It was ten years ago that i first paddled the entire maine island trail from portland. The trail winds its way through 3,000 spruceinfested islands from southern maine all the way up the bony coast to true downeast maine, past roque island, and out to new brunswick. Select a region from the view bike tours by region links located to the right. This uninhabited island in maine is home to various works of art left by visitors over the years. Maine is a great big state, ideal for biking given its vastness of 35,385square miles. Unlike other parts of the maine coast, lobster boats plying the bays waters vastly outnumber recreational vessels. Maine is also home to the northern endpoint of the east coast greenway, a 3000mile bike tour down the atlantic coast that links canada to key west, florida.
Get to the heart of maine with one of lonely planet s indepth, awardwinning guidebooks. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and fishing and is best used from may until october. The first recreational water trail in north america, the maine island trail allows small boaters to explore and camp among thousands of islands in the most spectacular paddlingcruising grounds in the continental us. For years, weve used the mita book we got with the membership, but now, we. The maine island trail guide is an indispensable and inspirational guidebook for all recreational paddlers, sailors, rowers and those moving under power in small boats on the maine coast and coastal islands. About half of the island belongs to acadia national park and offers day visitors a beautiful natural setting for fishing, hiking, and cycling. Check out the kennebec river rail trail for riding and walking. Island shore to a camping area recommended in the mita guide book, was. Island hopping expeditions on the maine coast experience some of the best sea kayaking in the world.
This is the maine island trail, a treasure kept in trust for cruisers for more than two decades islands. Share the trail and warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass. Maine island trail downeast acadia regional tourism. Paddle the maine island trail in muscongus bay on our fullday trips or our island camping. Hiking maine describes trails that vary in length from an easy onehour stroll along a quiet nature trail to. The maine island trail is a 375mile water trail for small boaters extending from the new hampshire border to canada. Maine island trail ale rising tide brewing company. Hike the bar island trail in acadia np, bar island trail.
Trail guide mitas annual trail guide is your complete resource for exploration of the maine island trail, featuring comprehensive descriptions and usage guidelines for over 200 destinations. All trips are led by licensed maine guides with lots of knowledge about the history and ecology of the region. The maine island trail is today recognized as the first of the modern water trailsalthough water routes have, of course, existed on this continent since shortly after the bering land bridge was crossedand dozens of others have cropped up around the nation since. How to plan a trip on the maine island trail portland paddle. His seminal 1981 book, islands in time, celebrated islands large and small along the maine coast, both reflecting and furthering their. Coastal classic the savage beauty of maines craggy central coast is the backdrop to a 325mile route that stretches from casco bay to machias bay. Specs, plans, building logs, photo and video gallery.
The ride benefits the eastern trail alliance and its goal of building a 65mile greenway from kittery to south portland. Mount desert island might be best known for acadia national park. The greenway will be part of the east coast greenway, a more than 3,000 mile trail, from maine to key west. Paddle the maine island trail in muscongus bay on our fullday trips or our island camping overnight tours. Some are civilized, but many more are wild and undeveloped. The bar island trail is something i was a little hesitant to do at first, mainly because of my tendency to wander and. If you love to paddle or sail small boats, we have a wonderful secret to share. The maine island trail association mita is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the wild islands of coastal maine.
Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Muscongus bay lies in the middle of the famed 375milelong maine island trail, awarded the best sea. Boaters of all kinds are invited to discover over 200 wild islands. Fort gorges, a civil warera fort, stands guard near the mouth of portland harbor, where you can hopscotch across the bay, stopping at cow, little chebeague, and jewell islands. Also look for owls head light, which marks the entrance to placid penobscot bay. As the nations firstever water trail, the maine island trail is a 375mile. Exploring the maine island trail, familystyle appalachian mountain club. The trail run along railroad ave and behind deering lumber. It offers beautiful landscapes and a peaceful ride along the st.
It includes bonus chapters on two nearby canadian islands. With vast forests, seaside villages and island getaways, the state invites seemingly limitless wandering. Hike through shackford head state park and take in the views of cobscook bay. Maine island trail association 2007 stewardship handbook. You cant buy the guide in your local bookstore because we want to encourage conservationists and users of maines coast to support mita through annual. The trail is operated by the maine island trail association mita, a non. The guide isnt for sale rather, members receive it every spring and its valid only for that years boating season. Then take a 3hour whale watching windjammer cruise through head harbor passage.
Maine art museum trail welcome to the relaunch of the maine. Island heritage trust is a communitybased, nonprofit land trust contributing to the wellbeing of the island community by conserving its distinctive landscape and natural resources, maintaining public access to valued trails, shoreline and islands, and by providing educational programming for all ages. Walker art building 9400 college station brunswick, maine 04011. Downeast acadias wineries are part of the maine wine trail, which consists of 21 wineries across the state, producing grape and fruit wines, distilled spirits, meads, ciders and fortified wines. The maine island trail is a 325mile long waterway extending from casco bay on the west to machias bay on the east maine. Johnston island maine, united states private islands for sale. Easy hike from pleasant street out to shaws ridge and back.
