Explore the Nature of Maine’s Coast

Maine’s iconic coast thrills millions of visitors and residents each year. People love to walk York Beach, take a puffin cruise out of New Harbor, and hear the power of Acadia’s Thunder Hole. Our coast is a critical part of Maine’s economy and way of life. We must fight against any threat to it. The Trump Administration’s proposal to allow oil drilling off the coast has brought Maine’s entire Congressional delegation, all of Maine’s state legislators, and thousands of Maine citizens together to say, “No way!” In fact, the Maine Legislature supported a resolution—which passed unanimously in the House and Senate—that said, “The State of Maine finds that offshore oil exploration and drilling risks our economic and ecological health and therefore opposes any plan or legislation which encourages oil exploration offshore that would impact the citizens of Maine.” NRCM has been at the forefront of the effort to keep drilling off the coast of Maine from becoming a reality. We will not stand for the risk of oil-stained waters lapping against our shores, harming our wildlife, and ruining our tourism industry. Here, we share with you just a few of our favorite places along the beautiful coast of Maine!—Lisa Pohlmann, CEO

Pemaquid

Hop in the car and meander down the Pemaquid peninsula. There’s a sandy beach, a historic fort, a public boat launch, a lighthouse, rocky ledges with tidal pools and periwinkles, old meeting houses, old schoolhouses, an ice house, boat yards, walking trails, Witch Island, Hog Island, kayak rentals, lobster co-ops, lots of waterfront dining options, boat tours, oysters, camping… You can smell the brine, feel the fog, hear the gong, slip and slide on the seaweed, wiggle your toes in the chilly water, sniff the breeze, watch the sails run along the horizon, awake to the early morning rumble of fishing boats, grin at noisy gulls, squint at the glitter of sun on the afternoon water, get messy with clams and melted butter, fish off a squeaky dock, and fall asleep to the distant sound of the surf. Some nights the seals belch and growl, phosphorous lights up the murky underwater, the herons squawk, and the full moon brings a mysterious serenity to the silent coves.

Okay, I’ll confess that anywhere on the Maine coast is a great destination. You don’t need much other than a sense of wonder, and if you’re really lucky, a wee boat with someone special to share it. The rest is magic. See you there! —Annie Winchester, NRCM Board Member, Pemaquid

Seawall Beach, Phippsburg

If I were to name a place that is special to me and to my family, it would be Seawall Beach, at the end of the hike through the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area (on the other side of the Morse River from Popham Beach State Park). It is an easy hike through woods, small fields, and salt marsh—a quick detour to the top of Morse Mountain, for those so inclined—and then eventually to the secluded, open, sandy beach. I have been visiting with family and friends two to three times a year for thirty years. The beach has changed over the decades—terns used to nest on the stretch that led to Popham, and you used to be able to cross over to Popham Beach. There are still many, many sand dollars after a good storm, still Piping Plovers, and it is a regular stopover for Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, often a Willet in the tides where the river meets the beach. Seals on the rocks; Bald Eagles in the sky; in May, there are Black-throated Green Warblers right at eye level in the scrub pines at the edge of the beach. In the early winter of 1986, through a spotting scope on a tripod on the beach, we gazed at a very stoic Snowy Owl on top of Fox Island, the small rock about 300 yards from the beach and connected by a “tombolo” at low tide. (Also taught us what a “tombolo” is…) —Russ Pierce, NRCM Board President, Portland

Timber Point, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Biddeford

My family loves hiking out to Timber Island near Goose Rocks Beach. The reasons are threefold. First, there are historic gardens and several buildings from the 1920s to inspire the preservationist and history buffs. Second, there are wonderful rocky promontories and ledges to explore and “re-find” for geology enthusiasts, and then there is a swampy lowland where Red-winged Blackbirds congregate in early spring, and good birding habitat farther out near the Point for those hikers who like to do a bit of birding while hiking. Once low tide is close, you can easily walk to the small island 250 yards from the Point. If you are a rock hound or shell seeker, use caution: It is easy to forget the three-hour window! If you appreciate dawdling, you may get stuck on the island until the next low tide allows you egress back to the mainland. Once, in 2013 a moose did just that! —Alice White, NRCM member, Biddeford

Reversing Falls Park, Pembroke (Washington County)

Our favorite coastal location is a small, rural park with a trail that leads down to a rocky area where tidal falls are created by the high tides emanating from the Bay of Fundy. There are some trails near the falls as well as rural campsites in the park. It’s an ideal place for walking, sitting, meditating, painting, photography, yoga, reading, and just relaxing, surrounded by Maine’s natural beauty. We visit the park year round (though the gravel road can be tricky to negotiate in the winter). This is one of our favorite areas to walk or just sit and watch the wildlife. There are usually some eagles in the area, as well as many other birds. Seals make frequent appearances, but never on cue! The effect of the falls is best at mid- to late-high or low tide. The area may seem rural and undeveloped, but it is a place of tranquility and wildlife if you enjoy the Downeast coast. Tip: Wear sturdy shoes! And on the way back from Reversing Falls, stop at the turn out at Young’s Cove, where at sunset the colors and the view are beautiful, and always seem relaxing because it is such a quiet spot. While in the area, be sure to stop at Betty’s Crabmeat in Pembroke for fresh crab or lobster, or at Quoddy Bay Lobster in Eastport! —Jim and Ruby Sosa, NRCM members, Pembroke

