Maine’s public reserved lands are remote lands managed for variety of resource values, including recreation, wildlife, and timber harvesting. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands owns more than 500,000 acres of public lands, organized into 29 units ranging in size from 500 to more than 43,000 acres and many other smaller scattered lots. These lands are available for recreation and offer unique, back-country experiences.
In January 2008, the Governor’s Task Force Regarding the Management of Public Lands and Publicly-Held Easements reported that more information was need about these special areas of the state. The task force specifically recommended that creating “better signage and comprehensive maps of existing public lands, trails, and trail networks that fully characterize outdoor opportunities irrespective of state agency boundaries would be very helpful for users and economically beneficial at both the local and state levels.”
“Your Maine Lands: Reflections of a Maine Guide,” a series of essays written by Tom Hanrahan, Master Maine Guide, was published in October 2008 by MDOC. This book has brought considerable attention to the beauty and accessibility of these lands to Maine people. For more information about the book, go to: Your Maine Lands: Reflections of a Maine Guide
Funded through a grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the YML map is an outgrowth of the MDOC book project. The map and recreation guide was designed and produced by the Center for Community GIS of Farmington..
If you would like to obtain the free map, contact the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands at:
