Posts Categorized: Outdoors

Old Settlement Quarry sign

Hiking the Settlement Quarry

This granite quarry was first used in the early 1900’s and produced granite for the Williamsburg Bridge in New York, the Manhatten Bridge, the New York County Courthouse, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the JFK Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. It once was a major industrial site employing hundreds of men and was a forest of stacks, masts, booms and derricks. The Quarry is now a part of the Island Heritage Trust and is an excellent place to explore and hike. The Grout Pile Trail and Glacial Erratic Trail guide you around the quarry and through the woods where you can view a panorama of Webb Cove, Merchants Row, Isle Au Haut and the Camden Hills. Visit the IHT site for details.

Lighthouse by the water

Pumpkin Island Lighthouse

The Pumpkin Island Lighthouse is one of our favorite local lighthouses to visit. Good Morning America came to Castine and visited the lighthouse as part of their tour of the Blue Hill peninsula. It was a great way to end the day with the sun setting over Eggemoggin Reach.

Owls Head Lighthouse in Maine

Owls Head Lighthouse

Owls Head is a great place to visit and enjoy the view of surrounding islands. It’s a perfect day trip from the Pentagoet Inn headed down route 1 to Rockland. Enjoy the cool ocean breeze on a warm summer’s day.

Ocean Path Hike

As America’s first national park, Acadia National Park offers numerous hikes, up mountains, through forests and along shores. All offer spectacular views and possibilities to experience natural areas that have been protected and well preserved for many years. The Ocean Path is one of the most well traveled trails in Acadia. It is a 4 mile round trip accented by expansive views of the ocean and a stop at Thunderhole. The end of the trail leads you to Sand Beach, a well-loved spot to relax and enjoy the cool ocean waters.

Witherle Woods view

Hiking Witherle Woods Castine, Maine

Castine and the Blue Hill area peninsula has some of the best hiking trails on the coast of Maine. This expansive view of Penobscot Bay from Witherle Woods is located right here in Castine, Maine and includes more than 4 miles of networked trails. The view from Witherle Woods overlooks the bay out to Isleboro and the Camden hills in the distance. Witherle is a 185 acre preserve leading through a forest of spruce, fir, pine and hardwood trees.

Holbrook Island State Park

Holbrook Island State Park Hiking

The area around Penobscot Bay is home to some wonderful natural areas. Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park, just across the bay from Castine, is a beautifully protected natural area and is home to some great hiking trails. The Summit Trail leads you up a short hill that overlooks Castine Harbor and Penobscot Bay, while the Iceworks Trail takes you out to a gorgeous fresh water pond seen in the photo. During your visit take the time to enjoy a picnic lunch at the sand beach at the end of Indian Bar Rd. We’re lucky to have such a beautiful state park so close!

Canada Cliffs

Canada Cliffs Acadia National Park Trail

Acadia National Park offers many excellent trails of varying difficulty. One of the shorter trails still provides wonderful views over Mount Desert Island including Echo Lake. The Canada Cliffs and Beech Cliff Trails on the west side of the island combine for 2 miles of beautiful hiking. Many opportunities are available for photos as the trail meanders through forest and over ledges. Parking at Beech Hill Road offers the easiest access.

Great Pond Mountain Trust view

Hiking with a View; Great Pond Mountain Trust

The Great Pond Mountain Trust, located in Orland, Maine provides ample opportunities to explore 4500 acres of moutains, hills, ponds and hiking trails. While Great Pond Mountain is a favorite of adventurers in this area, the trails in the Wildlands offer hiking over various types of terrain. Heading north from the south gate onto the Esker Path followed by the East Ridge Path takes you up Flag Hill with views to the east toward Ellsworth and over Branch Pond.