List of Maine state parks facts for kids

Welcome to Maine's amazing outdoor spaces! This page tells you all about the cool state parks, historic sites, and public lands you can explore in the beautiful state of Maine. These special places are managed by the Maine Department of Conservation. A few are managed differently, like Baxter State Park, which has its own authority, and Peacock Beach, which is looked after by the local town. Get ready to discover some awesome spots for adventure and learning!

Maine's Awesome State Parks

These parks are perfect for outdoor adventures! You can find places to hike, swim, camp, and enjoy nature.

Name	County	Town	Area	Year Opened	Water Body	Image	Fun Activities
			acres
Allagash Wilderness Waterway	Aroostook, Piscataquis		24,164	9,779	1966	Allagash River		Great for canoeing, fishing, hunting, and camping in the wilderness.
Androscoggin Riverlands	Androscoggin	Turner	2,674	1,082		Androscoggin River		Enjoy canoeing and exploring trails along 12 miles of river.
Aroostook State Park	Aroostook	Presque Isle	898	363	1938	Echo Lake		Perfect for swimming, hiking, and camping.
Baxter State Park	Piscataquis		209,501	84,782	1931			Home to Mount Katahdin, Maine's tallest peak, great for serious hiking.
Birch Point State Park	Knox	Owls Head	62	25	1999	Penobscot Bay		A small, lovely beach area.
Bradbury Mountain State Park	Cumberland	Pownal	730	300	1939			Famous for mountain biking trails.
Camden Hills State Park	Knox, Waldo	Camden, Lincolnville	5,710	2,310	1947			Trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and winter sports.
Cobscook Bay State Park	Washington	Edmunds Township	871	352	1964	Cobscook Bay		Watch the amazing tides here!
Crescent Beach State Park	Cumberland	Cape Elizabeth	242	98	1966	Atlantic Ocean		Enjoy the saltwater beach and hiking trails.
Damariscotta Lake State Park	Lincoln	Jefferson	19	7.7	1970	Damariscotta Lake		A popular sandy beach for swimming.
Ferry Beach State Park	York	Saco	117	47		Atlantic Ocean		Another lovely sandy beach.
Fort Point State Park	Waldo	Stockton Springs	156	63	1974	Penobscot Bay		Offers beautiful views and fishing spots.
Grafton Notch State Park	Oxford	Grafton Township	3,129	1,266	1963	Bear River		Fantastic for hiking with waterfalls.
Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park	Hancock	Brooksville	1,345	544	1971	Penobscot Bay		Great for hiking, kayaking, swimming, and watching birds.
Lake St. George State Park	Waldo	Liberty Township	358	145		Lake St. George		Enjoy camping, swimming, boating, and hiking.
Lamoine State Park	Hancock	Lamoine	55	22	1949	Frenchman's Bay		Good for camping and kayaking.
Lily Bay State Park	Piscataquis	Greenville	924	374	1959	Moosehead Lake		Located on Maine's largest lake.
Mackworth Island	Cumberland	Falmouth	100	40	1946	Casco Bay		Offers hiking and beautiful views.
Moose Point State Park	Waldo	Searsport	146	59	1952	Penobscot Bay		Great for hiking and scenic views.
Mount Blue State Park	Franklin	Weld	7,489	3,031	1955	Webb Lake		Features a beach, hiking, and camping.
Mount Kineo State Park	Piscataquis	Kineo Township	800	320		Moosehead Lake		Has trails and amazing views.
Owls Head Light State Park	Knox	Owls Head	13	5.3		Penobscot Bay		Visit the beaches and the historic lighthouse.
Peacock Beach State Park	Sagadahoc	Richmond	10	4.0		Pleasant Pond		Managed by the local community.
Peaks-Kenny State Park	Piscataquis	Dover-Foxcroft, Bowerbank	813	329	1964	Sebec Lake		Offers a beach, boating, and camping.
Penobscot River Corridor	Piscataquis, Somerset		12,500	5,100		Penobscot River		A wild area for fishing, hiking, and canoeing.
Popham Beach State Park	Sagadahoc	Phippsburg	605	245		Atlantic Ocean		A beautiful sandy beach.
Quoddy Head State Park	Washington	Lubec	541	219	1962	Atlantic Ocean		Home to a historic lighthouse.
Range Ponds State Park	Androscoggin	Poland	740	300	1965	Range Ponds		Features a sandy beach.
Rangeley Lake State Park	Franklin	Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation	870	350	1960	Rangeley Lake		Great for lakeside camping.
Reid State Park	Sagadahoc	Georgetown	770	310	1946	Sheepscot Bay		Offers swimming and sandy beaches.
Roque Bluffs State Park	Washington	Roque Bluffs	274	111	1969	Englishman Bay		Has great hiking trails.
Sebago Lake State Park	Cumberland	Naples, Casco	1,342	543	1938	Sebago Lake		Popular for boating, swimming, and camping.
Shackford Head State Park	Washington	Eastport	87	35	1989	Cobscook Bay		Explore shoreline and inland hiking paths.
Swan Lake State Park	Waldo	Swanville	67	27		Swan Lake		Good for swimming and canoeing.
Two Lights State Park	Cumberland	Cape Elizabeth	41	17	1961	Casco Bay		See historic lighthouses here.
Vaughan Woods State Park	York	South Berwick	165	67	1949	Salmon Falls River		Explore an old-growth forest.
Warren Island State Park	Waldo	Islesboro	70	28	1959	Penobscot Bay		Only reachable by private boat.
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park	Cumberland	Freeport	244	99	1969	Casco Bay		A great spot for watching ospreys.

