It’s a beautiful, warm Maine day. The sun is shining, there’s a breeze and things are feeling pretty perfect. Except for that fact that it feels like every hike, every walk, every outdoor endeavor has been tackled. What do you do? Start looking for the ones you’ve missed! There are walks, hikes and bike paths all over this state and we love exploring the ones that don’t make their way into the guide books. This is one of those!

While the Branch Lake Public Forest in Ellsworth might not look terribly exciting from the start, once you're meandering the trails found inside you'll be glad you came!
Center for Community GIS / Maine Trail Finder
The 239-acre forest has 5 marked hiking trails right now with more planned in the future.
Stephanie White / alltrails.com
The main trail, Tote Road runs through the forest connecting each of the hiking trails. It's about .7 miles and an easy walk.
Stephanie White / alltrails.com
Each trail can be accessed from Tote Road and most are short and simple to follow. Our favorites are the ones leading to Branch Lake.
rob bauer / alltrails.com

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The shortest two trails are Marsh Trail at .2-miles and Pine Trail at .3-miles. You'll find both on the left while walking down Tote Road. These will take you through the forest, but plan on taking the other trails for lake access.
Center for Community GIS / Maine Trail Finder
The Lake Loop trail is about a mile round-trip and begins from the west end of Pine Trail.
Michelle Miles / alltrails.com
You'll make your way over some bog bridges and ultimately to the lake. Then the loops turns back inland where you'll end up right where you started.
Center for Community GIS / Maine Trail Finder
Brookside Trail is slightly longer at 1.6-miles. It travels through the marsh, over a brook and to the shores of the lake.
Center for Community GIS / Maine Trail Finder
Whether you make it to the lake or simply enjoy the sound of the wind in the forest trees, this is a wonderful network of short trails that will let you find some peace and quiet.
Kimberly Hansen / Maine Trail Finder

You can learn more about the Branch Lake Public Forest here, or you can find out more about the hike on Maine Trail Finder. For more ways to enjoy Maine head to the lakes! Here are 7 lake beaches in Maine  that will make you feel like you’re at the ocean.

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Branch Lake, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA