Maine is a state known for its natural wonder and rugged beauty. From the lush green forests to the scenic rocky coasts, Maine is a hiker’s paradise, and with upwards of 1,800 trails to be found in the state, there is a hike for everyone, experienced or novice.
For young families, hiking provides a healthy, screen-free activity for the whole brood and fosters an appreciation for environmental conservation in children, says the National Park Service. The American Hiking Society calls hiking “nature’s therapy” because of the way it “rejuvenates happiness and soothes the mind.”
“We and our brewery partners encourage families to explore conserved lands in the Sebago Lake watershed to see in person the work the forests are doing to protect Portland’s pristine water supply,” said Karen Young, partnership director for Sebago Clean Waters, a coalition of organizations working to protect the forests in the Sebago Lake watershed to benefit water quality, wildlife, and the Maine way of life. “Forests filter water naturally, which is a key reason why Portland’s tap water is so clean and tastes so good—it is coming from a lake surrounded by trees! The more we can connect young people to the source of this water, the more inspired they will be to protect it for themselves and future generations.”
A good hike will often end with fulfillment, a connection with nature, and of course a need for some refreshment. Breweries are a great place to take a load off after a hike, with many located just minutes from trailheads. A growing number of Maine breweries aim to provide quality brews, locally sourced food, and family-friendly environments. The Maine beer industry has exploded in the past decade—at press time, the state is home to over 140 craft breweries.
Breweries can be a great family option for post-hike refreshments. They often have outdoor seating, with games and activities to keep the kids occupied while their parents sip on ales, lagers, porters, or stouts. Beyond the beer, many breweries offer full food menus, have on-site wood-fired pizza ovens, or host a revolving group of food trucks. Craft sodas are commonplace on menus and help to include children in the experience.
Here we serve up eight kid-friendly (and dog-friendly) hiking trails around Maine paired with craft breweries located within a couple miles of the trailheads. Enjoy the outdoors, the food, the beer, and the quality family time.
Moxie Falls and Kennebec River Brewery in West Forks
The Hike
Trailhead: 503 Lake Moxie Road, West Forks
Website: kennebecvalley.org/story/moxie-falls
At just under a mile, and sporting wooden boardwalks and stairs covering rough terrain, the hike to Moxie Falls is relatively easy and offers a big payoff: the view of the 90-foot falls. If it’s a hot day, several natural pools upstream of the falls provide a safe and fun way for kids and adults to cool off.
The Brewery
Address: 1771 US-201, West Forks
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Website: northernoutdoors.com/kennebec-river-brewery
Founded in 1996, Kennebec River Brewery offers a wide selection of beers on tap. Its flagship Magic Hole IPA is a local favorite, and the Big Mama Blueberry Ale is a good choice for those looking for a lighter brew with a Maine twist. The brewery serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and its full menu offers plenty of options for kids.
Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary and Fogtown Brewing Co. in Ellsworth
The Hike
Trailhead: 289 High Street, Ellsworth
Website: birdsacre.com
With three miles of interconnected trails weaving among its pines, spruces, and grassy swamps, the Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary offers a view of many plants and animals native to Maine. A bird lover’s paradise, the sanctuary is a stopover for migrating birds in the spring and fall. It’s also home to several hawks, vultures, and owls, who are recuperating from various traumas in spacious cages.
The Brewery
Address: 25 Pine Street, Ellsworth
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1 to 9 p.m.
Website: fogtownbrewing.com
Fogtown Brewing Co. offers a variety of beers, ciders, hard seltzers, and limited-release vintage wines. The 25 tons of spent grain the brewery produces each year goes to local farms and composters, as well as into its made-to-order, wood-fired pizzas.
Debe Park River Walk and Bigelow Brewing Company in Skowhegan
The Hike
Trailhead: 9-27 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Skowhegan
Website: mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/debe-park-river-walk
The Debe Park River Walk packs a punch into its half-mile distance. A great option for multigenerational strolls, this gentle, paved trail is lined with benches that let the young and old rest while admiring the Kennebec River Gorge and the kayakers, cyclists, and fishermen that frequent the area. Visitors will also find picnic tables and fitness stations along the walk.
The Brewery
Address: 473 Bigelow Hill Road, Skowhegan
Hours: Thursday 4 to 8 p.m., Friday 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday noon to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Website: bigelowbrewing.com
The passion project of Jeff and Pam Powers, high school sweethearts and Maine natives, Bigelow Brewing Company offers many locally sourced beers, along with a full menu of wood-fired pizzas, salads, and appetizers like chips and salsa. Its spacious lawn often plays host to live music.
Lobster Cove Meadow and Boothbay Craft Brewery in Boothbay
The Hike
Trailhead: 101 Eastern Avenue, Boothbay Harbor
Website: bbrlt.org/preserves/lobster-cove
As they enter the meadow, hikers are greeted by a granite slab with the words “For the Children.” The lush woodlands and marshes of Lobster Cove make for a picturesque, mostly flat hike. Be on the lookout for butterflies, birds, and turtles.
