The Machias River ranks with the St. John, the Allagash, and the Penobscot as one of Maine’s most scenic and outstanding paddling rivers. Over the course of 76 miles, canoeists enjoy an array of water courses–from lakes and swamps to rapids and a waterfall. The river is rich in brook trout, bass, and pickerel, and each spring Read More
Mountain Biking
Mill Pond Park
Like many island communities in Maine, Swans Island has experienced a steady loss in public shore access in recent years. New development and changes in ownership have closed off lands by which community members once reached the water. When an opportunity arose to secure a waterfront park site, town residents acted quickly to acquire the Read More
Morgan Meadow
Located within 20 miles of more than one-quarter million people, Morgan Meadow offers a remarkably wild setting–with nearly a thousand acres of unbroken woodland and a 100-acre freshwater wetland. The property provides a significant natural sanctuary in the midst of development spreading out from Greater Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. Morgan Meadow shelters old-growth white pine and Read More
Mount Agamenticus to the Sea
The lands surrounding Mount Agamenticus contain the state’s most diverse array of species and the largest number of rare and endangered species, despite being situated in Maine’s most densely populated county. Over the dozen years preceding 2002, the amount of conserved land in the vicinity of Mount Agamenticus and the York River doubled, thanks to Read More
Mount Agamenticus Region
Thanks to persistent work by a coalition of conservation groups and governmental entities, wildlife and human visitors can enjoy in perpetuity more than 9,500 acres of protected land on and around “Mount A,” a 691-foot monadnock that rises from the coastal plains of southern York County. The Agamenticus area holds the greatest species diversity in Read More
Narraguagus River – Little Falls
Straddling a half-mile along the Narraguagus River, the 221 acres surrounding Little Falls supports some of the highest densities of juvenile Atlantic salmon found in the river’s lower reaches. The Narraguagus still supports a run of native Atlantic salmon, and is one of eight rivers where the species is federally listed as endangered. With support Read More
Newport/Dover-Foxcroft Rail Trail
When rails and ties were pulled up along the old Maine Central Railroad line between Newport and Dover-Foxcroft in 1993, area residents began to claim this rail trail (Four Seasons Adventure Trail) for their own. There are no other public lands in the area and people were eager to have a convenient site for outdoor Read More
Amherst Mountain Community Forest, Public Reserved Land
Description: The Amherst Mountain Community Forest is part of the Public Reserved Land system, but unlike other units, it is managed jointly with the town of Amherst. The 4,974-acre parcel is home to brook trout, white-tailed deer, black bear, Peregrine Falcons, Ruffed Grouse (partridge), and American Woodcock. The area contains two popular hiking trails, Ducktail Read More
Bigelow Preserve Public Reserved Land
Location: Near Stratton, Franklin County Description: The Bigelow Preserve, the area of which totals 36,000 acres, is bounded on its north by Flagstaff Lake, a 20,000-acre lake, and includes all seven summits of the Bigelow Range, including 4,150-foot West Peak. The Appalachian Trail crosses through part of the Bigelow Preserve. Flagstaff Lake is also part of the Northern Read More