Historic Sites: Step Back in Time

These sites are like outdoor museums, showing you what life was like long ago in Maine.

Name	County	Town	Area	Image	What Makes It Special
			acres
Bible Point	Aroostook		27	11		This was a campsite for a young Teddy Roosevelt on Mattawamkeag Lake.
Colburn House State Historic Site	Kennebec	Pittston	6	2.4		The home of Reuben Colburn, a patriot and shipbuilder.
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site	Lincoln	Bristol	19	7.7		See where a colonial town stood since the early 1600s.
Eagle Island State Historic Site	Cumberland	Harpswell	17	6.9		This was the home of famous explorer Admiral Robert Peary.
Fort Baldwin State Historic Site	Sagadahoc	Phippsburg	10	4.0		An early 1900s fort built to protect the coast near the Kennebec River.
Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site	Lincoln	Edgecomb	3	1.2		Visit a two-story, eight-sided wooden fort on Davis Island.
Fort Halifax State Historic Site	Kennebec	Winslow	0.75	0.30		A British outpost from colonial times on the Sebasticook River.
Fort Kent State Historic Site	Aroostook	Fort Kent	3	1.2		A fort built during the Aroostook War where two rivers meet.
Fort Knox State Historic Site	Waldo	Prospect	124	50		A large 1800s fort built to defend the coast on the Penobscot River.
Fort McClary State Historic Site	York	Kittery Point	27	11		An 1800s fort protecting the mouth of the Piscataqua River.
Fort O'Brien State Historic Site	Washington	Machiasport	2	0.81		A fort on the Machias River that was destroyed in two wars.
Fort Popham State Historic Site	Sagadahoc	Phippsburg	4	1.6		A Civil War-era fort at the mouth of the Kennebec River.
Fort Pownall	Waldo	Stockton Springs	3	1.2		Located within Fort Point State Park.
John Paul Jones State Historic Site	York	Kittery	2	0.81		This site has a memorial for Maine's sailors and soldiers.
Katahdin Iron Works	Piscataquis	T6R9	23	9.3		See the remains of an old iron factory that ran from 1845 to 1890.
Storer Garrison State Historic Site	York	Wells	0	0		A plaque marks the spot of the historic Storer Garrison.
Whaleback Shell Midden	Lincoln	Damariscotta	11	4.5		A huge pile of ancient Oyster shells on the Damariscotta River.

Public Reserved Lands: Wild Maine Adventures

These lands are managed for everyone to enjoy. They offer lots of space for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and exploring nature.

Name	County	Town	Area	Image	What You Can Do
			acres
Bigelow Preserve	Franklin, Somerset		35,000	14,000		Explore vast wilderness, hike mountains, and enjoy scenic views.
Cutler Coast	Washington		12,238	4,953		Discover rugged coastal trails and stunning ocean scenery.
Donnell Pond	Hancock		15,391	6,229		Enjoy remote ponds and forests, great for paddling and camping.
Gero Island	Piscataquis		4,051	1,639		A large island in a lake, offering unique island exploration.
Moosehead Lake	Piscataquis		14,500	5,900		Explore Maine's largest lake, perfect for boating and wildlife viewing.
Nahmakanta	Piscataquis		43,966	17,792		A huge wilderness area for serious outdoor adventures.
Tumbledown	Franklin		10,555	4,271		Hike to the top for incredible views and a mountain pond.

See also

• List of U.S. national parks
• Maine Wildlife Management Areas (WMA)