21 acres

Property Description

The 21-acre Lampson Preserve is a sloping riverfront property located along the Bagaduce River in the towns of Castine and Penobscot. Located along the edge of a small cove on the Bagaduce River, known as Grindle's Eddy, the preserve includes approximately 1,500 feet of shoreline. Visitors to the preserve can travel along a loop trail that leads through meadows and forests to the scenic river.

The diversity of habitats on the Lampson Preserve attracts a variety of wildlife. Monarch butterflies, tree swallows, and deer frequent the open areas. The forested portions of the preserve are home to songbirds, wood frogs, and ruffed grouse. Along the shore, visitors can spot bald eagle, osprey, shorebirds, and harbor seals foraging in the river.

In 1998, MCHT acquired this 21-acre property thanks to a generous donation. MCHT's acquisition ensured its protection. Later, the property was named the Starr and Virginia Lampson Preserve, in tribute to a previous landowner.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
  • Foot Traffic Only - Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
• Do Not Remove Archaeological Artifacts

How to Get There: From the junction of Routes 166 and 199, follow Route 199 a few hundred feet northeast to the parking area on the right.

96 acres

Property Description

Landowners along Vinalhaven’s Seal Bay have worked for decades to sustain the ecological integrity of this cherished water body.  Through generous gifts of land and easements, individuals and families have protected all of the bay’s undeveloped islands and a substantial portion of its shoreline.  The unspoiled vistas that you enjoy Huber Preserve are the product of that collective effort.  Visitors are invited to travel 1.9-mile roundtrip along the hiking trail that leads to the shoreline.

The preserve’s dense woods and wetlands include a mix of conifers and hardwoods.  A rare sedge also grows on the property.  Spruce and fir predominate, with some white birch, red oak, and red maple.  Much of the 65-200 year old white spruce is succumbing to disease and storm blowdowns.  Mosses and skunk cabbage abound in wet areas of the preserve.  Ladyslippers and other spring wildflowers show early, and amphibians breed in the small pond and wetlands.  At least 25 species of warblers and migratory songbirds frequent the wetlands and more open areas.  Eiders or common terns can often be seen along the shores of Seal Bay.  Waterfowl frequent these waters during much of the fall and winter.

This 96-acre preserve was donated to MCHT in 1997 by Sherry Huber, who - with her late husband David - wished to maintain the natural character of Seal Bay.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information & guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
  • Foot Traffic Only - Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
• Do Not Remove Archaeological Artifacts

How to Get There: From Vinalhaven’s town center, follow the North Haven Road north 2 miles.  Turn right onto Round The Island Road and continue 1.5 miles to a small parking area on the left.  The State of Maine operates year round ferry service from Rockland to Vinalhaven.

1,225 acres

Property Description

Hamilton Cove Preserve embodies the rugged character that gives Maine's Bold Coast its name. This 1,225-acre preserve provides opportunities to experience some of Maine's most remote and wild terrain - cobble beaches, sheer cliffs, and rocky promontories. The preserve's 1.5-mile long shoreline includes several cobble beaches and rocky points that offer dramatic views of Grand Manan Island. Scenic trails presently lead along the coast and to the shore. Future plans call for a new path to views atop Benny's Mountain.

More than 25 different types of plant communities thrive at Hamilton Cove, including a high number of bogs, fens, and other wetlands that provide habitat for several uncommon plants including baked-apple berry, Labrador tea, roseroot sedum and beachhead iris. There are also grasslands, barrens, and unusually large patches of low-growing alder. The preserve's diverse habitats support numerous migratory and resident birds including bald eagles.

Hamilton Cove enjoys a long history of human activity. The original land grants date back to the early 1800s. A portion of an existing trail follows an old dam that was built to support a local mill. Several ships were built on the property in a shipyard located near the mouth of Hamilton Stream. MCHT acquired the first of 4 parcels that now comprise the preserve in 1993.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• Fires By Permit Only - Maine State Law
  • Contact Maine Forest Service at 207-827-1800 for Permit
  • Keep All Fires Below High Tide Line
  • Do Not Cut or Break Tree Limbs, Dead or Alive
  • Leave No Fire Unattended
  • Completely Extinguish All Fires
• Stay on Established Trails
  • Foot Traffic Only - Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
  • Visitors Can Inadvertently Disturb Thin Soils and Fragile Vegetation Along the Cliffs, That is Slow to Regenerate
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
• Do Not Remove Archaeological Artifacts

How to Get There: From Lubec, take the South Lubec Road towards Quoddy Head State Park. In 2.7 miles turn right onto Boot Cove Road and continue 2.4 miles to the parking area on the left.

