Peaks-Kenny State Park

Families seeking a memorable Maine camping experience need look no further than Peaks-Kenny State Park. From clambering over large glacial boulders in the campground to building towering castles of white sand at Sand Cove beach, this 839-acre park in Maine’s Katahdin Region presents kids with a wealth of outdoor fun.

The campground includes modern bathrooms with hot showers. Its 56 campsites are exceptionally private. The only sounds wafting through the forested camping area at night are the crackle of fires and the occasional screech of an owl. An easy five-minute walk from the campground takes you to the beach, staffed in the summer by a lifeguard. A grassy picnic area and playground nearby are popular with day-use visitors as well as campers.

If you didn’t bring a canoe or boat, you can rent one. The pristine waters of Sebec Lake lap at more than a mile of shoreline within Peaks-Kenny State Park. Anglers come for the landlocked salmon and lake trout that inhabit its cold depths.

Many of the hiking trails here are suited for families with younger children. In addition to several longer hikes in the park’s 10-mile network, Cove Trail (0.7 miles) is a short loop among the hemlock and pine that starts and ends at the beach picnic area. The easily accessible, half-mile Loop Trail is ideal for those interested in an even shorter forest walk.