Add 11 of the Most Beautiful Places in Maine to Your Bucket List
If Maine weren’t so likable, its beauty would be downright annoying. What with its confident Vacationland nickname and a promise of “the way life should be,” it becomes hard to grade on anything but a curve of high expectations.
Maine effortlessly captivates, time and time again, without even trying. It’s a state so confident in its allure that billboards on highways are banned. Why distract from the natural beauty that holds you spellbound?
While beauty is subjective and found abundantly across the state, the places below encapsulate the very essence of Maine’s awe-inspiring allure. Perhaps they’ll even give you a few new bucket list locations to add to your Maine itinerary.
“Maine is a beautiful place that I paradoxically want to hoard to myself and share with everyone I meet.”
– John Hodgman, author
Gulf Hagas
Deep in the heart of the Maine Highlands, the “Grand Canyon of the East” rarely makes the front page of a tourism guide, but its beauty is undeniable – if you’re willing to go the distance. The west branch of the Pleasant River packs a punch, carving a gorge 400 feet deep with a series of stunning waterfalls.
As part of Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness, this land is untouched with old-growth forests towering above – even blocking the sun – while moose and deer wander around. The loop is eight grueling miles, but it is worth savoring every second. Plus, expert kayakers can see the beauty from below while riding the Class 5 rapids.
Tumbledown Mountain
Cradling a lake in the Mountains and Lakes Region, Tumbledown Mountain easily brings in the most visitors of any other mountain in Maine. It has the appeal of the lake and mountain combinations of Glacier National Park but with Maine’s more rugged appeal.
Better yet, the trails range from easy to challenging, with a nine-acre swimming hole known as Tumbledown Pond surrounded by all three peaks, the highest being 3,054 feet. Pick your path through enchanting forests, around glacier erratics, alongside steep cliffs, and to scenic (but harrowing) ridges.
There’s a trail for every skill level and a view around every corner, where the rock outcroppings blend with the various ecosystems. If you like the Bubbles of Acadia National Park, you’ll love Tumbledown Mountain.
Cutler Coast
A clash of elemental titans unfolds on the Cutler Coast, where the ocean faces off with stubborn bedrock to form dramatic cliffs and unspoiled shorelines.
You truly cannot say you’ve experienced coastal Maine until you’ve stood on the Coastal Trail of the Cutler Coast or planted two feet atop a sheer cliff to the ocean below. (Go ahead, do your best Jack Dawson impression and shout, “I’m the king of the wooooorld!”)
With 10 miles of hiking trails, you get the blueberry barrens and wood walks you’d expect, but it’s the reveal of the coastline and the discovery of pocket beaches that light a fire in your belly. Gazing on the horizon, whales migrate while seabirds fly overhead. The emerald green waters become white-capped as waves roll in.
At the risk of being too dramatic, I firmly believe you do not leave the Cutler Coast the same person you were when you arrived. It’s that transformative of an experience. Unlike the first two on this list of most beautiful places in Maine list, you can camp here.
TOO BOLD FOR YOU?: If the Cutler Coast is intimidating at first glance, consider the nearby Eastern Nubble Land Trust.
Isle au Haut
Would you like scenic views in Acadia National Park on trails you’ll have all to yourself? Isle au Haut is the place for you. This is not a trick question or a riddle – Isle au Haut is half-owned by the National Park Service.
One of the park’s four campgrounds is here, leaving more time to explore this natural beauty ranked as the second-highest island peak in the Atlantic Ocean.
The adventure starts with a drive to Stonington, one of the prettiest harbors in Maine. You’ll take a boat to either Duck Harbor or Town Landing and then have an island two miles wide and six miles long to explore.
While the story of how Isle au Haut became part of Acadia is long, the simple version is this – park officials wanted to preserve the Cliffs at Western Head and Thunder Gulch of the Eastern Head. Think of these beautiful spots as Sand Beach and Thunder Cove without crowds. Plus, you get the bonus of Isle au Haut Light on the boat ride.
Mount Battie
You won’t find a bad view of Camden Harbor on Maine’s mid-coast, but you’ll find the most epic one atop Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park. It’s the same view that inspired Edna St. Vincent Millary to write Renascence in 1912.
While the elevation is less than 800 feet, the views spread around the curve of Camden until you lose sight of the infinity edge of the water. A road leads to Mount Battie, offering easy access to for all. Even the family dog is welcome.
Should you wish to go higher, Mount Megunticook is a moderate hike up another 600 feet in elevation. The Cliff Trail takes you 800 feet above Mengunticook Lake for another beautiful view of nature.
The scenery here stuns on the micro level as well. Look for the red and white mushroom tops made famous by the Super Mario Bros. franchise (Amanita) and the hallmark “X” mark of the mineral chiastolite in bedrock.
“Oh My Gosh” Corner
If you’re on the way to Sugarloaf for skiing or any four-season activity, then you’re well on your way to becoming a Sugarloafer. That means you get access to exciting places like the “Oh My Gosh” corner on Route 27 of Carrabasset Valley.
