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 Local news and information covering Blue Hill, Brooksville, Brooklin, Castine, Deer Isle, Isle au Haut, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Stonington and Surry, Maine. |
Visiting the area? Check out the spring edition of the Seasonal Guide visitor's portal.
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Outdoor Handbook
There are nearly 30 trails, parks or other public areas to stroll around in our area. Some are easily accessible in winter, and others are more challenging to reach once snow has fallen. All of the trails managed by Island Heritage Trust and Blue Hill Heritage Trust are open in the winter, though none of the trails are groomed. Some are suitable for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, some are not. BHHT membership coordinator Jen Plowden suggests those looking for a “less-traveled” route to check out the trails at the Kingdom Woods Conservation Area or Caterpillar Hill. Executive Director for IHT Mike Little said the fields at Scott’s Landing are good for cross-country skiing once through the initial woods. Places like the Settlement Quarry and Shore Acres are recommended for snowshoeing. The few trails listed here are those with trailheads that are kept plowed, or were mentioned by Plowden and Little as being worth the struggle. A full listing of all the area trails is available online at our visitor’s portal, penobscotbaypress.com/visitors. ^Denotes trails maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust, bluehillheritagetrust.org. *Denotes trails maintained by Island Heritage Trust, islandheritagetrust.org. Blue Hill ^Blue Hill Mountain. In Blue Hill, take Rte. 15 north to Mountain Rd. Follow Mountain Rd. to top of the hill and park. The mountain is 934 feet high and provides views of the surrounding area, from the Camden Hills to Acadia National Park. Two trails start on the Mountain Rd. and end at the summit. The Osgood Trail (0.9 miles) provides a more leisurely hike up through the forest. The Hayes Trail (0.7 miles) starts in the large field and heads up a steep rock staircase. The Hayes Trail parking lot is plowed. ^Kingdom Woods Conservation Area. 878 acres of protected wetland and forest that provide access to undeveloped Fourth Pond. The main trailhead is 1 mile from Rte. 177 on the south side of the Kingdom Rd. A half-mile further down the Kingdom Rd. a second parking area marks the start of a family-friendly, flat nature trail loop (0.5 mile). _Brooksville _ Holbrook Island Sanctuary, from Blue Hill, Rte. 15 to Rte. 175, then left on Rte. 176; follow brown signs. System of nine trails on both sides of Falls Rd., 0.7 to 2 miles, from beginner to strenuous, encompassing beach, mud flats, rocky coast, mixed woodlands, wetlands, meadows; abundant wildlife. See the special feature on page 9. Deer Isle and Stonington *Scott’s Landing, Deer Isle. Rte. 15 just after the causeway, across from Causeway Beach. Twenty acres of fields, scenic vistas and shorefront, easy trails. The parking lot for Scott’s Landing is plowed. *Settlement Quarry, Stonington. Rte. 15 to Oceanville Rd., then 0.9 mile on the right. Short trails and old quarry roads through former granite quarry, 2 miles total. Informational signs describe granite quarrying and geology of area. The road to, and parking lot for, Settlement Quarry is plowed. *Shore Acres Preserve, Deer Isle. Rte. 15 to Sunshine Rd. south of Deer Isle village; travel Sunshine Rd. for 1.2 miles, bear left onto Greenlaw District Rd., then 0.9 mile to parking area (plowed in winter). Moderate, 1.5 mile loop, uneven terrain through woods and along shore. Spectacular views of Greenlaw Cove and Campbell Island. Sedgwick ^Cooper Farm trail, off Rte. 15, Caterpillar Hill. Take Cooper Farm Rd. to small parking lot on right. One-mile loop through woods and blueberry barrens, two cut-off trails; moderate with some uneven terrain; moderate uphill climb. Bog bridges and mossy trails. The lookout on Caterpillar Hill Rd. is plowed. |
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