Here are some important "rules of the trail" to live by. Many of Maine's hiking trails exist on public and private lands and is important to treat the trails and camping areas with respect.

• Camp in designated areas only
• Bring your own tent or shelter to sleep in. Do not rely on using shelters or lean-tos on the trails
• Use a portable stove
• If you have to set up your tent in an area that is not a campsite please be sure not to damage small trees that make up a forest's ecosystem
• Be sure to purify the water you get from a stream, lake, or river. Many of these water sources contain the cysts of the intestinal parasite called giardia. you should boil your water for a least 20 minutes or use an iodine based disinfectant. Some hikers opt to use a water purifer filter that can be found in a pump. There are many types on the market.
• When you are hiking above the treeline or timberline as some call it. Please keep in mind that the ecosystem is fragile so please stay on marked trails. The weather above the treeline can change quickly and is not the place to be during a lightening storm. Never camp above the treeline either.
• Remember Maine's "Carry In, Carry Out" policy
• Be sure to limit your group to no more than 12 people. One can easily take a toll on the ecosystem when the group is large.
• What to do when a toilet or latrine is not available. Dig a trench 6 to 8 inches deep and cover when you are done. The organic layer of the soil will decompose the waste naturally. Make sure you are a least 150 feet from water.

[ Return to Maine Hiking Page ]