While dry camping at Cobbscook Bay State Park for two weeks, we were able to enjoy much of the natural beauty of Maine within the park and visit some must see destinations close by.
See our video site by site tour of the campground https://youtu.be/XdypqN8QGpU
Campground Nature Trail:
Within the park is a beautiful nature trail, starting in the campground or in the day use. We took the path from the campground that brought us through majestic, old growth trees with the greenest moss, along the shore within sight of classic fishing boats. Scrappy enjoyed the smells of the woods, but not so much the taste of the water- she sneezes every time.
Headquarters Pond:
Look on your left as you drive in and you will see the Cobbscook Bay State Park Headquarters Pond. There we were treated to a local favorite – beaver. It was actually my first time seeing a beaver in the wild and I was mesmerized. Seeing him crunch on big yellow flowers made my day.
You will also see the sign for the Touse Meadows Trail, a part of the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.
“Touse Meadow on the Edmunds Division provides important fresh water habitat for nesting and migrating waterfowl throughout the year. Bald eagles, beavers, otters and other resident wildlife also benefit from this great impoundment.”
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge Trail:
We didn’t take that trail, but drove just down the road to another.
Warning, we were exposed to persistent black flies like the ones on that trail. So, gear up accordingly. At least Scrappy wasn’t bothered by them.
The only other wildlife we saw that day was a turtle scurrying to get into a pond
“Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge consists of nearly 30,000 acres of federally protected lands in eastern Maine. The refuge’s landscape is varied, with rolling hills, large ledge outcrops, streams, lakes, bogs, and marshes. A northern hardwood forest of aspen, maple, birch, spruce and fir dominates the upland. Scattered stands of majestic white pine are common. The Edmunds Division boasts several miles of rocky shoreline where tidal fluctuations of up to 24 feet occur twice a day…
There are visitor activities year-round at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge including fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, photography and hiking.”
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Moosehorn
Brochure link: https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/North_Zone/Moosehorn_Complex/Moosehorn/MoosehornBrochure.pdf
Trails link:
Lubec, Maine:
The city of Lubec is a quaint, small fishing town (only about 1,300 residents), with an interesting history. We wish we had explored it more.
The town was first settled around 1775 and was a part of Eastport. Later, it was incorporated in 1811, then named after Lübeck, Germany. Lubec experienced a great deal of smuggling after the War of 1812, though it was still mostly fisheries and agriculture. There were two shipyards, three boatbuilders and three sailmakers, by 1886.
The largest population, about 3,300, was in the 1910s- 20s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubec,_Maine
Mulholland Point Lighthouse:
From the shore in Lubec, you can see the only lighthouse shared by Canada and the United States, located on Campobello Island. We didn’t explore it at the time because crossing the border was still full of procedures.
The island and lighthouse has important connections to United States history and one of our more celebrated presidents.
The lighthouse was built in 1885, to help ships navigate the Lubec Narrows, between the island and the mainland of the US.
The original lighthouse structure – octagonal and wooden – is located within Roosevelt Campobello International Park and is well maintained.
The International Park is named due to the area’s connection to the Roosevelt family. In 1883, the Roosevelts had a summer home on Campobello Island. Franklin Delano Roosevelt later built a cottage for his wife Eleanor on the island and they enjoyed many summers there. Weeks before she died in 1962, Eleanor Roosevelt made a final trip to Campobello Island for a very special dedication. It was for the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Bridge that linked the island to the mainland.
Today, you can picnic at this spot with a view toward the F. D. R. International Bridge that connects Campobello Island to Lubec, Maine. You can also visit Mullholland Lighthouse though you cannot go inside.
Driving directions: Route 1, Exit 56 at St. George, NB, onto Route 172 to Letete, take the toll-free ferry to Deer Island (ferry interruption: 1-888-747-7006). Drive to the end of the Island and take another ferry to Campobello Island (this ferry runs during summer months only). From Route 1, U.S.A. at Whiting Corner, take Route 189 (Lubec, Maine, U.S.A) to Route 774 on Campobello Island.
459 Route 774, Welshpool
Campobello, NB
DIRECT TELEPHONE
https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/listing/mulholland-point-lighthouse
LOST FISHERMEN’S MEMORIAL
Located within in view of Mulholland Lighthouse is the The Lost Fisherman’s Memorial Park. It’s a touching piece of sculpture to remind us of the great tradition of fisherman that give their lives to this village.
“The goal of the park is to honor the brave souls that have lost their lives in the fishing industry off the waters of Washington County, Maine and Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada. The names listed below are the fishermen that are honored on the park’s Wave sculpture created by Maine granite sculpture Jesse Salisbury…The list of names on … the sculpture are of fishermen that either perished in the waters of Washington County, Maine or Charlotte County, New Brunswick, or fishermen that lived in those two counties and were lost in other waters while fishing.”
WEST QUODDY LIGHTHOUSE:
A must see while you are in the area is the Easternmost lighthouse in the United States found in Quoddy Head State Park. We have been to the southernmost point in Key West, Florida and hope to visit the
western and northern most points someday.
The iconic red and white stripes, along with the gorgeous shoreline, made for a perfect day. Plus, we were lucky to be there as the horn was blown.
This lighthouse has yet another connection to one of the great leaders of the United States. The original tower was built in 1808 under orders from President Thomas Jefferson. But, the lighthouse tower that stands today was built in 1858.
But even earlier is the origin of the area’s name. Quoddy Head means “fertile and beautiful place,” and comes from the Native American Passamaquoddy tribe (“People of the Dawn”).
The Visitor Center at West Quoddy
Make sure to go into the Visitor Center, especially if you collect souvenirs like I do. You can also buy from local artists. It is located in the first floor of the lightkeeper’s historic residence – which also has historic and interactive displays.
973 S Lubec Rd, Lubec, Maine 04652, United States
207-733-2180
Visitor Center
HOURS: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
DAYS: Wednesday through Sunday
CLOSED: MONDAY & TUESDAY
unless otherwise posted.
https://westquoddy.com/
Quoddy Head State Park
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to explore the state park, just the Coastal Trail just about half a mile, which had stunning views of the shore and majestic cliffs. Be aware, there are sign warning you of high bluffs and drop offs.
This state park consists of 541 acres located at the top of the easternmost peninsula of the United States. There are about 5 miles of trail to explore. Besides the easternmost point lighthouse, you can also view the Quoddy Channel -which divides the U.S. and Canada- and see the red cliffs of Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick.
The State Park season opens May 15th to October 15th for visitors
Quoddy Head State Park
973 South Lubec Rd.
Lubec, ME 04652
May 15 through October 15: (207) 733-0911
Off season: (207) 941-4014
https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=10
Trail Map:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/Maps/FullSize/quoddyheadmap.pdf