Coastal Maine Trip, Day 2 (Rockland Breakwater, Beech Hill Preserve, Owls Head State Park, Ash Point Preserve, Bamford Preserve, Marshall Point Lighthouse, Fort Point Trail and Lobster Buoy Campground)
Today was the second day of our coastal Maine trip, during which we visited the Rockland Breakwater, Beech Hill Preserve, Owls Head State Park, Ash Point Preserve, Bamford Preserve, Marshall Point Lighthouse, Fort Point Trail and Lobster Buoy Campground.
Rockland Breakwater
We started our day at 3:30 am in order to break camp and be at the Rockland Breakwater in time for sunrise. The Breakwater was roughly 20 minutes from Camden Hills State Park. Access to the Breakwater is via a small park at the end of Samoset Street. There is ample parking (at least at 4 am) and a few picnic tables offering views of the lighthouse. The trail from the lot to the lighthouse is approximately two miles round-trip.
As we walked back from the lighthouse along the breakwater, we were fortunate to see two harbor porpoises swimming parallel to the breakwater, around 100 feet away.
Beech Hill Preserve
Beech Hill Preserve is minutes from downtown Rockland and provides stunning views of the surrounding area. I wrote about this land trust property when I last visited in April (see https://welcome.hikingmaine.org/2020/04/beech-hill-rockport.html?m=1). Since the last time I was there, the initial section of the trail has been renovated to a wider, flatter pathway.
Owls Head State Park
Owls Head State Park is a small park that offers stunning views of the rocky shoreline, a swimming beach and an amazing lighthouse. The lighthouse is atop of cliff, providing elevated views of Penobscot Bay, Rockland Harbor, Monroe Island and Owls Head Bay. Owls Head Lighthouse sits across the harbor from the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
Ash Point Preserve
Ash Point Preserve is a beautiful 34 acre preserve managed by the Georges River Land Trust (FMI see https://www.georgesriver.org/ash-point-preserve/). The trail we took, 0.8 miles round-trip, provided great views of the coastline and was relatively easy. Here is a map of our hike at this preserve. We were fortunate to see an osprey fly past as we were enjoying the shoreline views.
Bamford Preserve
The Bamford Preserve is a beautiful 37 acre preserve managed by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust with views of Long Cove (for more information on the preserve see https://www.mcht.org/preserve/bamford-saint-george/). The trail begins to the left of an unassuming parking lot. The trail provides excellent views for little effort (0.6 miles round-trip on relatively flat ground). While hiking the trail, we came across a deer feeding in the woods.
Here is a map of our hike of this preserve.
Fort Point Trail
The Fort Point Trail is a joint project between the Town of St. George, the Georges River Land Trust, the St. George Conservation Commission, and the St. George Historical Commission (for more information see the town's site and the Georges River Land Trust Site.) When you reach the end of the trail, there is a sign indicating that the site is the Fort St. George State Historic Site and managed by the State of Maine (the town's website explains the history of the site fairly well although doesn't discuss the differences in the name).
As for the trail itself, it crosses several wooden walkways until it opens up to the grass fort area with views of the Georges River. There is a picnic table, interpretive sign and the remains of the fort's earthwork walls. Here is a map of our hike.
Marshall Point Lighthouse
We visited the Marshall Point Lighthouse twice today; once mid-day and again at the end of the day to watch the sunset. The lighthouse and grounds provide great views of the Atlantic Ocean, coastal islands and large numbers of sea birds.
Lobster Buoy Campsites
We stayed Friday night at Lobster Buoy Campsites, a small family run campsite that was right on the ocean. The campsite was clean and quiet, and the owners friendly and accommodating, making for a very nice stay. Note that they only accept cash or check and there is a limit of one tent per site.
Rockland Breakwater
We started our day at 3:30 am in order to break camp and be at the Rockland Breakwater in time for sunrise. The Breakwater was roughly 20 minutes from Camden Hills State Park. Access to the Breakwater is via a small park at the end of Samoset Street. There is ample parking (at least at 4 am) and a few picnic tables offering views of the lighthouse. The trail from the lot to the lighthouse is approximately two miles round-trip.
As we walked back from the lighthouse along the breakwater, we were fortunate to see two harbor porpoises swimming parallel to the breakwater, around 100 feet away.
Beech Hill Preserve
Beech Hill Preserve is minutes from downtown Rockland and provides stunning views of the surrounding area. I wrote about this land trust property when I last visited in April (see https://welcome.hikingmaine.org/2020/04/beech-hill-rockport.html?m=1). Since the last time I was there, the initial section of the trail has been renovated to a wider, flatter pathway.
Owls Head State Park
Owls Head State Park is a small park that offers stunning views of the rocky shoreline, a swimming beach and an amazing lighthouse. The lighthouse is atop of cliff, providing elevated views of Penobscot Bay, Rockland Harbor, Monroe Island and Owls Head Bay. Owls Head Lighthouse sits across the harbor from the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
Ash Point Preserve
Ash Point Preserve is a beautiful 34 acre preserve managed by the Georges River Land Trust (FMI see https://www.georgesriver.org/ash-point-preserve/). The trail we took, 0.8 miles round-trip, provided great views of the coastline and was relatively easy. Here is a map of our hike at this preserve. We were fortunate to see an osprey fly past as we were enjoying the shoreline views.
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| Map of our hike. |
The Bamford Preserve is a beautiful 37 acre preserve managed by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust with views of Long Cove (for more information on the preserve see https://www.mcht.org/preserve/bamford-saint-george/). The trail begins to the left of an unassuming parking lot. The trail provides excellent views for little effort (0.6 miles round-trip on relatively flat ground). While hiking the trail, we came across a deer feeding in the woods.
Here is a map of our hike of this preserve.
Fort Point Trail
The Fort Point Trail is a joint project between the Town of St. George, the Georges River Land Trust, the St. George Conservation Commission, and the St. George Historical Commission (for more information see the town's site and the Georges River Land Trust Site.) When you reach the end of the trail, there is a sign indicating that the site is the Fort St. George State Historic Site and managed by the State of Maine (the town's website explains the history of the site fairly well although doesn't discuss the differences in the name).
As for the trail itself, it crosses several wooden walkways until it opens up to the grass fort area with views of the Georges River. There is a picnic table, interpretive sign and the remains of the fort's earthwork walls. Here is a map of our hike.
Marshall Point Lighthouse
We visited the Marshall Point Lighthouse twice today; once mid-day and again at the end of the day to watch the sunset. The lighthouse and grounds provide great views of the Atlantic Ocean, coastal islands and large numbers of sea birds.
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| This cloud formation remarkably blocked only the sunset but was interesting to observe. |
Lobster Buoy Campsites
We stayed Friday night at Lobster Buoy Campsites, a small family run campsite that was right on the ocean. The campsite was clean and quiet, and the owners friendly and accommodating, making for a very nice stay. Note that they only accept cash or check and there is a limit of one tent per site.
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| Our Campsite |
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| Rocky beach adjacent to campground |
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| View from beach, 5:08 am |
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