Many of the following listings are owned and maintained by our area land trusts. For trail maps and more information, visit the trusts’ websites:
- Blue Hill Heritage Trust (BHHT) bluehillheritagetrust.org
- Island Heritage Trust (IHT) islandheritagetrust.org
- Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) mcht.org
Blue Hill
Blue Hill Town Park, Water St.
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113 Water St.
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Playground, picnic tables, tidal access to water. Town of Blue Hill.
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Fine views of Mount Desert Island and Blue Hill Bay from ledges atop the mountain. Base to summit, 1 mile, elevation gain 500 ft. Parking on Mountain Rd. Becton Trail, views of Toddy Pond, 2 miles to summit, parking on Turkey Farm Rd. Post Office Trail, 1-mile trail leads to Osgood Trail up mountain, trail head behind post office.
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Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Heart of Blue Hill Trail System
- Parker Point to South St., Murphy and Kaiser Trails.
- Designed for accessibility through village off busy roads.
- Easy 0.5 mile walk through mixed wood forest. Park on South St. by Mainescape or by trailhead on Parker Point Rd.
- Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Kingdom Woods Conservation Area
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Kingdom Rd., 1 mile from Rte. 177. Protected wetlands and forest, trails.
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Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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The 0.5 mile trail along Big Peter’s Brook features steep grades, creating numerous drops and pools, ending at a waterfall. Trailhead is located across from A.B. Herrick Memorial Landing at Peter’s Cove on East Blue Hill Rd.
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Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Brooklin
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Just under two miles of shoreline and 138 acres on Harriman Point.
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Public areas owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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Easy 1.7 mile trail through 100 acres of varied woodland and ledge outcroppings. Trailhead is located on High St., 0.1 miles from the “four corners” intersection with Hales Wood Rd., River Rd. and Hales Hill Rd.
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Public areas owned by maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Brooksville
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W. Brooksville. 23 acres of fields and woods bordering the Bagaduce River across from Castine. From N. Brooksville, drive west on Rte. 176 approximately 3 miles to W. Brooksville and turn right on Ferry Rd.
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Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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172 Indian Bar Rd. Open year-round, visitors can explore and enjoy picnicking, fishing, hiking trails and wildlife watching. The sanctuary is owned and operated by the state. 326-4012
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Views of Eggemoggin Reach and E. Penobscot Bay from this 250’ mountain. Trails to summit are short, steep, and rocky, 1-mile loop, with 0.2 mile spur leading to view of Horseshoe Cove. Two small parking areas on west side of Breezemere Rd.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Ram Island and Lower Negro Island
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In the Bagaduce River, southeasterly from Nautilus Island and north of Harborside.
Public areas owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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N. Brooksville. 40-acre parcel with over 2,550 feet of shorefront on the Bagaduce River. Start at the reversing falls on Rte. 175/176 in N. Brooksville, head south to stop sign, turn right on Rte. 176. Travel .25 mile down the road, take a right onto Young’s Point Rd. When the road forks, bear right. Look for a small parking area on right.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Castine
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Walking trail begins at Rte. 166A. This 43-acre property includes field, mixed woods, two seasonal streams and beaver flowage.
Blue Hill Heritage Trust holds a conservation easement on this property, which is owned by the Town of Castine. Trail guides available.
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Castine Rd. Picnic on mowed fields on either side of Rte. 166 just north of the British Canal.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.\
- 17-acre parcel with stone steps leading to viewpoint over Penobscot Bay, Camden Hills, Vinalhaven and Isle au Haut. Located off Herrick Road in Brooksville.
Public area owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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The Shore Rd. Located on the east side of Rte. 166A, 0.7 miles north of its southern intersection with Rte. 166. Two trails: Eagle Trail and Garden Club Trail. Working forest area with trails, open to the public.
Public areas owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Starr & Virginia Lampson Preserve
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Rte. 199, just off Rte. 166, Castine/Penobscot. 21 acres, with .75 mile loop trail to Bagaduce River. 1,500 feet of shoreline and trail to Grindle’s Eddy cove. Small parking area.
Public areas owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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Private property and partial holding of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, 185 acres of old-growth woods offers a network of trails, including 300 feet of ocean frontage along Blockhouse Point.
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Douglas McMullin 244-5100
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Public areas owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Deer Isle
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Nature Conservancy/Island Heritage Trust. 0.9 mile down Goose Cove Rd. One-mile, moderately difficult walk through quiet forest to overlook and then to beach and bar to Barred Island.
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Island Heritage Trust. Beach off Rte. 15 causeway between Deer Isle and Little Deer Isle.
- Island Heritage Trust. King Row, Deer Isle. 1.3 miles, moderate, on 47 acres, with series of loop trails, one of which touches the Lily Pond. Old growth trees, rocky outcrops.
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State of Maine/Island Heritage Trust. Off Sunshine Rd. Great historical and natural areas spread over several moderately difficult trails on 145 acres.
- Island Heritage Trust. Parking off Quaco Rd. Easy walk to beach, swimming, changing room, carry-in boat launch, trails. Wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Lisa Tolman Wotton Nature Preserve
- Island Heritage Trust. 1 mile down Blastow Rd. Newly built trails through cedar groves and over rocky ledges.
