National Parks in Maine

There are four National Parks in Maine, including services sites registered in by the U.S. National Parks system. Each of these national parks, trails, and sites contributes to the natural and cultural beauty of Maine. 

Maine National Parks Map

NPS in Maine Placeholder
NPS in Maine

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park, Maine

This national park starts off this list of national park service sites in Maine. The area where the park currently is used to be inhabited by the Wabanaki people. Today, the park protects the majority of the Mount Desert Island and other associated islands in the Atlantic Coast. This park was initially established in 1916 but at that time it was called Sieur de Monts National Monument. Three years later, it was named Lafayette National Park before it was finally named Acadia National Park in 1929.

The Acadia National Park is the oldest designated national park in the US located east of the Mississippi River. The entire park encompasses over 49,000 acres of land area. There is an average of 3 million people who visit the park each year.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Appalachian National Scenic Trail

This site encompasses the famous Appalachian Trail that starts in Maine and ends in Georgia. It is more commonly referred to as the Appalachian Trail. The entire trail measures over 2,200 miles and passes through 14 states. The trail was completed in 1937 after over 10 years of work. However, improvements and constructions were still ongoing even after it was completed. The trail is currently one of the national park service sites in Maine; however, there are 31 trail clubs and other partnerships that help in its maintenance and development.

In 2014, there were over 2,700 people who hiked the Appalachian trail. There are so-called “thru-hikers” of the Appalachian Trail – those who explore the entire trail. Most of the hikers travel to one point of the trail and then make their way back. The Appalachian Trail is the world’s longest hike-only trail.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine

This national monument encompasses mountainous and wilderness area in north-central Maine. The entire monument measures at 87,563 acres of land including a part of the East branch of Penobscot River. The site was named a national monument in 2016. It is currently one of the national park service sites in Maine being managed by the US National Park Service.

The site is of historical value to Maine being the site of human settlement dating back to 11,000 years ago. The woods and waterways in the region serve as important sources of survival for these early human settlers. Aside from its cultural and historical value, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is also an important subject for geological studies in Maine. The bedrock in the region provides an example of rock formation and development for more than 150 million years.

Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, Maine
Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, Maine

The Saint Croix Island is another unit of the national park service sites in Maine. It is more commonly referred to by locals as Dochet Island. It is an uninhabited island in Maine close to the mouth of the Saint Croix River, which forms part of the US-Canada border. The site was historically important because it is the site of an early attempt at French colonization in 1604 under the command of Henry IV of France.

By the act of the US Congress, the site was established as an international historic site. Public access to the island is prohibited. However, there is a visitor contact station in the US mainland. The island measures at 6.5 acres in land area.


View all the National Park Service Sites in neighboring states: National Parks in New Hampshire


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