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If you were to fly over Maine's Great North Woods at night, you'd see barely a twinkle of light below. This is one of America's truly impressive wildernesses, a vast expanse of dark forest, raging rivers and herds of moose. Human settlements feel almost incidental here.
Not surprisingly, outdoor activities are unrivaled in the region. You could spend days hiking, canoeing and camping in Baxter State Park, or head off on moose-watching safaris, scenic flights and lake cruses across the aptly named Moosehead Lake.
The North Woods is logging country. In the 19th century, Maine's legendary lumberjacks floated logs down the rivers in massive 'log drives,' until the practice polluted the water and the drives were replaced by trucks. The woods here are crisscrossed by rough logging roads, which are often used by hunters and outdoor adventurers with 4WDs.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout North Maine Woods.
State Park
One of Maine's most stunning protected areas, Baxter State Park is a verdant wilderness encompassing nearly 210,000 acres. Some 215 miles of trails draw hikers in the summer, and snowshoers in the winter. Mt Katahdin, at 5267ft, is the highest peak in Maine and the end point of the 2190-mile Appalachian Trail. There are numerous other mountains to climb, as well as waterfalls, streams and lakes (canoes are available to hire for $1 per hour).
Nature Reserve
Around eight miles northwest of the Sugarloaf alpine resort, this 35,000-acre preserve is a wonderful setting for reconnecting with nature. The densely forested wilderness has many trails for hiking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter. There's great foliage viewing in the fall, particularly from lofty mountain tops such as Cranberry Peak (3210ft).
State Park
At this lovely, 925-acre park you can relax on the sandy beach, bird-watch and stroll the 2-mile shoreline trail. The park is a good base for other area hikes. To camp here on the shores of Moosehead Lake, pitch your tent ($33 per site) at one of the 90 campsites. Note that while the park is open year-round, the office is staffed only from late May to early October.
Museum
Moosehead Lake’s colorful history is preserved in the Moosehead Marine Museum, next to the dock that shelters the SS Katahdin. The museum also operates cruises on the steamboat.
Historic Site
A reminder of a time when blast furnaces and charcoal kilns smelted iron all day, these iron works were built in 1843 and used for about 30 years. Eventually the costs of operating in such isolation meant the facility was unable to compete with foundries in Pennsylvania and other states, and it closed in 1890.