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.

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.

Reaching Mount Battie's summit

Mount Battie’s Turret-Coastal Scenery Views of Camden Maine’s Harbor And Surrounding Mountains.

Hiking remains a favorite activity for us and due of the nature of our business time can allow for us off season to take advantage of the abundance of natural beauty in Maine. However, it just so happens that  just 1 minute south of Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn is the Mid-Coast jewel  Camden Hills State Park.  If we can get away for 1 hour in season this is one of the places we go. Route 1 divides the park, there is the ocean side that provides some easy tree lined walking paths with limited access to the rocky shore and then there is the summit on the opposite side (our choice). You may drive or do what we do and walk to the top via the auto road (1.5 mi). There are 19 trails to hike in this incredibly beautiful park, a topic worthy devoting time to at a later date. The summit at Mount Battie offers 360 views of the mountains, islands and rocky coastline. Some of the sites, just to name a few, are Blue Hill, Isle Au Haut, the mountains of Acadia National Park and Monhegan Island. You can easily spend the day investigating all the rock formations, flora, birding, hiking and of course gazing at the gorgeous scenery. Speaking of which once you reach the summit one could never tire of the view, sunrises and sunsets are a must see, and for some the latter made even sweeter with wine and cheese.

A southerly view from one of many overlooks

Maps Identify The Islands In View

Auto Road At Summit

Mountains of Acadia National Park in the background.

Stairs To The Top

Breathtaking Views

Looking out from Mount Battie’s Turret at Camden Harbor and islands.

Mt. Megunticook

There are also 360 degree views of numerous surrounding mountains such as Mt. Megunticook and Ragged Mountain.

Turret on Mount Battie

A view of Camden Harbor from the top of the turret on Mount Battie.