If you are looking for a truly cool hike this summer, you need to check out the Maine ice caves.

According to Maine Trail Finder, a trail through the Nature Conservancy’s Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area leads to one of the coolest places a Maine hiker can ever visit.  In the shadow of Baxter State Park's Mount Katahdin, the moderate difficulty trail is about a 2 mile round-trip and leads to 3 different destinations: a scenic lookout that offers a vista of  First Debsconeag Lake and the Debsconeag Deadwater, the shores of First Debsconeag Lake, and the ice caves.

The ice caves are a hole under a series of boulders and is so named because its cool, dark environment allows it retain ice throughout most of the year.  Even during the hottest summers, people have reported finding ice in the caves as late in the year as August.

Keep in mind that, while the trail is of moderate difficulty, traversing the ice caves is a little more difficult.  For example, entering the caves requires hikers to climb down a metal ladder.

The following video gives you a pretty good overview of all the trail has to offer.

To get there:

  • Take I-95 to Millinocket
  • Take the Golden Road approximately 18 miles to Abol Bridge.
  • After the bridge, take your next left
  • Keep left at the fork
  • Drive 4 miles
  • You'll find the trailhead at the end of Hurd Pond Road

17 Must-Visit Maine Attractions

Got the day off and you want to take a family road trip, but you are at a loss for where to go? Check out this list of 17 "must visit" Maine attractions.

20 Maine News Stories that Have Shocked Us Since the Year 2000

These 20 news stories, from the past 21 years, had an impact felt around the state. Here are the stories that captured our attention are listed in no particular order.

Download our FREE app!  Use it to stream the station, find out about exclusive contests, and more.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Here Are the 14 Times Bigfoot Has Been Reported in Maine

 

More From 92 Moose