Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach

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. (To check parking availability ahead of time, go to bmmparking.com)

From the parking lot, you’ll begin your walk along a narrow road of weathered, cracked pavement, continuing on it the whole way to the beach entrance. Sections of the old road are also dirt and gravel. My sister and I successfully pushed a stroller here with two small kids. While there is a moderate ascent up Morse Mountain (it’s really a hill), the route is mostly easy, and highly enjoyable, as you pass changing habitats on your way.

The full name of this preserve 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 (more like a small hill!). After 1 mile, you have a choice of taking a quick detour up a driveway on your right to the summit and open 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.

Important notes: No dogs are allowed at any time of year. Also, in the summer, you have to arm yourself with a lot of bug spray — the mosquitos are fierce! Often in the summertime, there is a preserve steward at the parking lot who can answer questions. They’ll tell you it takes 35 minutes to walk to the beach and offer you bug spray.

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.