QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 111 acres
- Trail Mileage: 2.5 miles
- Pets: no
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: mature and diverse forests, apple orchard, beaches, Western Bay
This is a popular Nature Conservancy preserve outside of the national park, with a large parking area. There are a couple of small gravelly beaches with clear, cold water. And the apples in the old orchard are not too tart.
Check out the trail map before heading out. It’s in a nook in the white shed adjacent to the parking area. The one-way trail with yellow blazes winds down through a forest. At 0.3 miles, it crosses a private dirt road that cuts through the preserve. At about 0.9 miles, it brings you to a small meadow with old apple trees. Cross another road, Higgins Farm Road, to access the shore trails and explore the 1,000 feet of frontage along Western Bay. There are benches tucked away with views over the water. Don’t worry about wandering off the preserve — there are plenty of signs marking the boundaries.
Directions: After driving onto Mount Desert Island, bea right at the first fork in the road onto Route 102/198 toward Somesville. In 1.8 miles, turn right on the Indian Point Road and bear right at the first fork in 1.7 miles. Higgins Farm Road, and the preserve parking area, is located 200 yards farther on the right. The relatively large lot is on the left, just after turning onto the road.
