I had hoped to do a short hike up to Mount Battie with my 9 year old granddaughter but my GPS, the maps on site and Google Maps failed me and the sun was starting to set so we paid the state park fee and drive to the top and parked. Castle turret closed due to COVID but the views are amazing nonetheless and we enjoyed the short half mile hike down amongst rocks. Will do some recon for another time...

This state park is easily accessible near the town center of Camden and off a major thoroughfare. There are hiking trails of various degrees of steepness/difficulty, and some are characterized by dramatic boulders. Our kids (even our teens) found the hike interesting and worth the effort. We loved the view of Camden and Penobscot Bay from Mount Battie. The ranger and most visitors were taking precautions by wearing masks (or having them at the ready when people approached). The ranger was collecting entry fees with a smile and a fishing net, a quirky touch that brightened the outing.

This state park is right off Route 1 just before entering the charming town of Camden. The drive to the summit takes 5 munutes, with numerous hiking trail heads on the way for folks with more time, and plenty of parking at the summit. The walk up is said to take 30 minutes and has several steep sections. From the summit, views of Camden Harbor and beyond are stunning and there are helpful maps identifying islands and visible bays and inlets. Rustic restrooms are a short walk away, well stocked with hand sanitizer. Sadly, not everyone was socially distancing near the viewing areas or resisting the urge to touch the maps, despite written instructions by the maps to look, not touch. The steps to the top of the tower are closed due to COVID-19, as are the viewing binoculars. This park is well worth a stop en route to Camden or other picturesque spots by Penobscot Bay. I'll plan to return when time allows a walk/ hike.