Within our magical 1-hour drive there is a great number of public parks and preserves available for your recreational desires. For more information you can also access the various parks and their features at www.state.me.us/doc/parks. |
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The wilderness centerpiece of the Western Maine Mountains is Grafton Notch State Park, a 3112-acre wilderness refuge. Within the park, Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls boast spectacular geological rock formations that are easily accessible. For the more adventurous, try the Table Rock Loop, a vigorous two-hour, 2.5-mile trek, to enjoy the SPECTACULAR views from the top of “Table Rock”. |
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A short drive from Locke Summit Estates is the trail head to Old Speck Mountain. At 4180 feet, the third highest of Maine’s 10 four-thousand footers has a 28-foot observation tower at the summit that offers you 360 degree views of the White Mountains, the Mahoosuc Mountains, some of the Rangeley Lakes, and into Canada. A number of routes will take you to the summit, and another half-mile hike takes you to Spec Pond, a spring-fed natural beauty nestled in the mountains at 3410'.
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A gorgeous 40-minute drive along the Androscoggin River Valley will take you to this magnificent preserve, which contains such attractions as Mt. Washington and The Auto Road, The Presidentials (know how to identify them? There’s an easy trick), Tuckerman’s Ravine, The Cog Railway, Pinkham Notch, The Pemigiwasset Wilderness, The Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods, and other nationally-known landmarks |
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Still inside the 1-hour drive is the 5,021 acre Mt. Blue State Park, with spectacular scenery, crystal clear Webb Lake with its sandy beach, and a gorgeous trail system to Mt. Blue’s 3187 foot summit. There’s public boat access, and boat and canoe rentals are available. There’s even a lake on top to cool those feet after the hike. |
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About 15 minutes away from Locke Summit is the Step Falls Preserve. A perfect hot summer day retreat, this 24-acre preserve is a great place for a family hike and picnic, offering an easy one-hour roundtrip walk through a wooded path that meanders along cascading waterfalls and dipping pools. The kids will have a blast sliding down the smooth-rock falls, and the fall foliage is amazing. |
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Less than a five-minute drive away is the “Artists' Bridge”, so-named because so many artists have captured this 1872 wooden bridge classic on canvas. You can reach it by cross country skis in the winter, and it’s a favorite swimming and evening picnic spot in the summer. It’s also become a favored place for weddings. |
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Just a few minutes from Locke Summit Estates is the highly regarded Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, specializing in mountain-oriented wilderness courses. With the area’s spectacular scenery and comparatively rugged mountains, this provides the perfect venue for a great experience in wilderness education. |
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Locke Summit Estates is surrounded by spectacular wilderness areas, so it only makes sense that the Maine Conservation School is just 15 minutes away. Environmental education for students is a great way to spend a day or a week. The instructors do an excellent job instilling conservation ethics into kids, as part of a curriculum that includes teaching survival skills, outside projects and a short hike. |
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It doesn’t matter how hot it gets in the summer; ”Frenchman’s” will cool your jets. Less than 10 minutes from our gate you can find this absolutely classic swimming hole (but you have to know how to get there). Choose from wild leaps from the cliff, lazy slides over the falls, or let the toddlers wade around the natural “kiddie pool”. |
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A few minutes farther away, but with leaps a little more daring! |
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Still within that 1-hour drive, but get ready for some REALLY big drops – some over 40 feet! |
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Got to be a little careful here! I can tell you where there are some absolute beauties (that aren’t completely overrun with “tourons”); maybe you should give a call or drop by the sales office at the base of Locke Summit for more info. |
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Blueberries are everywhere! At the top of many of the local peaks – including Sunday River’s Locke Mountain (really, “Barker”, if you want to get technical about it) you will find one of Maine’s two basic food groups (lobster being the other, though you probably won’t find it there). Check out Whitecap and Baldpate as well – where you find blueberries, you will also find spectacular open views! |
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