Unique Spring Outdoor Traditions

Along with lush mountainsides, free-flowing rivers and longer, warmer days, this season brings with it a host of quirky, iconic Maine traditions.

Maine Maple Sunday

Held on the fourth Sunday in March, Maine Maple Sunday is a celebration of all things maple, and the end of winter (even if there still is some snow on the ground). Find a sugarhouse and get ready to sample sweet maple treats like freshly made maple syrup, maple drizzled ice cream and so much more. Considering Somerset County is the largest maple syrup producing county in the U.S., you’ll have no trouble finding a place to start. When the smoke starts billowing from the sugarhouse chimneys—you know spring is here. Sweet tooth encouraged.

Ice Out. Fish On.

It’s a kind of magic when an ice-covered lake transforms into a glistening mirror of water reflecting the sky above and the trees around it. Communities throughout the state celebrate this beautiful change in scenery by forming fund-raising pools and guessing when the ice will finally melt. (At Moosehead, ice-out has been recorded since 1848!) Mainers will place objects on the still-frozen lake surface, guess when the ice will thaw, and when the objects finally sink, the ice is officially out. And that means the fishing is on. It won’t be long now before bass fishing tournaments kick off.

Outdoor Activities

When winter’s frosty grip gives up, the waking landscape calls you outdoors. You might be tired of the snow, but some of the best skiing is still ahead of you at resorts like Sugarloaf and Sunday River, which can stay open as late as May. If you’re looking to ditch your skis but not the trails, spring hiking in Maine’s 32 state parks is a pursuit in pure joy. Not least because you don’t need four layers. You’ll feel like you have the trail all to yourself (so if you’re dreaming of Acadia without the crowds, now’s the time).

And now that rivers are flowing freely, it’s time to get out on the water. Spring fishing promises hungry brook trout and freshly accessible lakes. For paddlers, it’s the beginning of white-water rafting season. Maine’s Dead, Kennebec and Penobscot rivers are tried-and-true perennial favorites for roiling rapids and adrenaline-pumping drop-offs.

Blooming Gardens

Thanks to the dazzling pinks and purples of the lupine flowers that sprout up everywhere in late spring, Maine itself can feel like a garden. And there’s even more green-thumb inspiration to be found in Maine’s botanical gardens. Featuring just under a mile of tidal saltwater frontage in Boothbay, the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden is the largest in New England where rare beauties like slender blue flag and lady’s slipper flowers show off. In Northeast Harbor, the Japanese-garden inspired Asticou Azalea Garden gets you in the zen zone. Stroll through the shady gardens and soak in the luminous reflection of the azaleas lining the pond. It’s serene, meditative, and exactly what the doctor ordered to cure cabin fever. Come Memorial Day weekend, fans of fragrant lilacs shouldn’t miss the McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival in South Paris.

Off the Beaten Path

Even though the woods are waking up, spring is a quiet season in Maine, which means the serenity you’re craving is even closer than you think. For a symphony of color and song, head to Maine’s breathtaking boreal forests where cedar waxwings and other rare birds are just a glimpse away. Birdwatching continues to pick up with celebrations like the Rangeley Birding Festival where guides, discussions and more celebrate all things avian.

The snowmobiles might be cleaned up and stored away, but you can still find high-octane adventure away from the crowds on ATVs. With more than 6,000 miles of trails, boredom is about the only thing you won’t encounter. ATV trails tend to open in late spring after mud season, but some years they can open as early as April. It’s always best to check the official ATV trail conditions page to find out if your favorite trails are open. For a rugged, truly remote wilderness experience, check out the more than half a million acres of Maine Public Reserved Lands. If you’re planning on camping, just be sure to come prepared. It’s primitive tent camping only, which means no amenities and no plowed locations. But, it also means perfect peace and quiet.