Our Work

MATLT has worked with partners to conserve over 76,000 acres of unique ecological lands that are open to the public for outdoor recreation.

The Appalachian Trail in Maine and the lands we work in are located on lands in the traditional territory of Wabanaki Confederacy, including the Penobscot (Eastern Abnaki, Penawahpskewi, Penobscot). All of Maine is the traditional homeland of the Wabanaki people. To learn about the history of these lands, recenter Wabanaki voices, and return land, money, and decision-making authority to Wabanaki communities, start here.

Highlight Projects

01

Bald Mountain Pond

Bald Mountain Pond is located between the Kennebec River and Monson, on a section of the A.T. with no areas above 2,700 ft elevation and very few settled areas. Backed up against the trail, this spot is in a remote pocket surrounded by mountains and working forest areas.

Bald Mountain Pond is one of the few remaining waterbodies that supports Arctic Charr, a species only found in Maine within the continental United States. The shore, undeveloped and forested, supports additional coldwater fish species and waterfowl like the common loon.

The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust obtained the 1,105-acre Bald Mountain Pond parcel in late 2019. We own and manage this property for public use.

Somerset County

02

Saddleback Mountain

Located in the heart of Maine’s High Peaks region, Saddleback Mountain (4,120 ft) consists of a 3 mile-long alpine ridge. The A.T. runs along the top of this ridge, sandwiched between Saddleback Maine Ski Resort on the west side and land protected and managed by MATLT on the east side.

In 2015-2016, The Maine Appalachian Trail Club and Dave Field flagged and blazed the Berry Picker’s Trail, a historic trail that's been in use since the 1830s. The Berry Picker’s Trail is an official A.T. side trail, marked with blue blazes. The reopening of the trail in 2016 has ensured public recreation can continue in this beautiful landscape for generations to come.

Franklin County

03

Mount Abraham

Mount Abraham, located in Maine High Peaks region, is the 10th highest mountain in Maine. Acquired by the State of Maine in 2004, Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust holds a 1,125 acre conservation easement over the ecological reserve area on the summit.

The large alpine zone extends to the southwest of the maine peak. It contains rare plants and critical habitat for species including the Bicknell thrush, a species of special concern in Maine and is the largest alpine zone south of Mt Katahdin

Franklin County

04

Gulf Hagas - Whitecap

Located in the heart of the Hundred Mile Wilderness, this parcel of land is one of the most remote in the entire Appalachian Trail landscape.

Completed in 2017 by the Forest Society of Maine, MATLT, and the State of Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, this 10,000 acre area of mountain, forests and recreation land. 7,138 of those acres are protected by conservation easement that ensures public access to the forests for recreation and that the land will remain a productive working forest. The project transferred 1,264 acres to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Bureau of Parks and Lands. Lastly, a forest products industry landowner donated 1,574 acres of high-elevation lands abutting the Appalachian Trail, including much of White Cap Mountain, the highest peak in the 100 Mile Wilderness to MATLT.

Piscataquis County

Programs & Partnerships

We conserve land so present and future generations can feel a meaningful connection to the wild and remote landscapes of Maine.

Maine’s High Peaks® Initiative

Maine’s High Peaks® Initiative is a collaborative of local, regional, and national organizations working in Maine’s High Peaks® region. The mission is to protect important natural resources, secure public access, and support healthy human and natural communities in Maine’s High Peaks®.

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#WeOutside

Copy of Tumbledown Mountain with Mardi Fuller 2026.jpg

This initiative works to connect asylum-seeking youth and families to Maine’s outdoor spaces and foster a sense of belonging in conserved lands. With activities like birding, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, skiing, and ice fishing, #WeOutside offers enriching outdoor experiences that support mental health, strengthen communities, and bridge cultural divides.

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MATGIC

Maine Appalachian Trail Geospatial Information for Conservation (MATGIC) was created in partnership with the National Park Service and Appalachian Trail Conservancy out of the need to have comprehensive mapping and data specifically for conserving the greater Appalachian Trail region. It combines the latest scientific data on climate resilience and ecological factors with human-based data like hiking trails, motorized trails, and even historic sites.

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Community Hikes Program

The Maine A.T. Land Trust’s Community Hikes program provides free guided hiking trips on the Maine A.T. and it's side trails to the general public throughout the year.

Learn More!