1,500 acres

Property Description

This 1,500-acre preserve lies at the heart of Maine's Bold Coast, which stretches from Western Head in Cutler to Quoddy Head in Lubec.  Some of preserve's many exceptional natural features include nearly 3 miles of salt water frontage, bold headlands, gravel and cobble beaches, bluejoint meadows, coastal peatlands, and one of the only natural ponds in the towns of Cutler and Trescott - 10-acre Norse Pond.  Bog Brook Cove's high rocky shore provides sweeping views across Grand Manan Channel to New Brunswick's Grand Manan Island.

The preserve showcases a scattering of rocky knolls separated by gently sloping ground, swampy flats, wet meadows, and small brooks (an estimated 40% of the property consists of wetland soils).   The diverse habitat is home to a great variety of wildlife, including black bear, bobcat, and fisher.  In addition, Bog Brook Cove has also enjoyed documented sightings of two birds rarely seen in Maine: yellow rail and upland sandpiper.

The preserve has a long history of human activity that has included farming and forestry.  Today, roughly 80 acres of the preserve are managed for commercial blueberry harvesting.

The Bog Brook Preserve consists of multiple adjoining parcels, interspersed with privately owned properties.  MCHT acquired the first parcel in 2005, but the bulk of the preserve was purchased in 2008.  While the Bog Brook Preserve is open for public use, presently there are few amenities.  However, MCHT plans to develop additional trails and parking areas in 2009.  With the adjacent 12,234-acre state-owned Cutler Coast Unit, Bog Brook Cove is part of the largest contiguous area of conservation land on the Maine coast outside of Acadia National Park.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
  • Foot Traffic Only - Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
• Please Don't Pick Privately Managed Blueberries

How to Get There: Bog Brook Cove Preserve is located off Route 191 in Trescott roughly 6 miles from Cutler and approximately 7 miles south of Route 189 in Lubec.

36 acres

Property Description

The home of MCHT's Mount Desert Island office, the 36-acre Babson Creek Preserve is divided by Route 102/198 in Somesville. The property consists of meadows, salt marsh, and a small wooded area. With land on both sides of Babson Creek, an extension of Somes Sound, the preserve offers an excellent opportunity to view wildlife throughout the year. While there are not established trails on the property, the open nature of the land's maintained fields affords easy access to the creek's western side and a hand-carry launching area for small boats.

The Babson Preserve is characterized by a mosaic of natural and managed habitats of significant ecological and scenic value. The salt marsh bordering the creek is relatively undisturbed by past land use and comprises one of the largest and most diverse salt marshes in conservation ownership on Mount Desert Island. The preserve's open fields afford long views across the wetlands to the mountains beyond.

First settled as early as 1810, the property has had a long history of human activity. MCHT acquired the bulk of the property in 2002, thanks to a donation from the Maine Coast Partners. In 2008, MCHT began construction of an office building and stewardship barn on the preserve. The building is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
  • Foot Traffic Only - Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
• Do Not Remove Archaeological Artifacts

How to Get There: From the junction of Routes 3, 198, and 102 in Somesville, follow Route 102 north 0.2 mile to the preserve entrance on the right.

7 acres

Property Description

Located at the southern end of Bartlett Narrows, the 7-acre Folly Island Preserve is a day-use destination by kayakers who travel to the island from the nearby public access point at Pretty Marsh Harbor.  Due to a dense interior thicket of shrubs most visitors remain along the eastern and southern shores, nice locations to picnic or scan the surrounding waters for marine life.  Both the northern and southern shores have pocket beaches and good landing sites for small boats.  

The island is mostly low-lying except for a small knoll on the northern half of the island.  The eastern shore is bordered by ledges that slope gently to the shore, while the western shore more steeply fronts a deep water channel.  Folly Island is mostly covered with a dense, young mixed hardwood community, consisting primarily of small trees and shrubs.  Aspen, red maple, white birch, alder, bayberry, raspberry, serviceberry, broad-leaved meadowsweet, and lowbush blueberry comprise this early successional community.  Salt marsh fringes the northern and eastern shores of the island. 

