Gulf Hagas

You can hike part of The Appalachian Trail and see “The Grand Canyon of Maine” at this spot in central Maine. Gulf Hagas is a 400-foot-deep gorge that cuts through the west branch of the Pleasant River. It’s also part of Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness, the longest stretch of uninterrupted wilderness along the entire Appalachian Trail. Here you can hike past waterfalls, chutes and swimming holes along an eight-mile loop that takes you through an old growth pine forest and up to the rim of the gorge—and you might spot a moose or deer along the way. From atop the sheer cliffs of Gulf Hagas, you can peer down into the slate canyon.

While the gulf is known as a popular summer destination, you can also go leaf-peeping here in the fall or ice climbing on the frozen waterfalls in the winter. A registered National Natural Landmark, Gulf Hagas is also home to remnants of a blast furnace and a charcoal kiln that were part of the Katahdin Iron Works, which operated here during the 1800s.