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Evergreen Garden Club/Island Heritage Trust. Short distance from Rte. 15 and Sunshine Rd., Deer Isle. Beautiful flowers and shrubs in spring and summer with walking trails around fields and woods to shore.
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Island Heritage Trust. Off Blastow Cove Rd., Little Deer Isle. Short, steep difficult climb to panoramic view of Eggemoggin Reach with unique rocks and plants, and quarry.
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Island Heritage Trust. Reach Rd./Oak Point Rd. Picnicking and walking with views over to Naskeag Point.
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Island Heritage Trust. Entrance across from Causeway Beach. Twenty acres of trails, beaches and fields at site of old ferry landing from Sedgwick.
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Island Heritage Trust. Greenlaw District Rd., off Sunshine Rd. Easy, level and relaxing 1.5-mile loop trail to shore.
Isle au Haut
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Mount Champlain, a gradual ascent to good viewpoint on the highest summit, with trails continuing along ridge from summit (road to summit, 1 mile, elevation gain 400 ft.). Numerous trails on island. Acadia National Park.
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288-3338
Penobscot
Frank Wiswall Natural Area & Dunc’s Meadow
- 30 acres with beaver dam and lodge in Dunc’s Meadow pond.
Penobscot Community Forest at Wallamatogus Mountain
- Mill Creek Rd. Two+ miles of roads through blueberry fields, views of Penobscot Bay, Bagaduce River watershed.
- Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
- Expansive views of Northern Bay. Located in the village on Routes 175 and 199 immediately west of the Bay View Market and Take Out.
- Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Starr & Virginia Lampson Preserve
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Rte. 199, just off Rte. 166, Castine/Penobscot. 21 acres, with .75 mile loop trail to Bagaduce River. 1,500 feet of shoreline and trail to Grindle’s Eddy Cove. Small parking area.
Public area owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
- Tills Point Rd. off Wardwell Point Rd. 49-acre shoreline, great for observing songbirds, shorebirds, seals, ospreys, bald eagles. 0.5-mile easy trail ends at the shore. Trail can be wet.
- Public area owned and maintained by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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Gray Ridge Rd. More than 40 acres of the former Condon Forest includes hard and soft wood stands, a brook, wetlands, and granite outcroppings along 1-mile trail.
Public area owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Sedgwick
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Off Route 15, 0.2 miles down Rope Ferry Rd., parking, trailhead. Pleasant walk through woods leading to panoramic views of the Bagaduce River.
Public area owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Cooper Farm at Caterpillar Hill
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Long loved for its scenic qualities, the 134-acre Cooper Farm property lies on the sloping fields of Caterpillar Hill on Rte 15. Hike the 2-mile trail network, pick blueberries, then swim or paddle at nearby Walker Pond.
Public area owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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Two-mile trail through diverse forests with views of Bagaduce River. Horseshoe crab breeding area. Small parking lot and trailhead are located on the west side of Rte. 15/Snow’s Cove Rd.
Public area owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Stonington
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The Nature Conservancy/Island Heritage Trust. Off Whitman Rd., Burnt Cove. Self-guided, quiet nature trails over 98 acres with several trails through spruce and fir bog forest, with interesting lichens and mosses, birds and natural features.
Holt Mill Pond Preserve
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Stonington Conservation Commission. Airport Rd. Self-guided, quiet nature trails through forest and marshes with large bird population to observe.
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Island Heritage Trust. Oceanville Rd. Spectacular 50-acre site with trails, views out over Webb Cove and to Stonington Harbor with interesting geology, history and forests.
Small Cove Park
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6 Atlantic Ave. “Pocket” park with view of harbor, picnicking.
Surry
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Cross Rd., maintained with help from Friends of Morgan Bay. Panoramic views of Morgan Bay with ledges, tidal pools, cobble beach, three sections of trail through field, shoreline, mixed inland forest.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Furth Wildlife Sanctuary & Talalay Nature Sanctuary
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Trail starts at Cross Rd., and then splits into two loops. To the left is a 1-mile loop trail through the Furth Wildlife Sanctuary’s forest to active beaver habitat. To the right is the Talalay Sanctuary’s 1-mile loop trail. Maintained with help from Friends of Morgan Bay.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
- 2,030 acres, 9 miles of logging roads, ideal for running, walking, biking. Entrance on Rte. 1, near Surry town line.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
Osgood Trail
- Accessible behind Surry Town Office or from athletic fields located just off Murphy Rd. Easy to moderate 1.1 mile-trail, passes through a mossy forest. Mostly wooded, with rocks and roots, ledges and several steps of stone stairs.
- Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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Above Surry Village, Patten Stream leaps and meanders through 41 acres of conservation property. From the parking area on Warren Lane, the South Loop Trail travels through hemlock forest to the stream. A short spur trail connects it to the North Loop Trail. Total distance for a round-trip hike of both loops is 1.5 miles.
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Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.
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Off Toddy Pond Road, 2,114 acres of forest land stretching to the Blue Hill town border, comprising a wildlife corridor running north to south along the Peninsula. Parking is available off Toddy Pond Rd. (Rte. 176) at Chestnut Ln. in Surry. Visitors are asked to park off to the side and not completely block the gate.
Public areas owned and maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust. Trail guides available.