The Brewery
Address: 301 Adams Pond Rd, Boothbay
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 3 to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 7 p.m.
Website: boothbaycraftbrewery.com
Boothbay Craft Brewery serves up barbecue bites and craft brews. The Thirsty Botanist IPA and 633 Boothbay Pale Ale are two of the most popular options on tap, and you can’t go wrong with the smashburger. On the grassy patio, kids can feel free to frolic and get in on a game of bocce.
Wolfe’s Neck State Park and Maine Beer Company in Freeport
The Hike
Trailhead: 426 Wolfe’s Neck Road, Freeport
Website: mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/wolfe-s-neck-woods-state-park
With 4.4 miles of trails that pass through white pine forests, over rocky shorelines, and right by a salt marsh estuary, Wolfe’s Neck is best known for the ospreys that nest on nearby Googins Island. All can marvel at these graceful birds through a spotting scope, watching as they dive into the water in search of prey.
The Brewery
Address: 525 US-1, Freeport, ME
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Website: mainebeercompany.com
“Do what’s right” is the motto of the Maine Beer Company, whose focus on sustainability and fair compensation is matched by their commitment to beer. The brewery specializes in pale ales for adults (with some stouts, porters, and seasonal brews mixed in) and offers kids a variety of Maine Root sodas. Pizzas, salads, and snacks like pretzels and charcuterie boards round out the food menu.
Spring Point Shoreway and Foulmouthed Brewing in South Portland
The Hike
Trailhead: Willow Street, South Portland, ME
Website: southportlandlandtrust.org/spring-point-shoreway-trail
A 1.6 mile walk each way along the water, the Spring Point Shoreway offers scenic views and a healthy dose of history. The trail passes Fort Preble, which saw action in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War. By way of a 900-foot granite breakwater, travelers can get a view of the Portland Head Light, commissioned by George Washington in 1787. If the kids get tired of the history lesson, they can stop and play on one of the sandy beaches along the way.
The Brewery
Address: 15 Ocean Street, South Portland
Hours: Sunday and Monday noon to 8 p.m., Thursday noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m.
Website: foulmouthedbrewing.com
Located in a converted auto garage, this small brewpub offers an eclectic tap list of styles and flavors, plus a food menu featuring modern takes on comfort foods, like gyro burgers and Korean-style chicken wraps. Parents need not be scared off by the name—Foulmouthed is a family-friendly establishment, with a kids menu and a variety of Maine Root sodas to choose from.
Biddeford Riverwalk and Run of the Mill Brewery in Saco
The Hike
Trailhead: 2 Main Street, Biddeford
Website: biddefordmaine.org/2202/Biddeford-RiverWalk
This is less a hike and more a pleasant stroll along the river in downtown Biddeford, which is quickly becoming the hippest place in Maine. From a perch in Laconia Plaza’s Greek-style amphitheater, you can catch a dramatic view of the Saco Falls. Kids (and adults) can burn off some energy at the “seven-minute workout” station positioned along the walk.
The Brewery
Address: 100 Main Street, Maine
Hours: Kitchen open daily 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Bar open until 10:30 p.m.
Website: www.therunofthemill.net
This is a spot of plenty. Run of the Mill Brewery makes over 30 lagers and ales throughout the year. The site has loads of both indoor and outdoor seating, much of which overlooks the flowing river. The menu is long and includes everything homemade from local seafood to plates of poutine to British style bangers and smashed potatoes.
Jockey Cap Hike and Saco River Brewing in Fryeburg
The Hike
Trailhead: 116 Bridgton Road, Fryeburg
Website: mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/jockey-cap
This short hike brings you through the woods to the apex of the Jockey Cap Rock, where you will get a great view of the White Mountains and the landscape surrounding Fryeburg. The rock is crowned by a monument to Robert E. Peary, the Arctic explorer who also worked as Fryeburg’s town surveyor. For those who are interested, the base of the rock offers small caves and excellent bouldering.
The Brewery
Address: 10 Jockey Cap Lane, Fryeburg
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday noon to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Website: sacoriverbrewing.com
Saco River Brewing offers a dozen beers and hard seltzers, including gluten-free options. It also carries a variety of chips and pretzels and maintains a rotating schedule of visiting food trucks.
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and Batson River Fish Camp in Wells
The Hike
Trailhead: 321 Port Road, Wells
Website: fws.gov/refuge/rachel-carson
The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds. While there are myriad trails through forested upland, barrier beach/dune, coastal meadows, and rocky coast habitats, the Carson Interpretive Trail is a one mile, mostly level path with gravel or boardwalk surfaces that has 11 interpretive stops along the way as it passes through coastal forests and offers views of the salt marsh.
The Brewery
Address: 73 Mile Road, Wells
Hours: Friday to Sunday Noon to 10 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 3 to 10 p.m.
Website: batsonriver.com/wells-maine/
This southerly outpost for the Batson River Brewery maintains a rotating selection of the two dozen beers it makes on tap. The menu is broad with options for snacks, soups, salad, main courses and sweets.
