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club says not to wade or swim across, notes that dam releases can change the water suddenly, and runs a free canoe ferry instead; its 2026 schedule ran May 22 to September 30. Check water levels and do not cross a stream in flood.
Is it safe to backpack in Maine during hunting season?
Hunting overlaps the end of the backpacking season on much of Maine's woods. The state's 2026-27 hunting summary lists a youth deer day on October 23-24, a resident-only day on October 31, regular firearms deer season from November 2 to 28, and muzzleloader dates into December, and it says hunting is prohibited on Sunday. Bright clothing is a sensible precaution, and you can check the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for current dates and local rules.
Where this comes from
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Understanding camping rules along the trail
- Baxter State Park: Summer camping
- Baxter State Park: News (2026 Katahdin season closure, bridge notices)
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Maine, A.T. on Katahdin open (2026)
- Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands: Public lands rules
- Maine Forest Service: Programs and services (campfire permits)
- National Park Service: Duck Harbor Campground
- National Park Service: Acadia camping
- Maine Appalachian Trail Club: Kennebec River ferry service
- Maine IFW: 2026-27 hunting season summary