About 2.5 miles before you reach Access Road to the ski resort, a slight bend in the road brings Sugarloaf Mountain into full frontal view for a few brief seconds. The stunning sight might induce an “Oh My Gosh!”, hence the name.
Keep going on State Route 27 to finish the High Peaks Scenic Byway, one of the most beautiful drives in Maine past Bigelow Preserve and Flagstaff Lake, among other wonders, ending only at the international border.
Mount Kineo
As if it’s not cool enough that you’re at Moosehead Lake, which is literally shaped like the head of a moose, you also get the unique rock formation of Mount Kineo to explore by boat or land.
You can see the 700-foot cliffs from the Town Landing in Rockwood, and the steepness grows as you take the ferry across Maine’s largest lake. Four trails lead to the top, where an 80-foot-tall fire tower offers expansive, unobstructed views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
If you’re up for it, choose to paddle across the lake to Mount Kineo’s base and look up the sheer rockface. Winter visitors can walk, snowmobile, or ski on Moosehead Lake to Mount Kineo, where icicles hang from the porous rock.
Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument – At Night
Finding a sky dark enough to see the pristine night skies isn’t easy in New England, but the Highlands are the high point for nightlife under the stars. Katahdin Woods & Waters was the first Maine designated location as a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Nearby, Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness is also a Dark Sky Park as of 2021.
The nighttime beauty is treasured — and not just because the sun goes down no later than 8:30 p.m. and as early as 4 p.m. in winter. Up to 99% of Americans can’t see the night sky from home without light pollution.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument has the darkest area east of the Mississippi River. Once you see the star-spangled skies among Maine’s wilderness, you’ll be hooked. Join other stargazing fans at the Stars Over Katahdin annual event.
Angel Falls
Near Rangeley, I’ve put together a great two-for-one beautiful Maine adventure for you. Start at the Height of Land, with iconic views of the Maine mountains and lakes. Ya know what? Maybe end there to catch the sunset as the overlook faces west.
Angel Falls is just 30 minutes from the Height of Land. This 90-foot waterfall is far enough off the (unpaved) path that you might get some privacy that is impossible at Moxie Falls.
The 1.1-mile trail does have some devil in the details, with water crossings and scrambling on rocks, but the angel unfolds at the end of the trail with the parting waters cascading down resembling angel wings. Adventurous people seeking the most beautiful places in Maine will want to visit in winter when the Angel Falls becomes frozen in time.
Fortland
That ^ is not a typo. While Portland’s beauty is known far and wide, you’ve likely never heard of Fortland. That’s because it hasn’t been open to the public until 2021. Make yourself at home on House Island, which has a mile of coastline and three beaches, including Sea Glass Beach.
Beauty is around and on top of every berm, and that’s because this was originally Fort Scammel, one of many military forts on Maine’s coastal barrier. Even with the mainland a mile away, you get seclusion and opportunities to explore tunnels, climb berms, and soak in the scenery.
You can choose from Portland Harbor views, scan the coastline for lighthouses, or watch lobster boats carry their catch home. Day tours of the island are available, with three yurts and two tent cabins available to stay in overnight during the summer. You can’t beat the views while being so close yet so blissfully far away.
East Point Sanctuary
Biddeford’s Pool East Point Sanctuary is the cherry on top of a stunning section of the Maine coastline. To the north, Old Orchard Beach and its famous pier and boardwalk. To the south, the classy Kennebunkport and Kennebunk.
Most tourists won’t even know the East Point Sanctuary is here, as it’s shrouded behind private homes and a members-only golf club. Yet, one small, relatively hidden gate opens the wonders of the Gulf of Maine and Saco Bay. The longest walk is 1.6 miles, and in just 0.8 miles, you’re at the point, surrounded by seabirds and salty air.
The famously haunted Wood Island Lighthouse displays, in spectacular form, while waves crash on the rocky steps that descend below. Anyone of 260 species of birds can be spotted, with guest appearances in winter, like the Snowy Owl or Black Guillemot. The sanctuary is open from dawn to dusk, with benches along the way. Bring binoculars to seek out even more beauty
In Maine, Beauty Reigns
Visiting just one of these beautiful locations in Maine treats you to scenic views off the beaten path. But adding all of them to your Maine bucket list and visiting all of them offers unforgettable experiences that showcase the very best of the state.
We will give you a word of caution when you’re searching for this information. Some Mainers don’t want to give up the goods – understandably. They’ll even try to trick you into chasing something like the STOP sign pole at the Auburn Wal-Mart. Intriguing? Yes. Viral? You betcha. Beautiful? Not so much.
If we missed your favorite “Most Beautiful Place in Maine,” let us know! You might want to check our list of 10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in Maine or our Guide to the Best Small Towns in Maine first. We strive to uncover all their beauty, from hidden treasures to the most photographed lighthouses in the country.
This article was originally published by Travel+Discover Maine on June 3, 2024 and has been republished with permission.