Some of DownEast Acadia's most outstanding natural features and secluded locations are found on Maine's Public Lands. Coutnless acres are managed for a variety of resource values including recreation, wildlife, and timber. Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land The Donnell Pond Unit includes more than 14,000 acres of remote forested land with crystal clear lakes, secluded ponds, and mountains with panoramic views. Located in Hancock County between Franklin and Cherryfield, this is where visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation in a scenic, remote setting.

Duck Lake Public Reserved Land Located in northern Hancock County, about 70 miles northeast of Bangor, the Duck Lake Unit comprises more than 27,000 acres of forested land. The unit's gently rolling terrain and many lakes, streams, and wetlands are typical of Eastern Maine.

Attracted by the lakes, visitors enjoy fishing and camping in this semi-remote area. Duck Lake, the Unknown Lakes, and Gassabias Lake offer fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and snowmobiling opportunities.

Cutler Coast Public Reserved Lands Those seeking a taste of wilderness along Maine's coast will enjoy exploring the Cutler Coast Public Lands, a 12,234-acre expanse of blueberry barrens, woodlands, and peatlands with 4.5 miles of headlands (interspersed by pocket coves and cobble beaches) overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Hikers can enjoy 10 miles of trails, three remote tent sites, and spectacular views from the property's steep cliffs-part of the dramatic "Bold Coast" extending from Cutler to Lubec.

Cool, damp and windy conditions along the coast tend to stunt tree growth and favor species that usually would occur in alpine and sub-alpine terrains such as Hooker's iris, bird's eye primrose, and baked Appleberry. Birders have recorded nearly 200 species on or near the Cutler Coast.

According to Maine Birding Trail, warblers, chickadees, golden-crowned kinglets, and six species of owls frequent the woods, while seabirds and ravens nest along shoreline ledges. Offshore, from early summer to early fall, visitors may spot seals, porpoises and occasional humpback, finback, northern right and minke whales.

The lands north of Route 191 have several raised coastal peatlands (also known as bogs or heaths)-a plant community not usually found south of Canada. The bogs support an array of fascinating plants, including some sub-arctic and arctic species (such as Labrador tea) and carnivorous plants (such as pitcher plants and sundew) that draw nourishment from insects-rather than the acidic water and nutrient-poor soils.

The grassland "barrens," which were traditionally kept open by burning, contain species such as blue joint grass, flat-topped aster, alder, and meadowsweet and support bobolinks and savannah sparrows. Due to the presence of blue joint meadows and other exemplary natural communities such as huckleberry-crowberry bog and maritime spruce-fir-larch forest, Maine designated 5,216 acres of the property as an Ecological Reserve. The Reserve helps to maintain these representative ecosystems in their natural condition and allows for monitoring of ecological changes over time.

Great Heath Public Reserved Land Great Heath in Washington County includes the Pleasant River as it flows through the center of a large peat bog. Canoeists enjoy a flatwater paddling opportunity along the meanders of the channel.

Visitor Resources: Donnell Pond Public Rserved Land | Duck Lake Public Reserved Land | Cultler Coast Public Reserved Land Great Heath Public Reserved