Things to do in Bethel, Maine

Voted The BEST Ski Town in the United States by USA Today!

Bethel, Maine is a classic New England town located 1.5 hours north of Portland in Maine’s Lakes & Mountains Region. This gorgeous setting is home to both peaceful getaways and excellent, year-round outdoor adventure. From Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in winter to zip-lining and kayaking in summer, Bethel is a popular home base for outdoor recreation of all kinds. Beyond the area’s recreational offerings, Bethel offers a charming downtown area with art galleries, museums, shops, and delicious cuisine. Bethel is also home to the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, which contains one of this world’s top collections of extraterrestrial rocks. Come explore with us as we showcase things to do in Bethel, Maine for our visitors.

Top Things to do in Bethel, Maine

Photo by Doug Kerr – license info

The Mountains are Calling

The White Mountain National Forest is right at Bethel’s doorstep. Come to hike, mountain bike, snowshoe, or Nordic ski. Sunday River Ski Resort and Mt Abram Ski Areas offer skiing and snowshoeing in winter, with lift rides to fantastic Maine vistas available the rest of the year. Grafton Notch State Park and Evan’s Notch Overlook provide excellent outdoor recreation along with terrific views, especially during the fall foliage season. Golfers adore Sunday River Golf Club and the Bethel Inn Resort golf course, both surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Maine’s Lakes & Mountains Region.

Dining in Bethel

The Bethel area, though a smaller community, offers a great selection of dining venues. You’ll find something for every palette including local favorites like Smokin’ Good BBQ and Butcher Burger. There’s wonderful fine dining at Mountain Social Kitchen and Bar, or try fresh brewed beer from Steam Mill Brewing. The Inn also offers dining and a full bar everyday for overnight guests. Thursdays through Saturdays we invite the public to join us 3pm-7pm for dining and drinks as well. For a complete list of where to eat, visit Where to Eat on our chamber site.

On the Water!

Getting out on the water is fun and easy with several popular lakes, ponds, and rivers in the area. The Androscoggin, Alder, Pleasant, and Sunday Rivers offer recreational opportunities, along with Songo Pond, South Pond, North Pond, and Bryant Ponds. Boating is a favorite area activity. You can easily rent a kayak, canoe, or paddle board from local outfitters so you can get out and explore. The region also offers numerous swimming holes and waterfalls to explore, as well as terrific Maine fishing. Additionally, the Mahousuc Land Trust offers some of the best hiking trails and swimming holes to explore.

We ask visitors and locals to join us in the Embrace Our Place Pledge: The Embrace Our Place pledge helps us communicate our community values to newcomers and visitors. At the heart of our values is a desire for a collective action to ensure we preserve this unique place. By offering the Embrace Our Place pledge, we are inviting you to be part of our shared experience here in the Mahoosuc Region. We can all play our part, and the collective sum of our actions will shape our future. WE INVITE YOU TO EMBRACE OUR COMMUNITIES AND WAY OF LIFE, TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE.