Bog Brook Cove, Cutler and Trescott

Accessible trail in orange.

You can go for a long walk at this Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserve. There’s two main trailheads and more than six miles of trails — all of them well maintained with lovely sights.

On the Moose Cove side, to the north, you have the option of starting your hike on an enticing accessible trail, which brings you to a bench overlooking the sea in about 0.25 miles. If you take a left off the accessible trail, you’ll head towards the fabulous rocky knoll on the Ridge Trail. A short, steep climb brings you to the top of the knoll, with glorious views over the preserve and sea. This high point is about 0.35 miles from the parking area. If you don’t have great knees, you can bypass the short but steep climb up the knoll and follow a wooded path about 1 mile to reach a rocky beach and sit by the cove. The land trust estimates the full Ridge Trail is 2.3 miles in total, there and back. (My GPS clocked it at 3.25, though!) Expect minor ups and downs, roots and stones along the trail. It can be a bit tiring!

You should also check out the beautiful little coves and beaches along the mostly easy 0.7-mile Chimney Trail. (You might want to skip a side trail to the summit, as tree growth obscures what views it could have!)

If you start your walk at the Bog Brook Cove side, on the southern end of the preserve, the trail makes a ~3.0-mile loop, bringing you to a beautiful shingle beach and to Norse Pond. The path is mostly flat and gentle, save for a couple moderate hills. But the trail down to the beach is quite steep, with a large switchback to ease the descent. The beach is about 1.5 miles from the parking area and trailhead, according to my GPS. Kids might like clambering up the rocky outcrops on the beach.

If you head to the pond first, you’ll reach it in about 1.3 miles from the parking area and trailhead. Two side trails along the main path bring you to large, flattish rocks — great perches for bird watching. Bring your binoculars!

To walk from Norse Pond in the southern part of the preserve to Moose Cove in the north, you’ll cross a brook and skirt fields along a mown path. The path bend 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.

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 and you’ll drive a ways through fields. Go straight at an intersection with Bog Brook Road, near the midway point. Moose River Road ends at the parking area.