A walk in the woods to Moxie Falls, Maine’s tallest waterfall, hiking the Appalachian Trail to Katahdin, family-friendly trails for fun hikes with kids, trails that run along rivers and through our campgrounds, short hikes to big mountain views…
Northern Outdoors in Maine’s scenic North Woods is at the center of incredible hiking trails. Within minutes of Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort in The Forks, Maine are several great day hikes, including the famous Appalachian Trail. See The Forks Maine Recreation Map for trailhead directions (and where to swim after your hike!) If you want something more remote, check out our Katahdin Adventure Base Camp. It sits right at the edge of the Penobscot River and is adjacent to Baxter State Park, home to hundreds of miles of Maine’s best hiking trails.
See our latest Maine hiking adventures, our favorite Maine waterfalls, and family-friendly hikes in Maine.
We have some trails detailed in hiking blog posts. Stop on in and ask the front desk for printed directions (done with a little help from Maine Trail Finder.) Or give us a call at 207-663-4466 to help you plan an awesome Maine hiking trip!
Combine the thrills of whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River and two-nights of lodging at Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort in The Forks, with a one or two-night stay at Maine Huts and Trails Grand Falls backcountry lodge on the Dead River. The wildly scenic Grand Falls — a 45 minute mostly dirt road drive to the trailhead from our resort — is a short walk from Grand Falls Hut, your base to explore, hike, fish or just relax along the Dead River. Northern Outdoors + Maine Huts = a Western Maine adventure getaway like no other!
Prices for a two-night stay at Northern Outdoors, with a day of rafting and a night at Grand Falls Hut start at $286 per person… call for more details.
An easy ½-mile hiking trail takes you to the top of one of the highest waterfalls in New England. View 90-foot Moxie Falls from one of several boardwalks built atop the steep, wooded gorge. The stream has numerous swimming holes and is a popular spot on warm days–bring your swim suit! A great hike for young and old with gorgeous scenery.
Directly across from the Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort is the 5-mile Forks Area Scenic Trail (FAST) system (see trail photos.) This wonderful multi-purpose gravel trail follows the Old Canada Road along the Kennebec River north to The Forks, located at the confluence of the Kennebec and Dead River valleys. Our giant outdoor hot tub and brewery will be waiting for your return!
This is an outstanding half-day hike along the Appalachian National Hiking Trail that takes you to an open summit atop Pleasant Pond Mountain with spectacular 360° views of seemingly boundless forests and lakes. A couple of short, steep pitches keep it interesting! See Pleasant Pond Mountain hiking photos.
This full-day hike takes you into the heart of Maine’s North Woods. The mountain is a long ridge running north-south for about 4 miles. Although the summit is not very high, it has many features of above-timberline summits because of its extended ledges and open crest.
With huge views from a bald top Mosquito Mountain is one of our favorite local hikes. See photos of Mosquito Mountain.
The 2,000-mile famous Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the Kennebec River at Caratunk, a few miles south of The Forks, Maine, where our Northern Outdoors Adventure Resort is located. Northern Outdoors offers shuttles to and from the trailhead for hikers wanting to stop at the lodge. Reserve your shuttles in advance and call for current pricing.
The northernmost section and terminus of the AT runs right by our Katahdin Adventure Base Camp, outside Millinocket and next to Baxter State Park. Step outside your bunkhouse or campsite at Abol Bridge Campground in our Katahdin Adventure Base Camp and walk to the end of the campground to reach the AT for a challenging summit of Mt. Katahdin or beyond.
If you’re rafting the Penobscot River, there are an infinite number of short and multi-day hikes in the area. Our Katahdin Adventure Base Camp at Abol Bridge Campground is located near the south entrance to Baxter State Park. The 250,000-acre wilderness park is renowned for offering some of the finest hiking trails in eastern North America, with mile-high Mt. Katahdin as its centerpiece. The famous Appalachian Trail also runs through the park. Summiting Mt. Katahdin is a strenuous hike that can be accomplished in one long day. It is truly one of the most spectacular hikes you can experience, and a worthwhile additional adventure to your stay after a day of Penobscot River whitewater rafting!
