PORTLAND, Maine — "Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness is a rugged sanctuary of windswept peaks, backcountry ponds, and the remotest stretch of the Appalachian Trail—but you don’t need to be a grizzled hiker to enjoy it."
That reassuring sentiment from the August issue of Down East Magazine just might inspire some reluctant hikers to get out and explore a part of the state that even longtime Mainers likely don’t know well.
Before you go, though, you’ll need to do some homework, because once you’re in it, the 100 Mile Wilderness, which runs from Monson to Baxter State Park and includes the last leg of the Appalachian Trail, has no towns, no stores, and not much cell service.
If you know what you’re doing, though, your efforts will be rewarded. Memorable hikes? There are dozens. Places to stay? West Branch Pond Camps offers a traditional Maine sporting camp run by the fourth generation of the same family. An untouched patch of wilderness? The Hermitage is a 6-acre plot of land filled with towering white pines that date back to the 1800s.
Editor-in-Chief Brian Kevin joined 207 to talk about the guide to the 100 Mile Wilderness and other articles in the August issue. Watch our full conversation to learn more.