Bradbury Mountain State Park is a hiker’s favorite in the Pownal – Freeport Maine area. The short hike to the summit is a good choice to escape the summer crowds or to get off the couch in the winter.
Vaughn State Park, straddling the New Hampshire–Maine border is a 250-acre forested realm with a 3-mile trail system following the Salmon Falls River. Though it’s quite an easy hike lacking any mountain summit, the appeal in this old forested land is extremely tranquil.
The Cliff Walk to hikers is open year-round, even in winter, but be careful because it does freeze over during the colder months. If you’ve got roughly 45 minutes for a hike, this one is worth it because you’ll have a view of Maine’s southern coast unlike any other.
A self-guided hike spans just one mile and offers a lot in the way of plant life. Spring yields colorful flowers and it’s not uncommon to see mosses, carnivorous plants, and even wild fruit.
The park offers four spectacular trails (White Pines Trail, Harraseeket Trail, North Loop Trail, and the Casco Bay Trail) over just over four miles that offer unlimited opportunities to explore nature.