The 10 hikes across Maine that will get you from your couch to Katahdin this year

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 25, 2026

The clock is ticking and you’ve got to get ready for the big Katahdin climb, but you don’t know where to start. Not to worry. You’ve got all summer to go from the couch to Katahdin, but it’ll take a little discipline and some regular hiking to improve your physical fitness, which will increase your safety measure and maximize enjoyment of your day on the peak. To train for tackling lofty Katahdin you’ll want to start small — a local hill, for example — and slowly but surely work your way up to higher mountains, longer miles and larger elevation gains. 
• Bradbury Mountain
• Bauneg Beg Mountain
• Great Pond Mountain
• Round Top Mountain
• Cadillac Mountain
• Mt. Zircon
• Caribou Mountain
• Little Jackson Mountain
• Old Speck