Useful Guidebooks and Publications

A note about guidebooks: the wonderful thing about web sites is that their information can be continually updated. Printed materials, however valuable, are often out-of-date when they come off the press: trails are rerouted, phone numbers and web addresses change, and management policies shift over time. So please remember that details included in the following guides may no longer be accurate: when possible, call to confirm key information.

All of Maine

The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme, 2007. If you’re going off the main roads, this atlas is indispensable. It shows elevation contours; trails and trailheads; boat access points; some nature preserves and parks; beaches; waterfalls; interesting natural areas; and popular settings for canoeing, rafting, cross-country skiing and more. While this is a great resource for day-tripping, please don’t use it as a substitute for charts or topo maps if you heading offshore or into backcountry settings.

AMC Maine Mountain Guide (9th Edition), edited by Peg Nation and Brenda Cummings. Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club, 2005. This is a valuable reference guide for hiking throughout Maine, with recommended hikes in each region, guidance on trail options and lengths, and pull-out maps. Don’t expect a lot of poetic scene-setting, but the practical details in this guide make it well worth its weight in your backpack.

AMC Quiet Water Canoeing Guide: Maine by Alex Wilson and John Hayes (Second Edition). Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club, 2005. provides more detailed description (and some relevant natural history) than the more comprehensive AMC River Guide. It’s more narrative style and added content makes it a helpful reference for wildlife watchers and families. Each description has a map and directions to the put-in, and indications of length/difficulty. (Take the title with a grain of salt: not all these locations are “calm” settings – many are larger ponds where wind can create rough conditions.)

AMC River Guide: Maine (Fourth Edition) edited by John Fiske. This guide is an indispensable reference for those planning to do extensive paddling in Maine – with 140 river trips covered in detail and some maps and watershed guides.

Best Loop Hikes: New Hampshire’s White Mountains to the Maine Coast by Jeffrey Romano. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers, 2006. Thirty of the 60 hikes featured fall within Maine, encompassing ones in the Western mountains, Baxter Park and Moosehead Lake region, and the coast. Each write-up has a detailed map and there’s a helpful summary of options so you can compare distance/duration and find ones by certain features (if you’re seeking out waterfalls, for example, or looking only for family-friendly trails). There’s a mix of half- and full-day hikes, with a handful of overnight options.

Foghorn Outdoors New England Biking by Melissa L. Kim. Avalon Travel Publishing, 2005. The chapter on Maine describes 19 rides, ranging from mountain bike rides in the Western mountains to paved roads along coastal peninsulas and on islands. Each ride is labeled for difficulty level, and most fall in the 3-5 range for serious cyclists (not the family friendly 1-2 end of the spectrum). This is a better resource for serious bikers than for novices or families with young children.

Maine Forever: A Guide to Nature Conservancy Preserves in Maine (2nd edition) by Ruth Ann Hill. Topsham, Maine: Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 1989. This preserve guide to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) properties in Maine, while outdated, is still a valuable reference if you can find it used or through your library. It has preserve descriptions for 45 TNC Preserves (many of them small and appropriate for day hikes) – with trail maps and natural history notes. It was produced at a time when TNC had preserved about 50,000 acres: now, TNC has helped protect more than 1 million acres so the next edition (no imminent plans for this, unfortunately) will be much larger.

Moon Handbooks MAINE by Kathleen M. Brandes (3rd edition). Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2006. This Moon Handbook is one of the more comprehensive and well-researched general guidebooks on Maine travel. In addition to the usual summary notes on things to see and do and places to eat and stay, there are descriptions of local parks and preserves, and worthwhile “back chapters” on Maine’s land, flora and fauna, outdoor recreation and other topics. All 695 chock-full pages are printed on recycled paper. (A 2008 edition of this handbook, by Hilary Nangle, is also available.)

Sunrise Guide: Your Guide to Living Green in Southern Maine edited by Heather Chandler and published annually by SunriseGuide, LLC. This useful resource has a wealth of valuable guidance on sustainable living in Maine and more than 200 coupons for goods and services for food & dining, home & garden supplies, personal care; travel and other green arenas.

Coastal Maine

MITA 2008 Stewardship Handbook and Guidebook. Maine Island Trail Association, Portland, ME 2008. This annual publication for MITA members provides detailed descriptions and maps for the 160 islands and mainland sites along this 350-mile waterway that goes from Cape Porpoise to Machias Bay. The handbook includes useful and accessible guidance on safety, navigation, low-impact practices, and coastal natural history.

Kayaking the Maine Coast: A Paddler’s Guide to Day Trips from Kittery to Cobscook by Dorcas Miller. Woodstock, VT: Backcountry Guides, 2000. Among the many sea-kayaking guides to Maine, this is one of the most thorough and well-researched. The introductory section provides valuable information on safety concerns, “defensive paddling” and low-impact outings. The geographic descriptions include interesting notes on cultural and natural history and information about conserved and public lands. This guide focuses on appropriate launch sites and areas to explore rather than suggested trips.

