Appalachian Mountain Club - Maine Chapter

Hike the Bold Coast of Maine, in a wilderness overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Fairy Head Loop follows the cliffs and ledges of the Downeast shoreline with spectacular views of pocket beaches, cobble beaches, rock formations, water, waves, and islands. It is as wild a stretch of coast as the state has to offer. Starting from the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land Trailhead, this hike begins with a 1.4-mile walk through a maritime spruce-fir forest which opens up to the first amazing vista of the Coastal Trail. It then meanders along a 4-mile section of the coast, alternating between wooded views and open views, root and rock covered paths and rocky ledge, and passing isolated cobble beaches that will remind you of a deserted island, with a soundtrack of wind, waves, and bird calls. After navigating the coastal section, we will return via the Inland Trail, through a quiet forest with a floor of emerald green moss. On a sunny day, this is a bucket list hike. On a foggy day, it’s other worldly and enchanting.
Stats: Distance is 11 miles, elevation gain of 1,100 feet, moving time of 8 plus hours, total time, including lunch and breaks, of 9-10 hours. This hike is rated vigorous to strenuous. In addition to the distance, the treadway includes sharp, broken rocks, and rocky, uneven ledge, which can make for slow going. The expected pace will be slow, 40 – 45 minutes per mile. The pace will allow time to visit the many overlooks and beaches and take pictures. Follow the link for more information.
https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/index.pl?search_radio=1&state_park=&historic_site=&public_reserved_land=44&shared_use_trails=&town=&distance=&submit=Go+%BB On this web page, there are additional links. Particularly useful is the link to the Guide & Map.
This is an all-day affair, and parking can be an issue during peak season. We will start early, at 7am. Plan to have enough food, snacks, and drinks to carry you through. Bring at least 2 liters of water. You will need a day pack, sturdy hiking boots or shoes, and a good pair of hiking socks. You should also consider bringing trekking poles, sunscreen, wick-a-way clothing, bug defense, and a light extra layer or wind breaker. Even though the trail follows along the top of the bluffs, it is set back enough that it should not present a problem for anyone who struggles with heights. Some of the overlooks might be an issue, but they are optional, and avoiding the overlooks will not detract from the experience. No kids or dogs. Sorry.
If you are interested in participating but the cost of outdoor gear is a barrier, use this link to learn about our partnership with Maine GearShare: https://amcmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AMC-MGS-1-Page-flyer.pdf
This event is free, but registration is required. Register here: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000015aBx2AI/act00020310. Thank you.