MCHT received Folly Island in 2006 thanks to a generous donation by the previous owners whose family acquired the property in 1943.   Folly Island is also protected with a conservation easement held by Acadia National Park.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information & guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• Fires By Permit Only - Maine State Law
  • Contact Maine Forest Service at 207-827-1800 for Permit
  • Keep All Fires Below High Tide Line
  • Do Not Cut or Break Tree Limbs, Dead or Alive
  • Leave No Fire Unattended
  • Completely Extinguish All Fires
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control

How to Get There: Folly Island is located in Bartlett Narrows in the town of Mount Desert. 

230 acres

Property Description

MCHT's 230-acre McKenney Preserve covers the northern half of Tinker Island (the 430-acre island includes a 200-acre conservation easement limiting development on the southern half - please respect the privacy of the owners). A prominent landmark in the middle of Blue Hill Bay, Tinker Island provides scenic vistas along its expansive shores. Ringed by a series of beaches, the island is ideal for landing small boats, picnicking, and beachcombing. Tinker is also a great place to camp at either of two designated campsites. One campsite is located near a sandy spit on the west shore that serves as an excellent swimming area. The other campsite is on the north end.

Tinker Island's five distinct plant communities provide habitat for abundant wildlife including nesting osprey and bald eagles, porcupine, snowshoe hare, white-tailed deer, and red squirrel. Its northern ledges are important haul-outs for seal pups.

Tinker was originally named Robinson Island in honor of its first European settler Captain John Robinson. While serving as a sea pilot, Robinson guided many privateers safely past the British during the Revolutionary War. By 1850, 41 people in seven households lived on the island, but by 1910 the last resident departed. Remnants of Tinker Island's past history remain: a wagon road, cellar holes, sills, wells, and stone walls are all visible today. MCHT acquired the preserve through a bargain sale in 2001 thanks to the generosity of the McKenneys and with support from the Land for Maine's Future Program.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• Camp At Established Campsites
  • Limit Stay to 2 Nights
  • Groups of 6 or More and Commercial Users by Permission Only. Please call 207-729-7366.
• Fires By Permit Only - Maine State Law
  • Contact Maine Forest Service at 207-827-1800 for Permit
  • Keep All Fires Below High Tide Line
  • Do Not Cut or Break Tree Limbs, Dead or Alive
  • Leave No Fire Unattended
  • Completely Extinguish All Fires
• Stay on Established Trails
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors

How to Get There: Tinker Island is located in Blue Hill Bay in the town of Tremont.

985 acres

Property Description

The Ed Woodsum Preserve includes all of 985-acre Marshall Island, the largest undeveloped island on America's eastern seaboard.  The preserve was acquired by MCHT in 2003, thanks to the generosity of private donors and the state's Land for Maine's Future Program.  In the years that have followed, the Trust has developed 10 miles of hiking trails that allow visitors to explore much of the island.  However, most visitors to Marshall are drawn to an alluring beach located within Sand Cove on the island's southeastern shore.  This sandy expanse is a popular summer destination for recreational boaters and residents of nearby communities.

Marshall is forested predominately with spruce species and an occasional hardwood.  Throughout the island there is a network of interconnected wetlands.  Nearly the entire shoreline consists of bold granite ledge and cobble beaches.  Numerous species of birds are drawn to the island each year.  In addition to migratory visitors, there has been an active bald eagle nest near Boxam Cove and the island is home to many resident songbirds.

Caution should be taken while hiking the island's rugged shoreline. While MCHT employs summer caretakers on the island from July through Labor Day, no services are available and cell phone coverage is spotty.  There are few places along Maine's coast as isolated, wild, and beautiful as Marshall Island.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information & guidelines

• Camping at Established Campsites by Reservation Only
  Please call 207-729-7366
  Limit stay to 2 nights
• Fires by Permit Only - Maine State Law
  Contact Maine Forest Service at 207-827-1800 for Permit
  Keep All fires Below High Tide Line
  Do Not Cut or Break Tree limbs, Dead or Alive
  Leave No Fire Unattended
  Completely Extinguish All Fires
• Stay on Established Trails
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors

How to Get There: Marshall Island is located in Hancock County south of Swans Island.  The preserve offers a dock for easy landing on the northeast side near Ringtown Island.

