11 Best Things to Do in Jackman Maine
Jackman is a town in northern Maine, sitting a few miles from the Canadian border, and is one of the most beautiful areas in the state. Although Jackman is a small town, it does not lack fun year-round activities! And the best part? It has something to do for everyone!
You can explore beautiful waterfalls, hike to the tops of mountains, snowmobile to the highest snowmobile trail in the state, or boat on its beautiful lakes. When you visit Jackman, you will quickly fall in love with everything it offers! This guide has everything you need to know to plan a trip, including the best things to do in Jackman, Maine.
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When to Visit Jackman Maine
One of the best things about Jackman is you can visit year-round! It has fun activities in every season.
Winter
Winter is one of the most popular times to visit Jackman because it has some of the best snowmobiling trails in Maine, with over 100 miles of trails. The trails connect with other trail systems, so you will not get bored. You can even snowmobile to the highest-groomed snowmobile trail in Maine! Jackman also has plenty of trails to enjoy snowshoeing and lakes and ponds to ice fish.
Spring
Spring is a beautiful time to visit Jackman once the snow melts and everything begins to bloom. It is one of the best times to explore its waterfalls since the water level is high after the snow melts.
Summer
Summer is my favorite season to visit Jackman because the activities are endless! You can go hiking, kayaking, boating, fishing ATVing, or white water rafting. Summer is also a great time to see wildlife!
Fall
Of course, fall is one of the best times to visit because the foliage is stunning! Nothing is more beautiful than hiking or ATVing through vibrant foliage. Jackman tends to get overlooked as a fall foliage spot in Maine because of how far north it is, but I promise, it is worth the drive!
Where to Stay in Jackman Maine
Jackman has a handful of hotels, house rentals, and campgrounds you can stay in during your trip. The options are limited, but you can find somewhere to stay!
Jackman Hotels:
Jackman Campgrounds:
Where to Eat in Jackman Maine
Even though Jackman is a small town, it does not lack restaurants with delicious food! We ate at a few restaurants during our stay and were pleasantly surprised at how good everything was!
Four Seasons Restaurant
Mama Bears Restaurant
Moose River Lodge
Smokin' Barrels
What to Pack for Jackman Maine
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Best Things to Do in Jackman Maine
Note: Jackman does not have much cell service, so I recommend downloading offline trail maps, packing physical trail maps, and downloading tour tickets or emails before you get to town.
ATVing
ATVing is easily one of the best things to do in Jackman, especially for those who love a good adrenaline rush! Jackman has over 180 miles of ATV trails with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. You can rent ATVs to explore on your own or go with a guide.
We went on a tour with 201 Powersports and had a blast! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and brought us to some fun trails. They have a rental shop in downtown Jackman with an entrance in the back to the ATV trails.
White Water Rafting
If you want to spend your time in the water in the summer, you can enjoy white water rafting! Maine is home to the best white water rafting in New England, so you will not be disappointed.
Northern Outdoors offers fun white water rafting tours on the Kennebec River, where you can experience class IV and IV+ rapids. You can choose a mix of relaxing and fun rapids or enjoy an adrenaline-pumping day through some crazy rapids when the water is high!
Kayaking
If you want a relaxing time on the water, Jackman has plenty of areas you can kayak! Wood Pond is one of my favorite places to kayak because the water is much calmer than the Kennebec River and is huge, covering over 2,000 acres. You could spend an entire day kayaking around the pond in the summer.
Snowmobiling
Winter in Jackman is unlike any other season and one of the most popular seasons to visit! Not only does the snow beautifully cover the trees and mountains, but the snowmobile trails are well-groomed and fun.
Jackman has miles of snowmobiling trails that lead all over and are great for all snowmobiling levels! Whether you want to snowmobile on an easy, flat trail or a steep trail to the top of a mountain, Jackman has something for everyone. If you love snowmobiling, you will love riding around these beautiful trails!
