Knox Mountain - Newfield, York County

Knox Mountain in Newfield is part of the 3,954-acre Vernon S. Walker Wildlife Management Area maintained by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The 1-mile route to the top of Knox Mountain begins at a turnout off Route 11 across from the tip of Symmes Pond in Newfield. (See Map.) Rolling trail rises steadily along a local snowmobile trail, levels briefly and falls sharply before beginning final 1/3-mile ascent to the top. Stay straight as snowmobile trails merge from the left and the right.

Spacious flat rock top, with various small trees, shrubs and berries, offers nearly wide open 360-degree views of surrounding hills.

Ascent time: approx. 30 minutes.

Notebook:

Several fallen trees cross the trail within the first 2/3 mile. Expansive section of mud and muck prior to final ascent.

Reminder: The trail runs through a state wildlife management area but abuts private property. Please respect private landowners, stay on the marked trail and abide by the state's carry in, carry out policy.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee - NO | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - NO | Facilities - NO]

Eastern Trail - Scarborough, Cumberland County

The Eastern Trail courses nearly 80 miles on mostly quiet back roads between Strawbery Banke on the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, N.H., and Bug Light Park in South Portland. The only off-road section of the trail runs along an upgraded rail trail through the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

The 5-mile, off-road section of the Eastern Trail between Black Point Road in Scarborough and Milliken Mills Road in Old Orchard Beach offers a sanctuary for bikers, hikers, birdwatchers and dog walkers. The trail is accessible from both ends and via a well-marked parking lot on Pine Point Road in Scarborough. (See Map.)

The ultimate goal of the Eastern Trail Alliance is to convert the 70-plus on-road miles to sheltered and peaceful off-road miles by upgrading the abandoned Eastern Railroad Corridor, which stretches from South Portland to South Berwick. The plan is part of the regional East Coast Greenway initiative to establish a 3,000-mile off-road route from the Florida Keys to Calais, a project that is sometimes dubbed "the urban Appalachian Trail."

Notebook:

The wide and well-maintained trail is suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes and bikes with training wheels.

The packed stone dust trail is lined on both sides by wildflowers common in other parts of the state, especially along its country roads: snow white Queen Anne's Lace, scraggly yellow St. John's Wort, towering blue-violet chicory and sweet fuchsia tea roses, among dozens of others.

Various species of birds - including the Maine state bird, the chickadee - flutter in and out of the waving marsh grass. Graceful snowy egrets high-step along the shore and blue herons swoop over the marsh waters.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee -NO | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - YES | Facilities - NO]

Abbott Mountain - Shapleigh, York County

Abbott Mountain in Shapleigh is part of the 3,954-acre Vernon S. Walker Wildlife Management Area maintained by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The 1.25-mile route to the summit of Abbott Mountain begins at the intersection of Owl's Nest Road and Pitts Road in Shapleigh. (See Map.)

At the landowner's request, access to the mountain by Pitts Road, which is a private road, is by "foot and hoof" only. Pitts Road ends in less than a half mile and becomes the narrower Abbott Mountain Road, the first section of which is on private land. Continue on for about a quarter mile and take a sharp left at the junction of the local ATV trail. From here it is a straight - but at times steep - shot over a severely eroded loose rock and gravel trail to the Abbott Mountain gate. From the gate, which consists of several felled trees, it is a steep and rocky ascent to the summit.

The open-faced, rock summit affords views of the surrounding forest and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Ascent time: approx. 35 minutes

Notebook:

Because the first section of the trail is privately-owned, there are numerous signs - in one location eight signs on one tree - prohibiting everything from trespassing, hunting and fishing to snowmobiling and ATVing. This may be somewhat daunting, but read the signs closely and rest assured that "hikers are welcome."

Wildlife spotted along the route to the summit include a garter snake, chipmunks, squirrels, a white-tailed deer and several large soaring birds at the summit that don't seem to match any of the descriptions for hawks, falcons or vultures common in Maine.

Various wildflowers, wild blueberries and raspberry bushes dot the open, dirt and rock face that has been severely eroded by heavy rains and - although prohibited - ATV use.

[Quick-reference guide: Fee - NO | Dogs - YES | Kid-friendly - YES | Facilities - NO]