A scenic 10 minute drive from our Inn, Bald Mountain Preserve is our favorite area hike. At 1280 feet, the mountain is the 5th highest peak on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Allow approx. 2 hours round trip for a leisurely hike.

Hiking Bald Mountain

After a short walk through the forest  you will catch your first glimpse of mountain views and farmlands. For the most part, the remainder of the hike will traverse the rock bound mountain. Follow the blue blazes to the summit where you will find a large cairn in addition to a sign in the foreground with detailed information about the mountains topography.

Walking the Camden Hills State Park Multi-Use Trail offers natural woodland scenery and seasonal water views. The 4.8 mile well-maintained trail winds through the forested lower slopes of the mountains ending at Youngtown Road in Lincolnville. On this day, we walked to the ski shelter and back which is approx. 4 miles round trip.

Heading through the campground

Access to the multi-use trail begins at the campground entrance.

Multi-use trail entrance

A short distance from the campground gate the trail begins.

Well-Groomed Trail

The park staff does an excellent job of keeping the trail groomed.

Seasonal Water Views

Distant views of Penobscot Bay and its snow lined islands along with Camden Harbor are visible through the wooded landscape along the first mile of the trail.

Winter Wonderland

Long stretches of picturesque winter scenery.

Huge Pillows of Snow

The only sounds on this day were of  the occasional trickling streams along the trial and the foraging wildlife.

Multi-Use Trail

Approaching the ski shelter.

Ski Shelter

The ski shelter is located approx. 2 miles from the Camden Hills State Park main entrance and is available for public use for a nominal fee.

Hiking Up To The Cross

The trail to the summit is only 1 mile and affords scenic views of Megunticook Lake, the interior and coastal mountains with distant views of Penobscot Bay.

Trailhead

Access to this trailhead can be found off route 52 in Camden, however you may take longer hikes through various trails within the Camden Hills State Park trail system to reach Maiden Cliff.

Starting Off

The trail is not difficult yet steadily climbs upward through the woods over rocks and tree roots.

Over Some Rocks And Roots

Footbridge Over A Seasonal Stream

Along the  way  you will cross over a wooden footbridge. This time off year it is relatively dry however in the spring there is usually a steady flow of water rushing under the bridge.

Trickling Water

Water Under Footbridge

Lots Of Tree Roots Along The Way

Plenty of exposed tree roots along this part of trail.

Half Way There

Halfway along this trail one of the other trails intersects. We stay on course to the cliff.

Continuing Along The Trail

A Westerly View

At the summit gazing at interior mountains and pristine Meguntiook Lake.

Southerly View

Distant views of Penobscot Bay and Islands to the south. The cross was erected some years after Elenora French fell off the cliff and died in 1864.

Osprey Flying Just Above Us

Incredible opportunity to see Osprey, Eagles and Turkey Vultures soaring just above, below, and at eye level.

Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn is on the oceanside and just 1 mile from the incredibly beautiful Camden Hills State Park. To download a trail map click  here.

This time of year has been unseasonably warm and we have been thoroughly enjoying our walks to the top of Mount Battie.

Reaching The Top At Sunset

Turret Atop Mount Battie

Viewing the sunset over the western mountains and the moon rising in the eastern sky illuminating Penobscot Bay.

An Easterly View

Camden Harbor, Southerly View

A sign of quieter times where recently filled parking lots are empty and lonely view finders stand.

Watching The Moon Rise

View Finders Will Soon Be Stored Away For Winter

Lighting The Star

Each year we look forward to the lighted star that is mounted on the turret atop Camden Hills State Park. As a tradition it is lit the day after Thanksgiving and remains erected until New Years Day. The star can be seen from miles away, a true sign of the holiday season.

Funny how after years of walking the auto road our timing on this trip coincided with Bob Oxton’s firing up the generator which illuminates the star.

Bob spoke of challenging past winters and his difficulty reaching the top some evenings to light the star and yet he has never missed a night for over 40 years of volunteering. Now that is a commitment!

The Lighted Star

A Beautiful Evening

Another one of the “Jewels” in Midcoast Maine is the picture perfect views atop Beech Hill in Rockport. The setting is special, and after a short and easy walk to the top of this 295-acre preserve you’ll see why. If the pastoral landscape of the beautiful grasslands with the Camden Hills as a backdrop don’t grab you while your walking along, than surely the scenic ocean vistas at the top will.

After a few paces the trail quickly opens up to views of low bush wild blueberry’s growing in the grassy field.

Starting Out

Protecting The Blueberries

A Colorful Field Of Wild Blueberries

Trail

Looking Back At The Camden Hills

Soon after the half way point views of Chickawaukie Pond then Penobscot Bay appear.

Chickawaukie Pond

Chickawaukie Pond(Rt) and Penobscot Bay(Lft)

Fall creates it’s own special beauty in Maine and especially so here. The preserve’s field of golden grasslands dappled with the fiery red leaves of wild blueberry shrubs is reminiscent of a painting. At the top of the hill sits a beautifully restored stone house known as “Beech Nut” handsomely adorned with a sod roof.

Beech Nut

An Easterly View

Mountains Of Acadia National Park(Background-Rt)

Beech Nut

Restored Sod Roof

Although the preserve is open year round, Beech Nut’s open house dates for the remainder of the year is Sat. Sept. 11, Wed. Sept. 22, Sat. Oct 2, and Wed. Oct 13 2010. For more information on this beautiful preserve you can visit www.coastalmountains.org.

Bald Rock Mountain has an elevation of 1200 ft and is visible from our oceanfront Inn. With less than a 10 minute drive from here this mountain offers incredible views of the island studded coast of Maine and is just a small part of the Camden Hills State Park system. The hike to the summit is easy yet invigorating.

Entrance Sign

Gravel Road

After  walking a gravel road for 1.25 miles you reach the trail head that leads through the woodlands.

Bald Rock Trail Head

We walk through the peaceful woods and observe the nature that surrounds us. Lush greenery such as ferns and mosses abound, the scent of pine wafts through the air and the songs of melodious birds are the predominant sounds. The trail has a convenient set of granite steps and many tree root systems that wind there way along the path.

Granite Steps

Interesting Tree Roots

We reach the summit and take in the scenery.

Background-Mt. Desert Island, Acadia National Park

A Southeasterly View From The Summit

A Southerly View, Camden Harbor First Harbor In Sight

We maintained a semi-brisk pace along the trail and complete the round trip journey in approx. 1hr. 45min. The views are breathtaking and especially extraordinary during the fall with all the magnificent colors in place.