Holbrook Island Santuary, Brooksville

The sanctuary — which is part of Maine’s park system — encompasses 1,230 acres on the mainland (plus 115 acres of the island) and many miles of old woods roads and walking trails. I clocked roughly 7.5 miles of walking paths during my visit. You can find information about trails on the sanctuary website.

According to the wishes of the land’s donor, the park does not have the modern facilities you find in most Maine parks, which contributes to its rustic, unspoiled feel as you make your way through spruce, fir, and cedar forests or along the rocky coast. The main throughway through the park, Back Road, is a narrow dirt road.

Also, the park has two pebbly beaches recommended for swimming — both are at the end of Indian Road and indicated on the map. They’re linked by a short, grassy trail.

Note: The access road to the parking areas and trailheads in the park is plowed only up to Indian Bar Road in the winter.

A few notes about trails:

Goose Falls Trail (recommended) — Starting close to the park’s dock, you can make a lovely half-mile walk along the bay, with views of Holbrook Island. At a couple of places, if you push through branches and step over a few roots, you can leave the path to stand on ledge at the edge of the sea for better views. Expect roots and rocks and some uneven terrain.

Fresh Pond Trail (recommended) — You can make a 1.4-mile loop around this atmospheric pond, studded with dead trees, as well as check out the beaver dam that is keeping the area flooded. Parts of the path closely skirt the pond, and I found one short section to be underwater when I visited during the springtime. The trailhead and parking area to the trail are on Otis Grey Road, and can be a bit confusing if this is your first time here. Drive up the road — you’ll pass both a little green house on the right and the trailhead. Continue another 600 feet to a little lollipop loop in the road; this is where you should park. You’ll see a kiosk with trail information here. Walk back down the road to the trail, which runs along the side of the little green house. Note: Don’t park in front of the private home!

Summit Trail (recommended) — Backwood Mountain (315 ft.) has limited views on top from a nicely situated bench, reachable via a 0.6-mile hike from Back Road. This steepish Summit Trail can be treacherous to climb in wet or icy conditions, as it winds its way up through scattered, mossy boulders. The 0.1-mile trail on the southern side of the little mountain is slightly less steep than the northern approach. Make your way back along Mountain Loop Trail.

Backshore Trail (recommended) — From the small parking area on Indian Bar Road, the easy 0.5-mile trail passes through old estate fields and woods to reach a beach with stones an interesting green hue, clear sea water, and views across Penobscot Bay to Castine. We found the spur trail to the Hutchins estate not terribly exciting.

Beaver Flowage Trail — 1.2 miles of easy trail that swings around a wetland and through a cedar and fir forest. Expect rocks and roots.

Mountain Loop Trail — This trail, which makes a ~1.3 mile ring around Backwood Mountain, offers a nice way to make a loop hike after summiting small Backwood Mountain.

Aaron Trail — This trail offers an alternative way to summit Backwood Mountain or to access Fresh Pond. The parking area is along Cape Rosier Road. The footpath begins by paralleling Cape Rosier Road before it joins a wider track that heads into the park and heads gently uphill to meet the Mountain Loop Trail in about 0.5 mile.

Iceworks Trail — 1.1 miles along what a wide, mostly flat track. This trail can be wet, especially in spring.

Bakeman Farm Trail — A little forested trail on the southern tip of the sanctuary offers a quiet 0.6-mile loop. I missed the Bakeman foundation that is the highlight of the trail. Figures! Parking for two vehicles off Cape Rosier Road.

Directions: From Bucksport follow US Route 1/ME Route 3 east for approximately 1 mile. Turn right (southbound) onto Route 175/Castine Road and continue south for 16.8 miles. Turn right to follow the convergence of Routes 175/176. After 1.1 miles, turn right to continue on Route 176. Take the first left onto Varnum Road. After 2.6 miles turn left, returning to Route 176. After 1.7 miles, take a right onto Cape Rosier Road. There are many places to park and to start your hike, either from Cape Rosier Road or Back Road.

Hipstamatic photos by Aaron Flacke.