Maine Highlands
outdoor adventure and RECREATION around every corner
BANGOR, GREENVILLE, BAXTER STATE PARK, MOOSEHEAD LAKE
If you have traveled to Maine to experience natural terrain and catch a glimpse of the majestic moose, stake your flag in the Maine Highlands region, located in the center of Maine and encompassing Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. The Maine Highlands offers a chance to see areas of the state that have been preserved to be forever wild.
The area beckons outdoor enthusiasts who camp, hike its expansive trails, experience the best canoeing and kayaking Maine has to offer, or have a white-capped adventure whitewater rafting down the Penobscot, Kennebec and Dead Rivers. Bangor serves as the area’s commercial and cultural center, and is host to world class concerts and events. The Moosehead Lake Region, located in Greenville, is home to Maine’s largest lake, Moosehead Lake. It measures 40 miles long and covers 74,890 acres and is notorious for its landlocked salmon, brook trout and togue.
And what about those seeking the iconic symbol of Maine? Visitors can go it on their own, or increase their chances by taking a guided “Moose Safari”– at the right time of year, tours can see as many as 20 moose.
BAXTER STATE PARK & APPALACHIAN TRAIL
The pristine, majestic Baxter State Park can be found in the Maine Highlands. It spans 201,000 acres of mountains, lakes, streams, and forests and over 50 interconnecting trails to ponds, peaks, and unique geological formations. Wildlife is abundant here with moose, bear, deer, raccoon, beaver, and the transplanted caribou. The Park is also home to Mount Katahdin, the highest point in the state at 5,267 feet. A place of unparalleled views, this is a climb on many a bucket list.
Katahdin is situated at the northern end of the Appalachian Trail, the end (beginning?) of 2,200 miles of one of America’s finest treasures. There are more than 200 waterfalls in the region as well – look for some at Gulf Hagas, a wonderfully primitive part of the Appalachian Trail corridor. (Hikers should be cautious and prepared. Help can sometimes be far away.)
