Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Maine with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 9,551 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Maine's coast is famously rocky and indented; the interior holds the Mahoosucs, the Bigelow Range, and Mount Katahdin — the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Katahdin via the Knife Edge gains 4,200 ft in 5 miles — one of the country's most exposed and committing day hikes. Hypothermia in shoulder seasons, blowdown after windstorms, and rapidly changing weather on Katahdin's exposed Tablelands.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 9,551 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Maine — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Presumpscot River Trail - Riverton Section
Presumpscot River Trail - Riverton Section ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Westbrook in Cumberland County. Expect dirt surface on a expert-only grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Presumpscot River Trail - Riverton Section trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. the path to island NOT A BRIDGE
the path to island NOT A BRIDGE ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Westbrook in Cumberland County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the the path to island NOT A BRIDGE trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. International Appalachian Trail New-Brunswick
International Appalachian Trail New-Brunswick ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Limestone in Aroostook County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the International Appalachian Trail New-Brunswick trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Sawyer Mountain Summit Trail
Sawyer Mountain Summit Trail ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Cornish in York County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Maine, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Sawyer Mountain Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Cadillac West Face Trail
Cadillac West Face Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Bar Harbor in Hancock County. Expect rock surface on a expert-only grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Rocky tread punishes thin-soled shoes; bring stiff hikers and pace yourself on the descents to spare your knees. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Cadillac West Face Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. 42 La Chute à Bidoune
42 La Chute à Bidoune ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Clayton Lake in Aroostook County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the 42 La Chute à Bidoune trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. A La Coupe du Monde
A La Coupe du Monde ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Clayton Lake in Aroostook County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the A La Coupe du Monde trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Presidential Trail
Presidential Trail ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Falmouth in Cumberland County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Presidential Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Millinocket in Piscataquis County. Expect wood surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Maine, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Appalachian Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Overgrown abandoned part of Masalin Road
Overgrown abandoned part of Masalin Road ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Lincolnville Center in Waldo County. Expect dirt surface on a expert-only grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Overgrown abandoned part of Masalin Road trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Maine trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Maine. Mid-June through early October — black flies in June, prime weather in late July and August, foliage in early October. Hypothermia in shoulder seasons, blowdown after windstorms, and rapidly changing weather on Katahdin's exposed Tablelands.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Maine hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Maine coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Maine — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Maine — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Maine — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Maine — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Maine — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Maine — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Maine — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Maine last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
