Whether it’s bundling up the kids or wrangling temperamental equipment, Maine winters present some obstacles to going outside. In spite of a few seasonal hassles, we Mainers are a hearty bunch. The good news is that the snow is here, the days are getting longer, and the safest place in the pandemic is still the outdoors.

Winter camping is available at eight State Parks, and there’s even a spacious cabin to rent at Camden Hills State Park or at private lodges like Mt. Chase Lodge on Shin Pond in Patten.

Ice fishing is a Maine winter tradition at places like the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Range Pond State Park, as well as locally at Sebago Lake or Otter Ponds. Be sure and be careful when out on the ice.

Cross-country skiing trails are groomed at Sebago Lake State Park, Mount Blue State Park, and Aroostook State Park. Bradbury Mountain State Park has become a mecca for fat-tire bikes in all seasons, and Park staff and volunteers groom trails for bikes in the winter.

Locally, each of Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s list of best winter trails has at least one trailhead that is plowed and accessible all winter. They are all ideal for winter walking and snowshoeing. Visit at www.prlt.org for directions or more info. Remember to dress warmly, in layers and to leave no trace.

Mellow Walks — wide flat trails through the forest:

• Frazier Preserve trail is flat and wide, ideal for winter visits.
• Gambo Preserve can be accessed via the well-maintained parking lot at Shaw Park (Gorham side) or parking at the end of Gambo Road just before the bridge (Windham side) – both are paved and plowed parking. The loop trail is on the raised historic Cumberland-Oxford Canal Towpath.
• The Sebago to the Sea Trail has many different parking areas, most of which are plowed. The paved and unpaved sections make great winter walking. Please note that some sections are also open to snowmobiles.
• Steep Falls Village Preserve parking is at the end of Mill Street in Standish. The loop trails are flat and wide.

Moderate Challenge — single wide trails, good for snowshoeing or using snow/ice cleats:

• Black Brook Preserve in Windham offers trails in forest and field and also a sledding hill close to the Windham Center Road plowed trailhead (the Route 202 trailhead is not plowed).
• Hawkes Preserve is accessible via the Great Falls school trailhead (off of Route 237), but please note that the Towpath Road trailhead is not plowed.
• Little River Preserve has a trailhead on Route 202 which is plowed after each storm.
• Lowell Preserve parking is next to the East Windham Fire Station. There are over six miles of hilly trails to explore.
• Mill Brook Preserve South parking in Westbrook, at the back of the Millbrook Estates parking lot, is paved and regularly plowed.
• Pride Preserve (Westbrook) features a paved trailhead parking area that is plowed.
• Randall Orchards (Gorham/ Standish) can be accessed via the back of the Colonial Marketplace (Hannaford) parking lot or on Dingley Spring Road.