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1. Augusta Nature Center
- The Augusta Nature Center offers a touch of nature therapy within Augusta's busy urban scene.
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2. Viles Arboretum
- The Viles Arboretum features a wide selection of trees, plants and flowers for public viewing and enjoyment.
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3. Kennebec River Rail Trail
- The Kennebec River Rail Trail is a 6.5 mile paved walkway that offers scenic vistas of the Kennebec River and Augusta skyline.
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4. Bond Brook Recreation Area
- Bond Brook Recreation Area is one of Augusta's newest destinations for passive recreation.
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5. Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area
- Conveniently located only minutes from Augusta, Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area offers a genuine backwoods-type hiking experience.
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6. Smithfield Plantation
- Located in nearby Litchfield, Smithfield Plantation offers the serenity of traveling through the Maine woods.
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7. Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area
- Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area offers premier outdoor opportunities for Augusta area visitors.
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8. University of Maine Outdoor Leisure Center Trails
- Located by the University of Maine's Student Fitness Center in Orono, the University of Maine Outdoor Leisure Center Trails offer miles of premier walking and hiking for the public to enjoy.
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9. Woodbury Nature Sanctuary
- Woodbury Sanctuary is a hiker's and bird watcher's delight with hilly terrain and excellent scenic vistas.
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10. Capitol Park
- Capitol Park offers a choice green getaway for visitors to Augusta.
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The Best of NileGuide
- Partly because of its location in the rugged, central highlands region of the state, Maine's capitol city of Augusta offers a wealth of walking and hiking opportunities both in and near this metropolis. These destinations range from vigorous, almost backwoods-type hiking to casual strolls through forested preserves in the heart of the city. The result are hiking and walking experiences that are sure to please rustic trail enthusiasts as well as urban denizens who simply enjoy a casual stroll now and then. Sometimes it is even possible to combine the two approaches to the great outdoors. For instance, the Kennebec River Rail Trail is a favorite with cyclists, walkers and hikers. Along the way, you can not only enjoy stirring vistas of the Kennebec River but also sample quirky shops and tasty restaurant fare at establishments bordering the trail itself. At times, it is also possible to combine several outdoor pursuits along these trails. Case in point is the Viles Arboretum, Augusta Nature Center, and the Jamies Pond and Steve Powell wildlife management areas. Aside from wonderful walking trails, these open space gems also enable visitors to enjoy sites of local wildlife (deer, bobcat and moose are commonly seen) as well as getting up close and personal with native flowers, birds, and aquatic life. The best thing, of course, is that all of these locations are tantalizingly nearby - many are accessible in less than an hour from Augusta. The following are a top ten list of hikes and walks, most of them free, for visitors and locals alike to enjoy while in Augusta:
- Best Of Augusta
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