Elementary School Nature Trail

This is a very charming school trail! On the north side of the school access road, the trail is entirely boardwalk, raised above a wetland forest floor covered by a thick blanket of ferns. On the foggy day I visited, the surroundings were green, pungent, and drippy.

The 0.3-mile boardwalk is sturdy and well made. Part of it is wheelchair accessible — the section closer to the tennis courts. There are two platforms that serve as outdoor classrooms.

When I visited, students had turned the path into a storybook trail, writing and illustrating their own picture books and staking the pages along the boardwalk. A conscientious child had also created a warning sign that the boardwalks can be slippery when wet.

Across the school access road, the trails continue through the forest as wide, flat footpaths, linking school facilities.

Directions: You can access the trail system from the Deer Isle-Stonington high school or elementary school, parking at either facility. I visited when school was not in session. The schools are approximately three miles from the bridge into Deer Isle, on the left if you’re traveling south on Route 15.

Posted on August 27, 2023 and last updated on July 14, 2026