Ragged Mountain in Camden/Rockport is a well-known and beloved hiking destination within easy driving distance of Portland, Augusta, Lewiston, and Bangor. It offers varied terrain and open ledges with views of the ocean, islands, lakes and ponds, and inland views of mountains near and far. It also offers no less than five separate trails that lead to the summit so there are many different combinations of routes, each with its own unique charm. When trip planning for this hike I was looking for a new twist. While thumbing through guidebooks I discovered a route I’d never done before in the AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast https://www.outdoors.org/resources/books-and-maps/. When I pre-hiked this circuit I found the beauty of this option, unlike other options, is that it spans the entire ridgeline of Ragged Mountain and it’s a loop, so no need to spot cars at both ends.
This route begins at the Thorndike Brook Trailhead of the Round the Mountain Trail (RTM), 223 Hope Street, Camden, ME. It quickly meets the Georges Highland Path (GHP) and ascends through the woods along the GHP to a junction with another section of the GHP that comes up from the Barnstown Road Trailhead. From there it follows the entire ridgeline of the mountain with expansive and sweeping views. At a spot known as Sundown Ledge there is a turnoff that leads to the summit. Coming down from the summit, the route begins to descend along the section of the GHP that originates on Route 17, with more ledges and overlooks, as it heads into the woods again. At a junction, the route switches to the Round the Mountain Trail for the final leg to close the loop. Up to this point, the trail has been a foot path with roots, rocks, and ledge.
The RTM trail is a different treadway. If a hiking trail and a carriage road had a baby, that describes the RTM. It’s a 6-foot-wide gavel path like a carriage road but it meanders up and down and side to side like a trail.
There’s a lot to see here. Woods trails, the Round The Mountain trail, a couple of lichen gardens, stream crossings on bridges and over rocks, historic stone fences, and spectacular views from the extended time on top. And who knows, maybe there will be a surprise along the way. This is a fun hike. About 7.5 miles with about 1,300’ of elevation gain, variable terrain with some steep up and down sections, but no serious bouldering or rock scrambling. The pace will be slow to moderate with 5-6 hours of moving time and total time with lunch and breaks of 6-7 hours. Rating is vigorous. This outing is appropriate for strong hikers and for those with less experience who want to up their game in the comfort of a group setting. There is no cost to attend. No kids or dogs. Sorry. The following links provide more information about hiking in this area.
https://www.georgesriver.org/ragged-mountain
https://www.coastalmountains.org/preserves/ragged-mountain-preserve/
https://www.coastalmountains.org/preserves/ragged-mountain-hiking-trails/
You will need a day pack to haul lunch, snacks, and at least 2 liters of water. You will also need sturdy hiking boots or shoes and hiking socks. Wear wick away clothing. Bring an extra shirt, a hat, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Optional: trekking poles.
If you are interested in participating but the cost of outdoor gear is a barrier, use this link to learn about our partnership with Maine GearShare: https://amcmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AMC-MGS-1-Page-flyer.pdf
This event is free, but registration is required. Register here: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000017hsT2AQ/act00020814. Thank you.

Welcome to the Schoodic Peninsula (Maine) Leg of the Appalachian Mountain Club 150th Anniversary Relay! We’ll begin the fun by meeting at the Schoodic Woods Ranger Station at 8:30am and taking a short and easy 2-mile loop hike on the Lower Harbor Trail, with views of Mosquito Harbor and the nearby islands in the bay, and then back to the visitor center on the Frazer Creek Bike Path. Elevation gain is about 150 feet. The trail section has roots and rocks. It should take about an hour. We’ll then take the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus to Ravens Nest and take a very short walk (less than half a mile) and spend half an hour enjoying the clifftop views above pocket beaches and across Frenchman Bay. From there we continue on foot about a mile and a half along the Park Loop Road and the gravel Ranger Cabin Road to connect to the Schoodic Head Trail and the Anvil Trail. We’ll explore Schoodic Head. The very pretty woods here are green and quiet and interspersed with boulders, sheer granite walls, and rock formations. Schoodic Head overlooks the coast, the islands, two lighthouses, and Cadillac Mountain on Mt. Desert Island. This 2-mile section of our outing is rated vigorous, with an elevation gain of approximately 600 feet. It travels along traditional trails with roots, rocks, and steep up and down sections. We’ll end up at the Blueberry Hill parking area where we can explore the beach while we wait for the bus. From Ravens Nest to Blueberry Hill should take about 3 hours. For the last portion of our trek, we will take the bus back to the Schoodic Woods Ranger Station, and either drive or take the bus to Schoodic Point, where we can walk out on expansive granite ledges and relax and watch the surf before we part ways.
What to bring: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots, lunch, snacks, 2 liters of water, wick away clothing, a hat, sunscreen, and bug dope. Optional: Trekking poles. No dogs allowed. Rain date 8/31/2026.
While the AMC does not charge for participating in this activity, you will need an Entrance Pass to enter Acadia National Park. If you enter by car, the fee is per car, NOT per person, so carpooling could save you some money. For information on getting a park pass, follow this link: https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/fees.htm
This event is free but registration is required. Register here; https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN00000218s12AA/act00017735
Join the Appalachian Mountain Club 150th Anniversary celebration! This is a wonderful way to share your love of the outdoors with a like-minded and friendly community of fellow hikers.
If you are interested in participating but the cost of outdoor gear is a barrier, use this link to learn about our partnership with Maine GearShare: https://amcmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AMC-MGS-1-Page-flyer.pdf