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
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!
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
Scopan Public Reserved Land
Location: Township 11, Range 4, between Presque Isle and Ashland, Aroostook County Description: The Scopan unit contains some of the most rugged terrain in Aroostook County, including 1,400-foot high Scopan Mountain. From Scopan Mountain hikers can view Katahdin and Alder Lake, and can enjoy seasonal waterfalls. The 16,700-acre unit also contains wetlands that are frequented Read More
Tumbledown Public Reserved Land
Location: West of Weld, in Franklin County Description: The Tumbledown Public Reserved Land unit is 10,000 acres of mountainous trails and several peaks with dramatic views of surrounding Franklin County. The trails vary in difficulty, but the popular Tumbledown Mountain Trail leads you to Tumbledown Pond, a scenic pond atop the mountain where hikers often Read More
Cobbosseecontee Lake
Chosen By: Leisa Hodgkins, Advocacy Assistant and IT Coordinator Location: Put-in at boat landing on Collins Road, Manchester, Kennebec County Description: Cobbosseecontee Lake is huge—too big to explore in a day! This is a rather sheltered paddle among small islands on the east side of the lake, starting from the outlet of Cobbossecontee Stream. There are Read More
Cobscook Bay State Park
Chosen By: Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM CEO Location: Whiting, Washington County Description: The wildlife-rich waters of Cobscook Bay surround this 888-acre park on three sides, providing opportunities to watch birds and observe the ebb and flow of the region’s impressive tides. Cobscook, the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy tribal word for “boiling tides,” aptly describes this setting where the tidal Read More
Green Point Wildlife Management Area
Chosen By: Allison Wells, Senior Director, Public Affairs Location: Dresden, Lincoln County Description: A former orchard and farm, the area extends down to the shore of the Kennebec River forming the upper reaches of Merrymeeting Bay. A walk along the well-maintained old road passes through old orchards (often teeming with birds), small ponds and wetlands Read More
Halifax Island
Chosen By: Emmie Theberge, Outreach Director Location: Outer Englishman Bay, Jonesport, Washington County Description: Halifax Island is an outer island in the Roque Archipelago in Englishman Bay. This publicly owned island is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It’s also along the Maine Island Read More