50 Hikes in Southern and Coastal Maine: From the Mahoosuc Range to Mount Desert Island by John Gibson. Woodstock, VT: Backcountry Guides, 2001 (Third edition). This guide outlines hikes, ranging in length from 1-10 miles (with most under 5) in Maine’s Southwestern and Coastal portions. Trail outlines superimposed on topo maps help to illustrate the routes.

On the Trail in Lincoln County by Paula Roberts. Damariscotta: Lincoln County Publishing, 2003. Packed into 100 pages are descriptions of 50 trails, parks and preserves in Lincoln County – primarily ones owned and managed by regional land trusts and lake/river/watershed associations. The properties are all open for respectful day use. Copies can be purchased in area bookstores or from the Lincoln County News office at 207-563-3171.

Cobscook Trails: A Guide to Walking Opportunities around the Cobscook Bay and Bold Coast Region by Quoddy Regional Land Trust.Whiting, ME, 2007 (Third Edition). This 55-page pocket guide provides detailed property information and walking routes for 19 parks and preserves in easternmost Washington County. Collaboratively produced by nonprofit land trusts that work in the area, the booklet provides a valuable resource for exploring one of the most remote and beautiful sections of coastal Maine. To purchase the guide, contact QRLT at 733-5509 or info@qrlt.org.

Discover Acadia National Park (2nd ed): AMC Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking and Paddling by Jerry and Marcy Monkman. Boston, MA: Appalachian Mountain Club Books, 2005. With a detailed, pull-out map, this book offers an overview of excursions with a useful “trip planner” chart depicting all the options with the distance, difficulty and estimated time shown. Sidebars on natural history topics enhance the book’s utility.

The Maine Coast: A Nature Lover’s Guide by Dorcas Miller. Charlotte, NC: East Woods Press, 1979. With detailed sections on geology, wildlife and particular ecosystems (such as rocky shore and freshwater wetlands), this book provides a valuable overview of coastal natural history. It also describes key parks, preserves and natural landmarks in southern Maine, the midcoast and downeast. While this useful manual is no longer in print, it is available in many public libraries (and can be ordered through interlibrary loan).

Maine Geographic Canoeing (Volume 1), by Zip Kellogg. Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping, 1993. This pocket guide offers detailed trip overviews for Coastal and Eastern Rivers with practical launch and paddling information. Available at DeLorme’s Freeport store.

Inland Maine

50 Hikes in the Maine Mountains: Day Hikes and Backpacks in the Fabled Northern Peaks and Lake Country by Cloe Chunn. Woodstock, VT: Backcountry Guides, 2002 (Third edition). Maine resident Cloe Chunn outlines good trail routes in Northern and Western portions of Maine, including the Tumbledown area, Rangeley Lakes, the Bigelow Range and Baxter State Park. Hikes range from 2-hour jaunts to 5-day treks. Chunn includes tips on the best trails for family hikes.

Maine Geographic Canoeing (Volumes 2 and 3), by Zip Kellogg. Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping, 1995 and 1997. These two pocket guides provide surprisingly detailed trip overviews – by region (Western Rivers in Vol. 2 and Northern Rivers in Vol. 3). Practical launch and paddling information is interwoven with interesting historic trivia. Available in Maine sporting goods stores and supermarkets or from DeLorme’s Freeport store.

The BRCA Trail Map and Guide to the Kennebec Highlands by Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance. Belgrade Lakes, ME: BRCA, 2007. This trail map for the Kennebec Highlands provides detailed trail descriptions for hiking trails within this 6,000-acre conserved area, and a map depicting many unimproved trails and old logging roads – some of which are suitable for mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Map is available to those who join BRCA.

Getting Outdoors with Children

Adventuring with Children: The Family Pack-along Guide to the Outdoors and the World, by Nan Jeffrey (with Kevin Jeffrey). Foghorn Press/Avalon House, San Francisco, CA, 1992. This useful handbook covers the basics of what to pack, how to manage the logistics of camping, hiking, bicycling, sailing and canoeing with children. It touches on a lot of the common concerns of young families—from how to manage outdoor travel with babies to what to include in your first aid kit. While the authors and their sons have done extended global travels, most of their learnings apply to families undertaking tamer adventures closer to home.

Best Hikes with Kids: Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine (Third Edition) by Cynthia Copeland, Thomas J. Lewis and Emily Kerr. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2007. The chapter on Maine features 31 hikes – each with detailed guidance on trail choices and conditions, natural features you’re likely to see and ways to acquaint children with the place. The trail maps are marginal in quality, but there’s plenty of written guidance as well.

In and Out of Portland with Children (3rd edition), by Jane Petrlik Smolik. MidRun Press, Wenham, MA, 2006. This guide for family explorations in southern Maine has several chapters that will be of interest to those seeking meaningful outdoor adventures. It lists established boat tours, describes some popular island destinations, and lists aquaria, the State’s wildlife park, and farms that participate in “open farm day.” There are also suggestions for outfitters that offer biking, canoeing and kayaking and climbing.

