Since 1992
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By Millie Barnard
Mount Blue State Park is open and bustling, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, said Bruce Farnham, park manager.
The park covers roughly 8,000 acres and is divided by Webb Lake. On one side of the lake there is a campground, a nature center and trails. On the other side there are five mountains and activities associated with the lake, such as boating and swimming.
“In a normal year we rent canoes, kayaks and paddle boats, but this year with the COVID, we are not renting those things,” Farnham said.
The campground is open, with 136 campsites, a beach with a lifeguard and roped-in swim area and a picnic area. There is also a self-guided trail at the campground, the Hopping Frog trail, that is less than a mile long and goes out to a brook and terminates at an undeveloped section of the lake.
The nature center is open seven days a week for a few hours each day. There are several nature programs offered, including hands-on displays. nature activities for all ages, Junior Ranger programming, different kinds of nature walks, a night walk where they call in owls, a movie night on Fridays and guest speakers on Saturdays.
“We’ve adapted to [the pandemic],” said Farnham. “People wear masks and we limit the numbers. We’ve got everything set up so that people sit far 
enough apart from each other. And we’ve taken out some of the hands-on activities — it’s more looking than touching and is one way in and one way out.”
There is also a 20-mile multi use ATV trail, and during the winter there are snowshoe and ski trails and an ice rink. The park is also connected with the ITS snowmobile system.
The state park is a popular destination for hiking. The five mountains offer a wide range of trails. Tumbledown is the most popular, with the Brook Trail being the easiest and the Loop Trail the most difficult. Little Jackson Mountain is another popular mountain with similar difficulty as the Loop Trail on Tumbledown, just a little longer. Farnham notes that Tumbledown has been very busy this year and Little Jackson is usually not as busy, for those looking for a quieter hike.
The easiest, very kid friendly hike is Bald Mountain. “It is about 2800 feet and breaks the tree line fairly early so there are nice views. It is right off the main road and people hike it all year around,” Farnham said.
Center Hill is perfect for those who are wanting to see beautiful views without taking a long hike. It has a picnic area and self-guided nature trail. There are brochures at the trailhead, and the hike takes roughly 30 minutes. “You get a view of Mount Blue and get a view looking down at the lake and campground.”
The mountain for which the park is named has a tower on top with an observation deck, making it a popular day hike expedition. The trails are moderately difficult to hike. Mount Blueberry is another mountain in the area, and is little easier than Mt. Blue.
Farnham and the rest of the staff are eager to answer any questions people may have about the park and the different programs, activities and trails that are available. For more information during summer call 207-585-2347. For more information year-round call 207-585-2261.
