Adventures in the Life of ME: February 2013

A lot of us don't have much free time to devote to enjoying the great outdoors when you factor in work and personal commitments - but there are a few gems out there that don't require you to spend an entire afternoon getting off the beaten path. Bangor City Forest is one of those. If you live in the Bangor area or are just visiting and want to get into the woods but do not have a lot of time, this is a great place to go.

The city forest has 680 acres of wildlife habitat and working forest. All together, there are 9 miles of trails throughout the forest - these are accessible year-round. Many people use these trails for running during the warmer months, and during winter you can find people skiing and snowshoeing. The area is dog-friendly, but they require your dogs be leashed at all times (as always, please clean up after your pets). The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

More information on Bangor City Forest including hours and trail maps can be found here.

I know it's been quite a while since I've posted in this blog - I haven't been hiking as much the last couple years, but that is something that will be changing this summer :) Or sooner....

Camden Hills State Park

Friday afternoon was in the mid-upper 30s, so I logged off work a little early and headed for Camden. Initially I thought I would need my snowshoes for this hike, but when I got there the snow was already packed so well that I ended up hiking it without them. The park is dog-friendly, so I took my chocolate lab, Jack, along for the hike. Surprisingly it was just the two of us in the woods that day. There is a feeling of calm in the woods during winter that isn't there on the same level during other seasons. It was just what I needed.

Park Info - There are several park entrances that you can take, but I typically use the entrance on Rte 1 just before getting into the town of Camden. The day use fee for the park is $3.00. You can find more information about the park at the State of Maine's website here, and you can find a brochure with information published by the park here.

We ended up taking the trail up to Ocean Lookout (elev. 1300ft) to take in the views of the coast. Usually I take my Olympus with me, but I ended up with only my phone to take pictures with. They just don't do the view justice, but here are some photos from that day. If you live anywhere near Camden Hills State Park, be sure to check it out sometime. Any time of the year, I'm sure it is breath-taking. I can't wait to hike it in the fall when the leaves are in full color.