Chimney Pond | Baxter State Park

This glacial pond is one of the most popular stops for hikers of Mount Katahdin. A 3.3-mile hike from the Roaring Brook campground and parking area, Chimney Pond provides spectacular views of Katahdin’s sheer cliffs. The 2,000-foot-tall granite walls frame the pond on three sides, making for a view that encapsulates both the stature and beauty of Maine’s highest mountain.

Mount Battie | Camden Hills State Park

The summit of Mount Battie, reachable by car or a moderately difficult 1.1-mile trail, offers panoramic views of downtown Camden and Penobscot Bay. Once at the peak,which features a stone tower, hikers and photographers can view Camden’s surrounding lakes and wooded hillsides. During foliage season, the vista looks like a red, yellow, and orange sea.

Old Speck Mountain | Grafton Notch State Park

Part of the Mahoosuc Range, this 4,000-foot peak is one of Maine’s highest and features stunning vistas of the surrounding area from multiple points along the trails. Old Speck Trail is a challenging 7.6-mile round trip that crosses over rivers and streams to the summit of Old Speck. The shorter Eyebrow Loop Trail is a 2.2-mile loop that provides rewarding vistas of Grafton Notch.

West Quoddy Head Light | Quoddy Head State Park

Known for its candy-cane striping, West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec is the easternmost lighthouse in the United States. During the summer months the lighthouse is open for tours, and you can climb up a circular iron staircase to reach the top. What was once the lightkeeper’s house is now a visitor center with information about the history of the lighthouse.

Fox Island | Popham Beach State Park

At low tide, a sandbar connects this rocky island to Popham Beach. Visitors can walk across the sand and climb up smooth boulders to view surrounding islands, including Seguin, which has a historic, active lighthouse. The peak of Fox Island also provides sweeping views of the state park and Morse Mountain.

Mount Blue | Mount Blue State Park

Rising above the rest of the state park and Webb Lake to the west, the 3,187-foot-tall Mount Blue overlooks the Weld region. At the summit, reached by a 1.4-mile trail, is an old fire tower that offers views of Tumbledown Mountain and Little Jackson and Big Jackson Mountains. A popular destination during the summer months, it is also open for winter hikes.