The rocky coast, pine woods, coastal rivers and marshes, abundant wildlife and starry night skies of Mid Coast Maine possess an awe-inspiring, wild quality. And Mid Coast Maine offers a wealth of opportunities to get in touch with nature.

For those who enjoy an active lifestyle, there's kayaking, hiking, biking, golfing, skiing, sailing, sport fishing and ice-fishing. Birders might catch a view of bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, piping plovers or nesting terns. Tours, charters and boat rentals make it easy for visitors to see the coast as generations of Mainers have – from the water.

Beaches

BATH Reid State Park, Georgetown Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg CAMDEN Barrett's Cove Beach, Megunticook Lake Lincolnville Beach, Lincolnville DAMARISCOTTA Crescent Beach, Damariscotta Lake State Park, Damariscotta Pemaquid Beach, Bristol ROCKLAND Birch Point Beach State Park, Owls Head Johnson Memorial Park, Chickawaukie Lake Hiking/Biking Trails BATH Bates-Morse Mountain Preserve – 2-mile trail leads to Sewall Beach. Access from Rt. 216, Phippsburg. BOOTHBAY Linekin Preserve – 2.3-mile trail to the Damariscotta River. Very steep in places. Access from Route 96, East Boothbay. Lobster Cove Meadow – 46.8-acre preserve with wetland, fields and forested upland, wonderful for bird-watching. Access from Eastern Avenue, Boothbay Harbor. Ovens Mouth Preserve – 3.7-mile trail on 146 acres bordered by tidal water, coves and salt marsh. Dover Road Extension, Boothbay. BRUNSWICK Androscoggin River Bike Path – links downtown to Cooks Corner. Brunswick Town Commons Trails – the southwest corner of the original 1000-acre "commonage" granted in 1719. Leashed dogs permitted. CAMDEN Camden Hills State Park – Hike to the summit of Mt. Battie. DAMARISCOTTA Salt Bay Preserve Heritage Trail – 3-mile footpath with detour to "Glidden's Midden", ancient Indian shell heaps on the bank of the Damariscotta River. RICHMOND Swan Island/Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area – 1755-acre island in the Kennebec River. Island tours and access by Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Staff. ROCKLAND Georges Highland Path – Trails traverse the St. George River watershed from Camden to Thomaston. Maps available at Georges River Land Trust, 328 Main Street, Rockland. TOPSHAM Cathance River Nature Preserve – 230 acres includes heath sanctuary, 5 interconnected loop trails. For additional trails in Mid Coast Maine, see More Info for links to regional chamber websites.

Photo by Roger Wickenden