Local Gear & Trusted Guides For Your Summer Adventure

Maine has over 175 campgrounds fit for summer camping where you can pitch your tent, park your trailer, or have someone else do it for you. If the latter is more your style, local glamping (a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping”) accommodations can be as down-to-earth as Resurgam Forestland’s low-impact wilderness glampsites or heavy on the creature comforts a la Terramor’s Acadia National Park canvas tents. Doesn’t matter where you’re sheltering, mainstays like Good-to-Go’s flavorful, hearty freeze-dried camp meals and camp cooking essentials from Jetboil make sure you won’t go hungry. 

Often, Maine basecamps are perfectly positioned near a trailhead for easy access to hiking, so you can head out with your bespoke Sambob performance layer and a waterproof trail map from Map Adventures directly from camp. Speaking of basecamps, Millinocket’s New England Outdoor Center is a pretty epic one with full-on views of mighty Katahdin, or customize your outing with guide She Hikes Mountains who can take you on a mellow walk or overnight adventure.

Grab some of Sterling Rope’s high-performance climbing ropes when you want a different, more vertical adventure on the rock pile. If you’re new or improving your climbing skills, Camden-based Equinox Guiding Service has summer camps, customized trips, and even classes suitable for climbers of all abilities. “The combination of coastal cliffs and inland crags makes the mid-coast region a premier destination for climbers of all levels,” says Equinox Founder and Registered Maine Guide Noah Kleiner. Weather not cooperating? There’s always a wall to be climbed in Salt Pump Climbing Gym’s dynamic indoor facility, where you can rock (get it???) a handmade chalk bag by Oterra Designs. 

Some days, an adventure on two wheels is the right move. The eponymous biking tour operators at Summerfeet are pros at taking full advantage of the season with every kind of guided bike tour imaginable in the Pine Tree State. Suit up for the day in one of Pinebury’s merino wool bike jerseys or performance tees and clip on Survue’s techy AI-enabled bike light to detect nearby vehicles for extra safe road riding. Prefer the dirt and mountains to flowing tarmac? Family ski hill, Mt. Abram pivots from snowy downhill fun to mountain biking in the summer with a variety of trails and features, plus a summer camp for riders eager to learn and grow.    

Need a change of scenery? A major perk of Maine summers is that water is just as accessible during the warmer months as the mountains and trails, and there’s just as much ecological diversity to be found off dry land. A paddle with the guides at Mahoosuc Guide Service or Maine Kayak, “Maine Kayak is unique in that we are the only company in Maine to offer sea kayaking, lake touring and whitewater instruction. We take full advantage of all of the beautiful waterways this state has to offer.” Whether salt or freshwater, Old Town’s iconic watercrafts and the innovative 2-in-1 pumps from Paddle Pumps are fit for on-water adventure.   

Capture the quintessential feeling of Maine’s maritime summer traditions. A Morning in Maine offers chartered sails along the coast for effortless cruising, while the Freedom Boat Club provides more flexibility and independence for boat lovers to explore on their own on lakes or seas. As a nod to the boating culture, brands like dinghy-maker Portland Pudgy and Huga’s battery-powered heated seat cushions craft local products made to enhance your experience. 

During the summer, fishing in Maine is at its peak. Freshwater and saltwater fisheries are teeming with an abundance of species and the conditions make it easy to step outside and cast a line anytime you like. New to the sport? Get tapped into Confluence Collective, a community-based organization offering forums, workshops, and in-person events that welcome eager amateur anglers. Sourcing quality fishing gear isn’t hard when local brands like Mayfly Nets and Maine Fly Company make handcrafted nets, rods, and accessories that perform well and look beautiful. 

“The coast of Maine had called me since I was kid,” says founder of Grain Surfboards, Mike LaVecchia. “A combination of great waves, a truly amazing community, a passion for woodworking and local natural resources lead to Grain being born.” Maine’s vibrant surfing culture goes back decades, yet continues to evolve through innovative makers like Blueprint Surf’s 3D-print board, and organizing forces behind More Women+ Surf and Maine Surfer Union’s Lady Slide working to create a more exciting, inclusive board sports community.

When life pulls you indoors, keep the outdoors closeby with recycled everyday carry by Flowfold or Rogue Wear’s hardy travel bags, both utilitarian by design (so you’re always ready for adventure) and made in Maine. Craving a softer approach to connecting with nature? Connect to Wilderness offers mindful walks, forest bathing, foraging, and more, while Waterstruck Wellness’ peaceful nordic spa uses hydrotherapy to restore body, mind, and soul.