185 acres

Property Description

Witherle Woods has long been enjoyed by Castine citizens and visitors as a quiet retreat for walking, cross-country skiing, and picnicking. Today, this 185-acre preserve on scenic Castine peninsula includes a 4.2-mile trail network. The trails lead through a forest of red and white spruce, balsam fir, white pine, and several hardwood stands.

Witherle Woods has a long history of human activity that goes back at least as far as colonial times when the French used the site as a trading post, fort, mission, grazing area, and for recreation. During the nation's earliest days, Witherle Woods witnessed military action during both the Revolutionary War as well as the War of 1812. In fact, archaeological research has located fortifications from both events. By the 1870s much of the present preserve was owned by George Witherle who maintained carriage trails throughout the property. At that time, the land was comprised mostly of open meadow.

Beginning in 1985, three different landowners donated portions of the existing preserve to MCHT - a fourth parcel was purchased by the Trust. Over the past decade, the woods have experienced a high level of mortality due to old age and insect damage. After storms in 2007-2008 caused major blowdowns, the Trust worked with a forester and logger to salvage the timber, ensure public safety, and prepare for a healthy future forest.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
  • Foot Traffic Only - Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors
• Do Not Remove Archaeological Artifacts

How to Get There: From the junction of Routes 166 and 166A in Castine follow Route 166 south 0.9 mile to the top of a hill. Continue right at a sharp bend in the road and drive 0.8 mile along Battle Avenue to the preserve on the right. Parking is available along the fence line (please do not block the gate).

136 acres

Property Description

The 136-acre Aldermere Farm, a landmark of Midcoast Maine, is one of the world’s premier breeders of Belted Galloway cattle (belties).  MCHT maintains Aldermere as a working farm and educational center, helping visitors deepen their appreciation for land conservation and sustainable agriculture.  Nestled on the western shore of Penobscot Bay in Rockport, Maine, Aldermere Farm has been an area landmark for generations. Maine Coast Heritage Trust owns and manages this working farm thanks to a generous bequest made by the late Albert H. Chatfield, Jr.

Aldermere Farm is a traditional New England saltwater farm, with rugged fields, weathered stone walls, a rocky shoreline, and simple yet elegant structures. The farm includes fields, woods, and wetlands, as well as the buildings and grounds.  Although most people associate Aldermere with the Belties, the farm is also a compelling example of progressive agriculture and a caring land ethic. The late Albert Chatfield, Jr. and his wife Marion restored the land with innovative conservation methods and organic agriculture. It was a lifelong task, and the farm’s splendid condition today attests eloquently to the Chatfields’ devotion to the land they dearly loved.

Aldermere’s pastoral vistas and undeveloped shoreline are prized scenic features of Rockport and Camden, and will remain so forever thanks to conservation easements Mr. Chatfield placed on the property. Determined to protect the farm from the relentless build-up of Maine’s coast, Mr. Chatfield worked with Maine Coast Heritage Trust to establish protective easements which legally preclude subdivision and development. Aldermere Farm shows how working farms can be an important aspect of conservation and community planning.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails *Foot Traffic Only – Trails Are Not Suitable for Wheeled Vehicles
• Carry Out All Trash *Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Pets are Not Permitted
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors

How to Get There: From the junction of Route 1 and 90 in Rockport head 0.3 mile east on West Street.  Turn left at the intersection.  Drive 0.5 mile and then veer right onto Russell Avenue.  The Farm is located 0.6 mile on either side of the road.

More information is available at Aldermere.org.

42 acres

Property Description

MCHT's 42-acre Malaga Island Preserve lies at the mouth of the New Meadows River in Phippsburg. Maritime spruce-fir forest covers most of the island. One or two acres of overgrown meadow occur on the north end of the island, while on the south end, one can find a brackish pond and salt marsh. The shoreline is mostly rocky and rugged, except for a few small beaches and patches of salt marsh. The shell-filled beach on the north end of the island (near the overgrown meadow) is the best landing spot for small boats. Note: much of Malaga Island is ringed with poison ivy.

Purchased by MCHT in 2001 through a generous bargain sale, Malaga continues to be used by nearby lobsterman for storing their traps and fishing gear. Recreational visitors can explore the island by landing at the beach on the northern shore, then walking a nearly one-mile long loop trail that explores the island's forested interior. A spur trail leads to scenic ledges at the south end of the island, which afford a panoramic view of eastern Casco Bay.

