Parks to Ride Horses in Maine

horseback-acadia
Horseback riding in Acadia National Park. Photo credit: Dawnalysce Clifford.

Maine has several parks that allow horses, with almost 100 miles of horseback riding trails.  It is an amazing feeling to discover Maine’s natural beauty on horseback and makes for some great photos, too.  I had the incredible opportunity to experience Acadia National Park on horseback.  I’ll never forget riding up the side of a mountain looking through the trees at the ocean below.

Parks in Maine where you can ride horses

Acadia National Park – Located on beautiful Mount Desert Island, rustic carriage road trails offer nearly 45 miles of horseback riding over mountainsides and through wooded forests.  Plan ahead and leave early to ensure you have enough room to park your horse trailer.  Parking lots fill up quickly in the summer months!

Androscoggin Riverlands – Located in Turner, this 2,345-acre park offers 12 miles of trails for horseback riding following 6 miles of the Androscoggin River.

Bradbury Mountain State Park – This 800-acre park is located in Pownal and offers 4.5 miles of horseback riding trails.  Terrain ranges from flat and wide to gradual ascents and steep hilly areas.  Trail access leads to the summit of Bradbury Mountain.

Camden Hills State Park – Horseback riding is allowed on Ski Shelter-Slope Trail and Cameron Mountain Trail, where you can reach the 811′ summit.  The multi-use trails offer over 8 miles of horseback riding in the park.

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust – Located in East Orland, this 4,500-acre preserve offers 18 miles of multi-use trails for horseback riding.  The gravel trails are similar to Acadia’s carriage trails and lead to a pond, river, cross many streams and offer spectacular views from many locations, including Great Pond Mountain.  Click here for a Wildlands Map showing riding trails.

Mount Blue State Park – Located in Weld, this 8,000-acre park offers two multi-use loops for a combined 24 miles of horseback riding trails.  Natural features include woods, lake and beach areas.

Saddle up!

Brush off your tack, trailer your horse and head out to one of these beautiful locations and experience Maine by horseback!

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