Crow Island is a small gem of an island in Casco Bay on the coast of Maine. Crow is open for camping, and is part of the Maine Island Trail. The small 3-acre wooded island is surrounded by broad, highly productive mud flats at low tide. The southwestern part of the island is a great… Read more
Curtis Farm Preserve has much to offer visitors. The 1.25-mile trail system takes visitors through field, forest and to coastal bays, with scenic views along the way. The Preserve includes nearly 2,000 feet of shoreline on both Curtis Cove and Basin Cove, gravel beaches, a freshwater pond, forested freshwater wetlands and 15 acres of intertidal… Read more
The Helen and Walter Norton Preserve is a beautiful spot to pull out of the water in Middle Bay and enjoy a picnic, swim, or camping trip. This preserve is on the Maine Island Trail. The property has a fascinating history, having previously hosted native Americans, a shipyard, and then a boy’s camp. A shell… Read more
The open field at the head of Mackerel Cove has been a Bailey Island landmark for generations. Overlooking one of Maine’s most scenic working harbors, Johnson Field offers visitors a place for family picnics, wintertime sledding, quiet moments of reflection, access to the beach, and spectacular views. This is a great place to launch a… Read more
Little Yarmouth Island Preserve consists of the southern half of Little Yarmouth Island at the entrance to Quahog Bay. It is one of a network of conserved islands in eastern Casco Bay, which serve as important habitat for birds and other animals and maintain the dramatic scenic views generations have enjoyed. The 13-acre preserve is… Read more
For a variety of recreational offerings, Mitchell Field can’t be beat. This 120-acre former U.S. Navy fuel depot property was transferred to the Town of Harpswell in 2001 from the federal government. It boasts several miles of paved and gravel paths, a sandy beach, a bandstand that hosts outdoor concerts, and the Harpswell Community Garden…. Read more
If you love exploring the ocean shoreline, this tiny preserve has just about everything you could want. There are extensive tide pools to explore, a gravel beach and dramatic views of Casco Bay. Standing at the southern tip of the preserve, you can enjoy an unparalleled view of a number of the islands that make… Read more
Bowdoin College’s Schiller Coastal Studies Center (CSC) on Orr’s Island offers lovely coastal walking trails. A fine old farm with 2.5 miles of coastline, 3.6 miles of trails and a variety of habitats, the CSC has great views of Long Cove and Harpswell Sound and opportunities to view wildlife or just take a quiet walk… Read more
Stover’s Point Preserve is a narrow gravel sandbar that wraps itself around a salt marsh. Salt marshes are unique, productive and sensitive habitats with plants and animals that are adapted to the changing tides and water conditions. Grasses grow well here, forming the base of a food web that includes fish, birds and shellfish. Please… Read more