In addition to showcasing coastal scenery, Malaga Island also has an important cultural history. The island was home to a mixed race fishing community from the mid-1800s to 1912 when the residents were forcibly removed by the State of Maine. MCHT has been working with various partners in recent years, including the University of Southern Maine, to better understand the island's archaeological history and to help share this unfortunate story from Maine's history. For more information, please see "An Overview of the Cultural and Natural History of Malaga Island (PDF)".

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Do Not Remove Archaeological Artifacts
• Do Not Disturb Fishing Gear

How to Get There: Malaga Island is located near the mouth of the New Meadows River in Phippsburg. The best landing area is on the island's north end.

122 acres

Property Description

Located between Chebeague Island and the southern end of Harpswell Neck, Whaleboat is the largest undeveloped island in Casco Bay. The island's long, linear shape, with higher elevations at each end separated by a low saddle, is said to resemble a whaleboat. A grassy meadow and dense maritime shrubland separates the spruce/fir forest stands at either end of the island. The island's uplands are bordered by cobble beaches, small areas of salt marsh, ledges, and dramatic cliffs.

Osprey nest on the island and bald eagles are regularly observed there. The shrub habitat on the island is valuable feeding and resting habitat for migrating songbirds and warblers nest in the spruce forest. In September, Whaleboat is an excellent location to view migrating raptors when the winds are blowing from the north. The island was settled by several families over the last two centuries. The historic remains of Whaleboat's early settlers still exist on the island, including stonewalls, a dug well, and the crumbling remains of an old foundation.

A small cove on the island's eastern shore is the best landing spot for small boats. The grassy meadow is ideal for day use and camping is allowed at the meadow campsite or north campsite. There are no trails on the island, but the rocky shoreline invites exploration - watch your step, the footing can be tricky.

The entire 122-acre island was acquired by MCHT in 2002 with generous donations from area residents. The state's Land for Maine's Future program provided funds to help with the purchase.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information/guidelines

• Camp At Established Campsites
  • Limit Stay to 2 Nights
  • Groups of 6 or More and Commercial Users by Permission Only. Please call 207-729-7366.
• Fires By Permit Only - Maine State Law
  • Contact Maine Forest Service at 207-827-1800 for Permit
  • Keep All Fires Below High Tide Line
  • Do Not Cut or Break Tree Limbs, Dead or Alive
  • Leave No Fire Unattended
  • Completely Extinguish All Fires
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control

How to Get There: Whaleboat Island is located off the west side of Harpswell Neck in Casco Bay.

967 acres

Property Description

Located on Frenchboro Long Island, this 967-acre preserve includes 5.6 miles of shoreline, hundreds of acres of spruce forests, and dozens of forested and open wetlands, headlands, and beaches.  While the interior provides intact habitat for forest and wetland wildlife, the preserve's rocky shoreline is home to rare plants such as mare's tail and beachhead iris.  Beaver and deer were introduced in the 1900s and have definitely left their mark with ponds and little hardwood understory.  Frenchboro Long Island is also home to nesting bald eagles and is a popular stopping point for migratory birds.

The preserve offers a network of more than 10 miles of hiking trails that provide access to an array of spectacular shoreline vistas.  Please use care in planning your route as the trails are rustic and largely unmarked.  Many of the paths on the island extend from MCHT land onto private property.  Neighboring landowners have generously continued the island tradition of allowing the public to cross their properties.  Please respect their privacy by staying far away from any structures and leaving no trace of your visit.

Frenchboro Long Island is home to approximately 65 year-round residents who make their living primarily from the sea through lobster fishing.  The village is clustered around Lunt Harbor, and includes a schoolhouse, post office, church, museum/library, firehouse and seasonal dockside deli, in addition to the residences and working wharves.  Rich's Head, which borders the preserve to the east, is privately owned but protected through a conservation easement held by Acadia National Park.  MCHT acquired the Frenchboro Preserve in 2000.

Download a printable preserve map (PDF)

Preserve information & guidelines

• No Camping Permitted
• No Fires Permitted
• Stay on Established Trails
• Carry Out All Trash
  • Including Human and Pet Waste and Toilet Paper
• Keep Pets Under Control
• Please Respect the Privacy of Preserve Neighbors

How to Get There: Frenchboro Long Island can be accessed by private boat or via a passenger only state-run ferry service that connects the island with Bass Harbor on Fridays from early Spring to late Fall.  Moorings are available for rent in the harbor.