{"id":53765,"date":"2020-01-02T15:51:17","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T20:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/?p=53765"},"modified":"2022-02-22T13:36:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T18:36:52","slug":"snowshoe-trails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/snowshoe-trails\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Snowshoe Trails for Exploring Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Carriage Roads<\/a> | Acadia National Park
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Advanced<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After tourist season, our national park becomes a playground for snow lovers. Beyond the 45 miles of groomed carriage roads with a variety of trail options, visitors have a chance to explore parts of Acadia that would be otherwise inaccessible: frozen lakes and ponds allow snowshoers, skiers, and snowmobilers to move off-trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolfe\u2019s Neck Woods State Park <\/a>| Freeport
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Moderate<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short drive from Freeport town center, Wolfe\u2019s Neck is\nhome to a variety of trails that are perfect for snowshoeing. Some trails\nfeature views of the ocean, nearby islands, and a protected osprey nest. If\nit\u2019s a windy day, opt for the more wooded trails to block the wintery ocean\nbreeze. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bradbury Mountain State Park<\/a> | Pownal<\/strong>
Trail difficulty: Easy to Moderate<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state park\u2019s one-mile Northern Loop Trail is the most\npopular trail for snowshoeing. It runs along an old feldspar quarry and,\nfarther up, a stone cattle pound used in the 1800s for corralling farm animals.\nThe trail has a wide, gradual ascent to the mountain\u2019s summit, which offers\nsweeping views of the surrounding landscape. A snowshoe race series is held at\nthe park from January to March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugarloaf Outdoor Center <\/a>| Carrabassett Valley
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Advanced<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snowshoers and cross-country skiers can explore more than 55 miles of maintained and well-marked snowshoe trails through forests and along streams at one of Maine\u2019s most popular ski resorts. Hire a guide for a \u201cSnowshoe Safari,\u201d or get a snowshoe season pass for just $59. Snowshoe rentals are available at the Outdoor Center, and there\u2019s a cafe on-site where hungry travelers can warm up and rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great Pond Mountain Wildlands<\/a> | Orland
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Advanced<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the four trailheads, the Dead River Trail is best for a\nscenic snowshoe trek. The 2.5-mile trail travels alongside the Dead River and\nis relatively easy. Surrounding mountains offer more challenging trips with\nhigher destination points and sweeping views at summit. The Great Pond Mountain\nConservation Trust often hosts wintertime events such as snowshoe races and\nfull moon hikes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camden Hills State Park <\/a>| Camden
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Moderate<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This state park is open year-round and boasts a multitude of\ntrails for snowy exploration, most of them at a moderate level of difficulty.\nThe Mount Battie road is sometimes closed in the winter months, depending on\nstaffing and weather conditions, but the entrance lot and other access points\nare plowed. Call the park ahead of time after significant winter storms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little Moose Mountain<\/a> | Greenville
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Advanced<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several viewpoints along the trails that overlook\nMoosehead Lake and Big Moose Mountain. The eastern-most trailhead is in the\nparking lot of Moose Mountain Inn. The trail starts out relatively easy, but\nthe grade becomes increasingly steep. It\u2019s important to pick a turn-around time\nand stick to it, because the interconnected trail system can seem endless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New England Outdoor Center <\/a>| Millinocket
<\/strong>Trail difficulty: Easy to Advanced<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terrain at the New England Outdoor Center is wide open and offers hours of exploring via showshoe. It\u2019s best for beginners to follow the blue-marked trail for a quarter-mile hike that turns around just before Black Cat Road. For a challenging two-hour hike, continue on the same path but cross Black Cat Road to follow the trail blazes up and around Black Cat Mountain. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carriage Roads | Acadia National ParkTrail difficulty: Easy to Advanced After tourist season, our national park becomes a playground for snow lovers. Beyond the 45 miles of groomed carriage roads with a variety of trail options, visitors have a chance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":53852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,21],"tags":[],"locations":[],"people":[],"class_list":["post-53765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-list","category-culture"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n