The Maine Mountain Guide, published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, has served as the comprehensive hiker’s reference to the trails of the state since 1961. A new edition of the book, due out this month, promises to carry on the long tradition as a trusted pathfinder for hikers seeking outdoor pleasure and healthful exercise in the woods and mountains of Maine.

I can tell you this with a high degree of confidence, having had the honor and pleasure of serving as the editor for this latest version of the guide, which took more than a year of research, editing and writing to complete. It was a fun project, albeit a mammoth one, requiring more than 1,000 hours, 1,500 miles of driving and hundreds of miles of hiking, and that’s just my personal tally.

Fortunately, I had lots of help. Thanks are due to the professionals at the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, Appalachian Mountain Club, Maine Appalachian Trail Club, White Mountain National Forest, and dozens of local land trusts. A host of enthusiastic volunteers assisted as well, hiking many miles of trails, and reviewing and drafting text for the mountains I couldn’t get to myself.

The 10th edition of the Maine Mountain Guide has been completely revised from cover to cover, and in addition to updated and expanded descriptions of all the existing trails, the new guide features more than 200 trails not previously described, increasing the already wide variety of hiking possibilities for every level of hiking interest and ability.

More than 450 trails are now included, totaling well over 1,000 miles of hiking opportunities, from easy woodland walks to moderate hill climbs to strenuous mountain traverses.

From Deboullie and Black mountains in the wilds of Aroostook County to Katahdin Lake in Baxter State Park, to backcountry trails at Nahmakanta; from the rugged paths in Grafton Notch to the fine hikes in the Oxford Hills, to the craggy summits around Evans Notch; from the beauty of Donnell Pond in Downeast Maine, to the pink granite ridges of Acadia, to the wealth of hill walking along the coast, there is no doubt a trail or two for everyone’s liking.

Complementing the hike descriptions are two GPS-rendered topographic sheet maps highlighting seven popular hiking destinations, and five in-text maps.

The introductory sections have also been expanded, including a description of Maine’s public and private lands and information on trip planning and safety.

The Maine Mountain Guide is available at outdoor retailers and bookstores, and from the AMC at www.outdoors.org.

Carey Kish of Bowdoin is the editor of the 2012 edition of the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. Comments are welcome at MaineOutdoors@aol.com