Location: Surrounding the Machias River, Washington County Description: The Machias River Corridor envelopes the Machias River, which features the country’s largest self-sustaining wild Atlantic salmon run. The greater river system also supports a wide array of wading birds, waterfowl, neotropical migrants, and grassland species. The 76-mile Machias River canoe trip is popular with experienced paddlers. Read More
Bird Watching
Maine is fortunate to have an array of habitats that are great places to view a variety of birds, including North Woods specialties that folks travel from across Maine and beyond in hopes of finding. Grab your binoculars and favorite bird guide, then head out to view some of Maine's beautiful birds at these locations!
Mahoosuc Public Reserved Land
Location: West of Newry, Oxford County Description: The Mahoosuc Public Reserved Land unit includes the entire Mahoosuc Range, which features some of Maine’s most challenging and beautiful mountains, including the 4,180-foot Old Speck. A receding glacier 12,000 years ago created the Mahoosuc Range and what is commonly known to be 12 of the most difficult miles of Read More
Moosehead Lake Public Reserved Land
Location: North of Greenville, Piscataquis County Description: Moosehead is Maine and New England’s largest lake. Moosehead was formed by a mile-thick receding glacier almost 18,000 years ago. Wabanaki Native Americans have lived in the region for the past 1,000 years and place great spiritual significance in Mount Kineo, on one of the lake’s islands. Named Read More
Mount Abraham Public Reserved Land
Location: Mount Abram Township, 20 miles south of Carrabassett Valley, Franklin County Description: The Mount Abraham Public Reserved Land unit is 6,214 acres with 4,033 of those acres protected as an Ecological Reserve. The Ecological Reserve System protects Maine’s biological diversity, among other purposes. The state’s tallest mountain ash is on Mount Abraham, at an impressive Read More
Nahmakanta Public Reserved Land
Location: West of Millinocket, Penobscot County Description: The Nahmakanta unit is 43,000 acres and includes forest, mountains, and 24 great ponds. Fishing is popular on the great ponds. Pollywog Gorge is a popular destination for visitors to the land, with a mile-high drop down to the scenic gorge. Nine miles of the Appalachian Trail cross through the Read More
Pineland Public Reserved Land
Location: Gray and New Gloucester, Cumberland County Description: An oasis of undeveloped land ideal for outdoor recreation, the Pineland Public Reserved Land unit located in Gray-New Gloucester is 600 acres of forest and fields. The hilly area is ideal for hikers who want to explore one of two trails conveniently located off Route 231. The Read More
Explore Maine: Maine’s National Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness Areas
Exploring Maine’s Spectacular Federal Lands Recently, a young man told me that he, his wife, and two kids live in a small house on a small lot in the Midcoast. He loves to get outside and said, “Public lands are all I’ve got.” At NRCM, we recognize the importance of quality time spent outside. Local Read More
Rocky Lake Public Reserved Land
Location: Near East Machias, Washington County Description: The 11,000-acre Rocky Lake Public Reserved Land unit borders three lakes near East Machias and provides opportunities for boating, camping, and fishing in a wildlife-rich area. The unit is home to nesting Bald Eagles, white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, bobcat, coyote, black bear, and even fisher. The East Machias River, four Read More
Salmon Brook Lake Bog Public Reserved Land
Location: Perham, Aroostook County Description: The Salmon Brook Lake Bog Public Reserved Land is a 1,857-acre unit, of which 1,053 acres are designated as an Ecological Reserve. It is located in an area where limestone bedrock has created relatively high pH soils. Such conditions support significant natural features including circumneutral fenspeatland vegetation dominated by sedges and/or shrubs Read More
