Welcome to the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands

If you want to explore Maine's great outdoors, you've come to the right place! Maine is legendary for its rock bound coast, the north woods, mountains, lakes, and rivers. All of these areas are represented in the one million acres managed by the Bureau of Parks & Lands.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MAINE'S PARKS & LANDS

2010 is the Maine State Park System's 75th Anniversary! Visit our Event Calendar for more information and special events going on throughout the year.

Maine’s state parks and historic sites will remain open and the Maine Forest Service forest rangers also will remain on duty to provide law enforcement and forest protection in the Maine woods.

Maine state parks offer recreational opportunities year-round, and we invite you to visit your state parks in all four seasons. During our off-season, you may find the entrance gate closed; however, you may access the park during daylight hours. Please deposit your off-season day-use fee in the "iron ranger" fee collection box. 

Off-Season Fees:

$1.50 for adults 12-64; kids and seniors free.

If you would like more information on how to access the recreational opportunities at Maine State Parks during the off-season please email bpl@maine.gov.

An "iron ranger"

Find Parks & Lands

We just launched a new online tool to help you discover Maine's Great State Parks, Public Lands and Historic Sites! This new feature allows you to search by activity, facility or region; or try our "single-tank trips" feature and go on a gas-saving adventure by finding a destination in your neck of the woods. Downloadable maps and brochures are available for select locations or use the "print this page" feature for a printer-friendly brochure. There is so much to discover on BPL managed lands. We hope this improvement to our website helps you find parks & lands and experience the natural beauty that is Maine.

To use this feature select the link  Find Parks & Lands (located in the top right portion of your screen under the Bureau Features heading).

During the coming weeks and years, BPL will continue to expand and enhance this website. Please contact us with your comments.

Androscoggin Riverlands State Park Initiative

The Department of Conservation through its Bureau of Parks and Lands has  initiated planning for the development of a new state park on 2,588 acres of state-owned land along the Androscoggin River just north of the Lewiston – Auburn area. These lands include 2,258 acres along the west shore in Turner, and 330 acres along the east shore in Leeds, known collectively as the Androscoggin Riverlands.

Recently Published Reports

• 2009 Annual Report for Public Reserved, Non-Reserved, and Submerged Lands
  
  
• 2009 Allagash Wilderness Waterway Annual Report
  
  

Management Plans in Development

• Aroostook Hills Region Management Plan (Plan in development - includes draft documents, meeting notices, meeting minutes, and related materials)

• Complete list of Management Plans and Policies available online

Standing and Special Committees

• Allagash Wilderness Waterway Advisory Council
  
  
• Forest Legacy Committee
  
  
• Maine Trails Advisory Committee

On sale now is the Allagash Wilderness Waterway DVD Northrunner. Come discover the history of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (from its creation in 1966 to the present) with those who live and work there. Northrunner explores the history of this gem of a park in the middle of a working forest. Learn why this place is so revered – and engenders so much passion.