Maine Public Lands

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• Live-from-the-field Updates about Maine Public Lands locations.

Some of Maine's most outstanding natural features and secluded locations are found on Maine's Public Lands. The more than half million acres are managed for a variety of resource values including recreation, wildlife, and timber.

Great Circle Trail Completion Celebrated

The Great Circle Trail completion was celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. View a short video about the Great Circle Trail. View the new Nahmakanta map with the Great Circle Trail highlighted.

Watch Now: Untold Secret

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands new 21-minute short film, Untold Secret, explores the unbelievably beautiful Maine Public Lands. These are magical places in Maine—and they belong to all of us.

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Recreational Opportunities Include:

• Camping:
  • The Backcountry Camping page highlights several locations.
  • Off-season and winter camping information.
• Hiking, Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing
• Hunting & Fishing
• Boating & Paddling
• Nature Appreciation & Exploration
• ATVing & Snowmobiling
• Search for additional activities at our Find Parks & Lands search page.

Be Prepared:

• For a rugged, backcountry experience in a remote setting on Public Lands ranging from 500 to 43,000-plus acres.
• Plan your trip by visiting our search page and view the Your Maine Lands brochure (PDF 3MB). Our Mini Guide (PDF 112KB) includes public lands too. Individual brochures are available on the Publications and Maps page.
• Know your limits and abilities and those of your group.
• Backcountry first aid and self-rescue skills are recommended;
  Public Lands are not staffed like Maine State Parks.
• Cell phone service is not reliable on many of the Public Lands.
• Yield the right-of-way to logging trucks at all times.
• Rules of the Public Lands for review before your visit.
• Buy It Where You Burn It! Do not bring firewood into the State of Maine; help stop spread of forest-killing invasive insects.
• Lean more about specific locations by using the search page.
• Unpaved private roads provide access to many of these primitive recreation areas. Access is a privilege not a right; please respect the landowner's property.

Fees:

• Generally not charged;
  • In a few instances such as inside the North Maine Woods, Public Lands are managed in cooperation with neighboring landowners and fees are collected.

Management:

• Maine's Public Lands are managed to provide a variety of public benefits while stewarding lands and waters for future generations. These include:
  • Vital wildlife habitats
  • Unique plant communities
  • Geologic features
  • Historical and cultural sites
• Multiple-uses are managed under a "dominant use" system which ensures that sensitive resources such as rare plants and backcountry recreation areas are not disturbed by more intensive management activities.
• Read the Public Lands Annual Report and the Highlights & Summary Report.

Sustainable Forest Management:

• Scientifically-based timber harvests support land management activities and are planned in coordination with recreation, wildlife, forest health, and scenic considerations.
• Revenues from certified sustainable forestry timber sales help to pay for trails, campsites, roads and other infrastructure and wildlife management projects. Watch a timber harvest video.
• Harvesting is conducted by private contractors under the supervision of Public Lands Foresters.
• The Bureau’s forest practices are third-party certified to two independent standards: the Forest Stewardship Council® and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.
• Learn more about the Bureau's sustainable forest management.

Our Contact Information:

Call the Bureau of Parks and Lands main office at (207) 287-3821 to be directed to the appropriate Region Office or use the region listings below.

Lands Regions Map & Contact Information (PDF 590KB)

Region Offices: