QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 1,500 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~6.5 miles in network
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: easy with a few steep sections
- Sights: ocean views, blueberry fields, small pond, gravel and cobble beaches
You can go for a long walk at this Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserve. All together, there’s more than six miles of trails here — all of them well maintained. If you walk from Norse Pond to Moose Cove (after checking out the pond and the stony beach) you’ll cross a brook and skirt fields along a mown path. The path goes around a little rocky knoll. While there is no formal path to the top, I found the barest of paths scratched out that will take you up to an open ledge with views.
Over on Moose Cove, the ridge trail has glorious views. If you don’t have great knees, you can bypass the ridge and take the wooded path to a little spot along the sea.
Speaking of knees, the trails down to the shore at both ends of the preserve are somewhat steep. Other than that, the trails are fairly flat, with a bit of gentle ups and downs. There is even a section at Moose Cove that is wheelchair accessible (the first 0.25-mile, to a pebbly beach and little cove).
Directions: (From the land trust:) There are two main parking areas. The south lot, in Cutler, is located on Rte. 191, 18.5 miles from the junction of Rte. 1 and Rte. 191 in East Machias. Use this lot to access the Norse Pond Trail and to visit Bog Brook Cove Beach. To reach the north lot in Trescott, as well as the accessible trail, beaches at Moose Cove, Chimney Trail, and Ridge Trail, turn onto Moose River Road. Continue 1.1 miles on the road; it’ll change from pavement to gravel road. Go straight at an intersection with Bog Brook Road, near the midway point. Moose River Road ends at the parking area.
