QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 600 acres
- Trail Mileage: ~2 miles one way
- Pets: no
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Sights: salt marshes, Seawall Beach, pitch-pine forest, Sprague River
This has got to be one of the most beautiful areas in midcoast Maine, if not all of Maine. The 600-acre preserve is popular, and its large parking lot quickly fills up on weekends and on beautiful summer days. So arrive early or late on glorious Saturdays and Sundays! You’ll be turned away if there are too many people in the preserve.
From the parking lot, you’ll begin your walk along a narrow road, continuing on it the whole way to the beach entrance. While there is a moderate ascent up Morse Mountain (it’s really a hill), the route is mostly easy, and highly enjoyable.
The full name of this land is the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area. The 2-mile trail (one way) takes you first across a salt marsh, after which you start ascending the 180-foot Morse Mountain (hill!). After 1 mile, you have a choice of taking a quick detour up a driveway on your right to ledges (next to a private building) to take in the incredible view of the winding Morse River emptying into the glittering ocean off of Seawall Beach. I highly recommend this detour.
Back on the road, after you reach the top of the hill, you’ll begin descending to the beach, passing through pitch pine forest, with stumpy, gnarled trees and sandy soil. You’ll walk by little summer homes and another view of the marsh. Then you’ll pass through a dense spruce-fir woodland before ending up on the wide, white beach and bone-white boulders of Seawall Beach. Pack a bathing suit and, if you would like, go for a long walk along the long beach. No dogs allowed.
Directions: As you approach Bath, exit Route 1 onto Route 209 South (High Street) towards Phippsburg/Small Point/Sebasco/Popham Beach. Follow Route 209 South for 11.6 miles. Where Route 209 turns sharply left to Popham Beach, continue straight ahead on Route 216 for 0.4 of a mile. Turn left on Morse Mountain Road. Drive about 350 feet to the entrance of the parking lot on the left.
