Discover Maine’s maritime heritage along The Downeast Fisheries Trail which ranges from Penobscot Bay to Cobscook Bay (Searsport to Eastport). Created in 2000, the trail explores 45 sites including working waterfronts, museums, fish hatcheries and natural places including state parks (see below for complete list). The trail highlights the fishery industry now and then, guiding visitors from active, working waterfronts to historical museums and scenic landmarks.
The trail explores the fishing industry in Hancock and Washington counties, which together employ the most commercial fishermen in the state, with Maine as a whole employing more than ten times the national percentage!
Following The Downeast Fisheries Trail you will discover how fishermen harvest lobster, clams, eels, alewives, smelt, crabs, herring, halibut, shrimp, scallops, urchins, worms, whelks and seaweed. The trail also explores sea farming including Atlantic salmon, mussels and oysters.
Click here to visit the Downeast Fisheries Trail Facebook page for up-to-date information and events!Here is a list of the 45 sites. Click any site for more information:
- Penobscot Marine Museum
- Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory & Fort Knox
- Bucksport Waterfront
- Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery
- Deer Isle-Stonington Historical Society
- Penobscot East Resource Center
- Naskeag Point
- Green Lake National Fish Hatchery
- Mount Desert Oceanarium
- Bar Harbor Town Park at Hadley Point
- Bar Harbor Town Pier
- Abbe Museum
- Frenchman Bay Overlook
- Otter Cove
- Great Harbor Maritime Museum
- Isleford Historic Museum
- Somesville Mill Pond
- Taunton Bay Gateway
- Gordon’s Wharf
- Tidal Falls
- Frenchman Bay Scenic Turnout
- Long Cove
- Henry Cove
- Frazer Point
- Prospect Harbor
- Milbridge Historical Museum
- Milbridge Town Marina
- Cable Pool Park
- Wild Salmon Resource Center
- Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research & Education
- Maine Coast Sardine History Museum
- Jonesport Historical Society
- Beals Heritage Center
- Bad Little Falls Park
- East Machias Aquatic Research Center
- Morong Cove
- McCurdy’s Smokehouse
- Quoddy Head State Park
- Cobscook Bay State Park
- Gleason Cove Park
- Waponahki Museum & Resource Center
- Carryingplace Cove
- Shackford Head State Park
- Cobscook Bay Resource Center
- Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Fat tire biking is becoming more and more popular among outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers, and is a fast growing activity in Maine. It’s a great way to see the backcountry and get some healthy exercise in the process. For those of you who don’t know much about fat bikes, it’s exactly what you would imagine- a bike with fat tires. The larger-sized tires make it much easier to gain traction on softer terrain like snow and sand, making them a perfect option for year-round cycling. If you’re interested in trying out a fat bike, below are some places in Maine that rent the bikes. Most are near trails, and if they aren’t we’ve also listed a bunch of trails that are great for fat tire biking.