Lower Mill River Preserve, Vinalhaven

The Vinalhaven Land Trust has helped protected about 108 acres of land in this area, a region that encompasses the Round Pond Trail, Fish Hook and Overlook Trails, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Carrying Place Bridge Preserve.

Close to the start of the mostly forested Round Pond Trail is an overlook, with a nice view over Round Pond (you can’t swim here). You can hike through the mossy forest, and across some lichen-covered bedrock, to reach the rest of the preserve trails.

If you start your hike at the Fish Hook and Overlook trailheads, you’ll head steeply downhill from the small parking area to reach the trailhead kiosk. If you go right, you’ll head over to Fish Hook Trail which brings you around a pretty headland with views. If you go left, you can explore the big trail system that brings you to views along Mill River and through the woods to connect to Round Pond Trail.

Directions: From the ferry, go left on Sands Road for 0.4 miles, right on Old Harbor Roa for 0.3 miles, then bear left onto North Haven Road for 2.5 miles when you reach the intersection with Calderwood Neck Road. For the trailhead on Round Pond, go left and look for the small parking area on the right in 0.2 miles. If you want to explore the other parts of the preserve first, go right and look for the gravel lot on the left in 0.6 miles. Another largish preserve will be on the right in 0.2 miles, at Carrying Place Bridge Preserve right before the bridge.