Tip Toe Mountain Preserve, Vinalhaven

This is my friend’s favorite Vinalhaven Land Trust preserve. It definitely has the best name! There are three little tip toe summits within the 40-acre preserve: Little, Middle, and Big Toes. There are views from each one. Conveniently, the most dramatic peak is right by the parking area. A little path allows you to scramble up a big rock mass to fabulous views over Crockett Cove in mere seconds.

But if you’re here to hike, head over to the trail system, which offers both high points with views and a beautiful shoreline. Middle Tip Toe offers several outlooks from a craggy ridge trail (with some high cliffs, so be careful). Big Toe involves scrambling up a rock for views.

Vinalhaven Land Trust says the Middle loop is half a mile; the big loop trail is 0.6 miles. When the tide is in, crossing the stone dam might be challenging.

Directions: (From the land trust) Turn left from the ferry terminal, go 0.4 mi., then right on Old Harbor Rd. for 0.3 miles. Bear left onto North Haven Road for about 6.5 miles to where Tip Toe Mountain Road (gravel) will be a left turn. Drive about 1.2 miles down this road; the gravel parking lot at the base of Little Tip Toe Mountain Town Park will be on your left.