A great many of our favorite hiking trails in Maine cross privately owned land. And it's oftentimes a tenuous relationship between landowners and hikers and other users.

Understandibly so.

Opening up your land to outdoor users is a Maine tradition, but it comes with its problems. Like trash and vandalism and the like. And all too often (but not always) it's not us hikers that cause such problems, but other less thoughtful users.

Regardless, whenever and wherever you hike, whether it's on private land or public land (and often you just won't know and it really doesn't matter), please tread lightly, be courteous and treat the land as if it were your own.

Follow the principles of Leave No Trace and we'll all have a more enjoyable hiking experience. And very likely, a lot fewer problems with kind, but wary landowners.