Bradbury Mountain State Park in Maine, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-30. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal offers a summit walk and a wider network of shared trails near Freeport, Maine. A short route can still be steep. Choose the trail for its terrain, rather than distance alone.

Choose a summit ascent or gentler woodland walk

The white-blazed Summit Trail climbs steeply for 0.3 mile. For a less demanding route, the 1.1-mile Knight Woods Trail is wide with a slight grade. The summit looks across surrounding forest toward Casco Bay’s Calendar Islands.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Match the route to the whole group

South Ridge includes steep ground and a ladder ascent. Check the park trail descriptions and conditions before choosing a route. Check everyone, including pets, for ticks after a walk. Browntail moth hairs can irritate skin and breathing. Follow current local advice during exposure periods.

Share only the trails designated for your activity

Hikers can use all trails. Bicycles must stay on routes designated for them. Keep pets leashed and remove their waste. Hunting is prohibited west of Route 9. East-side hunting has different seasonal rules, so check the state park rules before an autumn outing.

Keep shelter and winter camping arrangements separate

The group picnic shelter costs $150, in addition to admission. Its fee is nonrefundable. Reserve by phone through the park. For winter camping, call ahead. That primitive season requires self-sufficiency, designated sites and a maximum seven-day stay. Review the winter camping conditions before committing to a trip.

Arrive at the Pownal entrance

Use 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal. The state lists the location as 43.899190, -70.179102. When the gate is closed during the off-season, the park permits walking in during its normal hours, with parking outside that does not block the gate.

Other parks around Freeport and Yarmouth

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is on Wolf Neck Road in Freeport, beyond the turnoff for Wolfe’s Neck Center Farm. Pratt’s Brook Park in Yarmouth lists 501 North Road. Unlike Bradbury’s designated riding trails, Pratt’s Brook prohibits mountain biking.

Plan around terrain and season

• Choose the Summit Trail for a short, steep ascent.
• Use Knight Woods for a wider route with a slight grade.
• Look for migrating hawks in September.

Separate day access from seasonal services

The park provides a reservable group picnic shelter and a campground with separate seasonal arrangements. Off-season day access continues when facilities are closed. Winter campers need all their own water and supplies.

About Bradbury Mountain

Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands manages the 800-acre park. Its trail choices serve several activities, but each trail has its own permitted uses and difficulty.

One of Maine’s original state parks

The state acquired Bradbury Mountain from the federal government in 1939. It became one of Maine’s first five state parks. A rope tow served downhill skiing here in the 1940s.

Watch the autumn hawk movement

September hawk observation adds a seasonal reason to visit. Bring binoculars rather than expecting birds to appear close to the trail.

Contact

Call 207-688-4712 for park information, shelter bookings and winter camping arrangements. Check the current state day-use fees before budgeting for a group.