Mainely Kids: A Guide to Family Fun in Southern Maine, by Crystal Ward Kent, University Press of New England, Hanover, NH, 2005. Chapters on things to “see and do” in southern coastal Maine are interspersed with helpful information about Maine natural history, marine life, and basic safety guidance. While not confined to outdoor opportunities, the guide includes lots of destinations and activities that center around the natural world.

Other Useful Publications

Backcountry Cooking: From Pack to Plate in 10 Minutes, by Dorcas Miller. Emmaus, PA: The Mountaineers Press/Backpacker Magazine, 1998. If you’re weary of ramen noodles and gorp on the trail, peruse this guide to more interesting outdoor cuisine. Maine resident Dorcas Miller provides ideas for nourishing meals outdoors that are easy to prepare, along with larder and gear suggestions and culinary planning ideas from seasoned outdoor adventurers. For additional recipes and tips, see her subsequent cookbook, More Backcountry Cooking: Moveable Feasts from the Experts (2002, Mountaineers Press).

The Essential Outdoor Gear Manual: Equipment, Care, Repair and Selection (Second Edition) by Annie Getchell and David Getchell Jr. Camden, Maine: Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill, 2000. This well-written and nicely illustrated manual offers a valuable guide for those who seek to “reuse and recycle” when it comes to outdoor gear – giving new lives to well-worn items – from boots and packs to campstoves and tents.

The Green Travel Sourcebook: A Guide for the Physically Active, the Intellectually Curious, or the Socially Aware by Daniel Grotta and Sally Wiener Grotta. New York: John Wiley, 1992. While the extensive listings of green travel providers in this guide are somewhat out-of-date, the book still offers valuable tips and considerations for planning green adventures.

Hot Showers! Maine Coast Lodgings for Kayakers and Sailors by Lee Bumsted. Biddle/Audenreed Press, 2000. This directory (now somewhat outdated) offers cruising boaters and sea kayakers an array of more than 130 mainland and 20 island lodgings, along with 35 coastal campgrounds – all accessible by small boat. This guide is particularly valuable for those traveling the Maine Island Trail as many islands now have capacity limits and boaters should have backup lodging ideas during peak season.

Leave No Trace: Outdoor Skills and Ethics—Northeast Mountains by National Outdoor Leadership School. Lander, WY: 1997. This 24-page guide, with explicit directions for low-impact hiking and camping, is a valuable resource for learning and teaching about Leave No Trace techniques. Copies can be purchased through Leave No Trace or by calling 1-800-332-4100.

Saving Maine: An Album of Conservation Success Stories by Bill Silliker, Jr. Camden, Maine: Downeast, 2002. Bill Silliker, Jr, a talented nature and wildlife photographer and dedicated conservationist, assembled this collection of tales about land conservation projects in Maine shortly before his untimely death in 2003. His stunning photographs and accompanying text recount a handful of inspiring initiatives to save wild settings through “generosity, patience and perseverance.” This offers valuable background reading for those who appreciate Maine’s conserved lands but know little about how they came to be protected.

The Public Benefits of Conserved Lands by Marina Schauffler. Topsham, ME: Maine Coast Heritage Trust, 2005. Conserved lands clearly are vital for outdoor recreation, but what about their many other benefits? This 20-page handbook, which outlines how conserved lands enhance local economies, safeguard drinking water, improve quality of life and enrich younger generations, can be a good outreach tool for those working to protect cherished community landmarks. For copies, contact MCHT at 207-729-7366 or info@mcht.org.

To Save A River by Scott Dickerson and Dennis C. Shultz. Camden, Maine: Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Aperture Foundation, 2002. This large-format book offers a portrait of the Ducktrap River in midcoast Maine, and the remarkable collaborative effort that has protected more than 80 percent of its shoreline. It’s a work of art worth perusing for those who know the Ducktrap and for those who have their own favorite rivers and watersheds elsewhere – and seek inspiration in protecting them.

Greening Your Business (Best Practices)

Maine Sea Grant and the Vacationland Resource Committee of Down East Resource Conservation and Development Council have published A Resource Guide for Sustainable Tourism in Down East Maine and Southwest New Brunswick with technical information and resources to help businesses practice sustainable tourism by improving practices in areas such as purchasing, water conservation, building design, energy conservation, landscaping, and waste management and recycling.

Maine Clean Marinas and Boatyards Program, a voluntary program promoting best managmenet practices in boatyards and marinas, has a certification process/self-assessment administered by the Maine Marine Trades Association. The State has also published Brightwork, A Best Management Practices Manual for Maine’s Boatyards and Marinas.

Families Outdoors

Helpful Family Guides

Unplugging

Families seeking to spend less time before screens and more time outdoors may benefit from the following resources:

Center for Screentime Awareness

Living Outside the Box: TV-free Families Share Their Secrets by Barbara Brock