Have a plan b and c if the parking is full, go to the next spot on your list. Day 2 offers family activities including a guided mountain bike trail ride. John valley heritage trail on maines northern border with canada. But the map above is the really important thing to have.
Islandhopping expeditions on the maine coast experience some of the best sea kayaking in the world. Complete guide the companion maine birding trail guide book is the official guide to more than 260 accessible sites, many of them off the beaten track and away from crowds. Our multiday trips offer a chance to islandhop along the maine island trail, a water trail running parallel to the maine coast that features some of the best sea kayaking in the world. John valley heritage trail on maines northern border.
Hike through shackford head state park and take in the views of. Maine island trail association 2007 stewardship handbook and guide maine island trail association on. Maine has roughly 4,600 landmasses surrounded by saltwater, large ones and small, many close inshore and others a sea voyage away. Join us for a 2hour or halfday ecotourism tour in johns bay and visit colonial pemaquid state park. The maine island trail is a recreational water trail that spans the entire coast of maine, connecting over 200 islands and mainland sites available for day visits or. The maine island trail is a 375mile recreational waterway that spans the entire coast of maine. Dogs are welcome on most preserves no dogs allowed at starboard rock or whitmore pond remember to bring a bag and clean up after your dog. Muscongus bay lies in the middle of the famed 375milelong maine island trail, awarded the best sea kayaking trail in the nation by outside magazine. This was thoreaus longesthe spent twenty days in maine, including eleven in the north woodsand most arduous expedition. The companion maine birding trail guide book is the official guide to more than 260 accessible sites, many of them off the beaten track and away from crowds. Americas first recreational water trail, it connects over 200 wild islands and mainland sites open for day use or overnight camping. Mainedots 33 loop bike tours are available for download on this site.
But i landed some hours later on a foggy gravel beach at an island a few miles offshore, then immediately dug out a book id recently bought and. Plan a major hike up cadillac, or spend your days hiking the other numerous trails in the area. Isle au haut is an exceptionally scenic island located off the coast of stonington, maine. Our multiday trips offer a chance to island hop along the maine island trail, a water trail running parallel to the maine coast that features some of the best sea kayaking in the world. Park amenities, such as water, restrooms and buildings, are shut down for the winter season as dictated by weather. Maine island trail association 2007 stewardship handbook and.
The maine island trail is a water trail that connects over 200 islands and mainland sites along the coast of maine. There are a few places to park in the dirt lot along railroad ave. Maine island trail 2009 guide maine island trail association on. Explore the pemaquid peninsula jewel of midcoast maine. Maine kayaks island camping overnight trip offers the opportunity to enjoy paddling the majestic maine coastline with an added night spent under the stars on one of maines beautiful secluded coastal islands of the maine island trail in muscongus bay.
The maine island trail, americas oldest recreational water trail, was founded in 1988 by citizens who wanted to encourage stewardship of the coastal islands they loved to visit. The trail leads you to lobster adventures that include riding on real lobster boats, meeting fishermen and hearing their stories and, of coursetrying the fresh catch at local eateries. Maine island trail ale is a american pale ale apa style beer brewed by rising tide brewing company in portland, me. The trail has grown steadily since then and today connects over 200 wild islands and mainland sites that are open for camping or day use. The guide features over 100 new maps, secrets for finding soughtafter species, and advice on tripplanning. Maine wine trail for those who love the magic of the grape, the downeast acadia region has a selection of wineries that will delight you. The maine lobster trail is a colorful and delicious journey that takes in the same villages. Download maine island trail association and enjoy it on your iphone, ipad. The trail winds its way along the coast over protected salt water rivers and quiet bays.
The bar island trail is an awesome short trail with beautiful views of bar harbor, champlain mountain and cadillac mountain only accessible during low tide. Islands near deer isle hells half acre and steves as well as. Maine has meandering coastal roads and dramatic inland lakes and mountains with extensive trail networks to explore. Maine island trail association 2007 stewardship handbook and guide. Ferry across the kennebec river to swan island and spend the day hiking and birding. The maine island trail is a recreational water trail that spans the entire coast of maine, connecting over 200 islands and mainland sites available for day visits or overnight camping. The maine island trail 1995 guidebook maine island trail association on. The trail is operated by the maine island trail association mita, a nonprofit membership organization based in portland, maine with over 6000 members. Maine island trail revisited zollitsch canoe adventures. Johnston island maine, united states private islands. A walk in the park, although a bit outdated as to trail names, does give very good descriptions of the various hikes. The maine island trail is americas oldest recreational water trail, connecting over 200 island and mainland sites open for day visits or overnight camping while traversing a variety of natural settings from sandy beaches and quiet bays to saltwater rivers and bold shores. Cyclists have 5 miles of paved roads and over 7 miles of rough mountain biking trails to enjoy, while hikers. Feb 14, 2017 high light of the dozens of lighthouses along the trail, seguin island light at the kennebec rivers mouth is the most prominent.
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