Mt. Megunticook, Camden Hills State Park, Camden

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite place on the Maine coast, but one of my favorite views comes at the Ocean Lookout on the Mount Megunticook trail in Camden Hill State Park. After a short, moderate hike you’re rewarded with an amazing panoramic view over Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay, and on a clear day, you can see Cadillac Mountain to the east. The park offers a total
of 30 miles of scenic hiking trails, so you can easily stitch together a bunch of trails, if you’re looking for a challenge. Challenging hike or not, I always stop at the food stand right across the street from the entrance to the park for some fried seafood and an ice cream cone before I head home. —Kristin Jackson, Federal Project Outreach Coordinator

Cobscook Bay State Park

This is a quiet gem on the Washington County coast. When kayaking on the bay, you’ll see eagles and seals and feel the power of the nearby Reversing Falls. You should take nearby jaunts to Lubec for a summer concert, Eastport for the best fish roll you’ve ever had, or to Quoddy Head for a breathtaking hike on the easternmost point in the U.S. Pick up a quart or two of fresh-picked blueberries or hit Helen’s for pie on your way home. The perfect Maine vacation! —Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM CEO

Reid State Park, Georgetown

Reid is a large state park located on the rocky coast with two beautiful beaches, a lagoon, walking trails, and picnic and cookout areas. One can enjoy the beaches by walking, birding, swimming, surfing, picnicking, meditating, or watching children frolic at the water’s edge or building sandcastles. There is also the view out to sea, including Seguin Lighthouse. Summer and fall are our favorite times to visit the park, but one can enjoy this special spot anytime of the year, as many folks cross-country ski on the trails and sometimes on the beaches. We enjoy walking in the park, especially at low tide around mid-August when the Sanderlings and Semi-palmated Plovers are running along the wet sand feeding during their migration season. It is also nice to be in the park to enjoy the beach roses in bloom and all of the birds that are in the thickets. Of course there is a pull to the park after a storm to watch the surf as it pounds the rocks and shoreline. —Howard and Nancy Bliss, NRCM members, Brunswick

La Verna Preserve, Bristol

It sounds exotic and far away. But it’s not. La Verna Preserve is right in midcoast Maine, and it is one of my very favorite places. Located in Bristol, La Verna is a part of the Pemaquid Watershed Association. The trailhead starts off Rt. 32 and heads directly into the forest. As you walk away from the road and surrounding houses, you climb over an old rock wall and across a set of boardwalks over a small stream. The trail winds farther into the forest, and you begin to feel the sense that you are away from everything. The preserve is rich with moss-covered rocks, huge boulders, and towering pines and hardwood trees. In the summer, everything is mind-boggling green. In the fall, the trail is dotted with red, yellow, and orange leaf litter. Then, when you didn’t think it could get any more beautiful and peaceful, the trail opens up to the ocean. Giant metamorphic rock formations invite you to sit, listen, and watch. From there you can walk along the cliffs to get different vantage points of the ocean, Monhegan Island, and passing boats. All in all the preserve has close to three miles of trails of easy walking and big rewards for people of all ages and four-legged friends.
—Gabby Grunkemeyer, Grants Director

La Verna Preserve is one of my favorite places to go to experience Maine’s coast. This beautiful preserve offers a beautiful hike through quiet forest until it opens up to the expansive and rugged coastline. Here you can scramble along the rocks, dip your toes into the cool ocean water, and look into the unique tidal pools. It is truly a magical place that I could spend hours exploring. —Kelsey Grossmann, Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Oven’s Mouth Preserve, Boothbay

When thinking about a favorite place on the coast of Maine, Monhegan Island during spring and fall migration comes quickly to mind. So does Biddeford Pool, for shorebird watching in August.
I love Quoddy Head and Schoodic Point, Lamoine State Park near Acadia, and Wolfe’s Neck in Freeport, and so many others. But I have a strong affinity for the Boothbay area, land of my ancestors going back to its founding, and where my grandparents on my mother’s side enjoyed sharing the natural world with me and my siblings. One spot that we, including our son and his buddies, really enjoy is the Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Oven’s Mouth Preserve. With a name like that it has to be an interesting spot—and it is! The “mouth” is a narrow opening through which the tide rushes to fill and then empty a broad, shallow marine basin. The trails trace the shoreline through wonderfully smelling pine and spruce forests and lead to a magical footbridge that spans the tips of two peninsulas that jut out into the narrow tidal passage. At the tip of the peninsulas are open, pine needle-cushioned spaces, simple benches, and warm ledges where we watch Osprey and terns fishing in summer, and listen to the liquid trills of Pine Warblers from the tops of the towering pines. In winter, you can look from the trails out over the quiet basin and see the black and white Bufflehead ducks diving for food and American Black Ducks dabbling in the shallows. I recommend this spot for just a simple hike or a birding foray! —NRCM member Jeff Wells, Gardiner

Popham Beach, Phippsburg

Growing up in Maine, I was fortunate to spend a lot of my childhood along Maine’s coast. I especially loved family trips to Popham Beach. We didn’t go to the state park as much as we spent time down near Fort Popham, walking along the beach looking for shells and racing in and out of the water. As an adult, I have continued to go back to Popham every year, sometimes even in the winter, with my husband and two small dogs, to explore this piece of the Maine coastline. There is nothing like finding a spot in the sand to sit, watch the seals play just off shore, and enjoy the warm summer sun (with lots of sunscreen and a hat, of course!). I still enjoy looking for seashells and now spend time photographing interesting driftwood and other sights along the beach. The smell of the sea and the sound of the waves, at Popham and at numerous other places along Maine’s coast, help me relax and always remind me why I am so thankful to live in this beautiful state. —Beth Comeau, Communications Manager

 

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