Coburn Mountain
Coburn Mountain is the tallest mountain near Jackman, standing over 3,700 feet tall, and is accessible year-round. It used to be a ski area called Enchanted Mountain Ski Area which closed in the 1970s. If you visit in the winter, you can snowmobile to the top and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area. It is the highest groomed snowmobile trail in Maine and is a fun way to explore the mountain.
If you visit when it is warmer, you can enjoy a fun 3.5-mile hike along old ski trails to the top. The top has a viewing platform, offering spectacular 360-degree views. It is one of my favorite hikes in the area!
Sally Mountain
Sally Mountain is another one of the best hikes in Jackman, but there is a twist! You cannot reach the trailhead by car. The trailhead is on the shores of Attean Pond, and you can only access it by kayaking or boating across. The 3.3-mile hike leads you through a beautiful forest before bringing you to a viewpoint with stunning views of Attean Pond and the surrounding area.
No 5 Mountain
No 5 Mountain offers some of the most beautiful views in Jackman and should be on every bucket list! The trailhead is off a long dirt road but is well-maintained, so almost every car should be okay driving on it. The 5-mile trail gently climbs through a forest before bringing you to an open summit with an old fire tower.
Although you cannot go up the fire tower, the 360-degree views from the summit do not disappoint! Although No 5 Mountain is a longer trail than others nearby, it is not overly steep, and the views make the extra mileage worth the hike!
Cold Stream Falls
Cold Stream Falls is one of my favorite waterfalls near Jackman because it is beautiful! The stunning 20-foot waterfall sits in a remote area south of Jackman and plunges into a deep pool.
The trailhead to Cold Stream Falls is a bit confusing to get to, and Google Maps might lead you astray. You want to turn onto Capital Road, continue about one mile over a small bridge, turn left onto the first road, and continue left for over a mile until you see a small area to park with a small trail sign. The last part of the drive to the trailhead is on an unmaintained road and requires a slow driving speed for most cars.
Once at the trailhead, the 2.4-mile trail is easy to follow and brings you to a viewpoint across from the falls. You will quickly see why Cold Stream Falls is one of the best things to do in Jackman!
Slidedown Falls
Slidedown Falls is a remote waterfall north of Jackman, but it is stunning and worth a trip! And the best part? The trail is only 1.2 miles round trip! To get to the trailhead, you want to turn left onto Dumas Road off of the main road and continue for about two miles on the dirt road until you reach a yellow gate.
The trail follows the dirt road for about 0.7 miles before turning left into the woods. The trail into the forest is easy to miss, so stay on the lookout for a small sign pointing to the trail. The rest of the trail weaves through a thickly wooded area before descending to the bottom of Slidedown Falls. A pool sits at the bottom of the falls and is great for swimming! You will quickly fall in love with this remote waterfall in Jackman.
Moxie Falls
Moxie Falls is one of the most beautiful and tallest waterfalls in Maine and is my favorite in the state! The waterfall is south of Jackman in the small town of The Forks and will quickly become one of your favorite things to do in the area.
The 2.1-mile trail is well-maintained and easy to follow, with two views of the 90-foot falls. The first viewpoint is above the falls and gives you a great perspective of how huge the falls are. But the second is the best of Moxie Falls because it sits across from it and gives you an incredible view.
Moxie Falls is one of the most popular things to do in the area, so I recommend arriving at the trailhead early to secure a parking spot. No matter what season you visit, you will quickly see why Moxie Falls is one of the best things to do near Jackman!
Attean Overlook
On your drive north to Jackman, you have a few areas to stop and enjoy the stunning views overlooking the surrounding lakes and mountains. Attean Overlook has one of the best views on the drive and has a short trail to a higher viewpoint.
The 0.7-mile hike begins behind the parking lot and follows a steep trail to the overlook. The trail is easy to follow and has a few signs to help lead you to the overlook. Although the trail is steep, the views overlooking Attean Pond and the surrounding mountains make the effort worth it! Attean Overlook will become one of your favorite rest areas near Jackman!
If you are visiting Jackman, this guide is the perfect place to start planning your trip! It has everything you need to know, including the best things to do in Jackman, Maine.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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