Traveling from Schoodic to Jonesport covers a wide variety of terrain formed by glaciers: wild blueberry barrens, hiking trails atop granite domes, clear inland lakes inviting you to fish or take a swim. Enjoy Schoodic Peninsula’s remote section of Acadia National Park for an unspoiled experience. Stop in coastal villages filled with friendly folk along working waterfronts. Take a seat on the wharf for a taste of fresh-caught Maine Lobster—the world’s best!
Considered the gateway to Schoodic Peninsula, Sullivan is designated as U.S. Route One's western starting point for the Schoodic Scenic Byway. Once known for its fishing fleet and granite industry, it now boasts unique local shops, restaurants, and accommodations. The town hosts numerous annual festivals, fairs, and even church suppers.
Located on Frenchman Bay, Sorrento is a popular fishing and resort community that offers spectacular views of Bar Harbor and the mountains of Mount Desert Island to the southwest. The local 9-hole public golf course first opened in 1916. The densely forested Preble Island, located just off-shore on the southern side, is known for its cobble beaches and roosting eagles.
Winter Harbor is a classic fishing village with a year-round population of fewer than 1,000 people. The town got its name because the harbor does not freeze over in winter. This fact made it an attractive port for local fishermen, and to this day, it is still home for a full, active fleet of lobster boats. Every year, on the second Saturday in August, residents celebrate at the Winter Harbor Lobster Festival. You can enjoy lobster boat races, shop at a craft fair, eat a Maine lobster dinner, and watch a parade.
Gouldsboro consists of many historically separate fishing villages, summer colonies, and communities of the Schoodic Penninsula. The town covers an area from Frenchman Bay—including Long Porcupine Island, Sheep Porcupine Island, Bald Porcupine Island—east to Gouldsboro Bay.
Steuben is a small historical village whose heart is the village green with its church, school, and library. This coastal community, settled in 1760, has many little fingers of land that jut out into the ocean for panoramic views. Enjoy a walk or paddle by kayak through the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge or hike the Pigeon Hill Mountain trail for great views of Petit Manan Island and Lighthouse.
Cherryfield's downtown historic district sits on over 75 acres spanning both sides of the Narraguagus River and is known as the Wild Blueberry Capital of the World! The town contains antique and gift shops, an old-fashioned general store, and hosts the annual Destination Cherryfield and Cherryfield Days hometown celebrations.
It might be the smallest organized town in Maine, but Beddington has a lot to offer visitors. Its rivers and lakes, which make up over 10% of the area, are part of a salmon spawning migratory path, and the surrounding land area is mostly blueberry fields. Located along Route 9—familiarly called the Airline—the surrounding area abounds with wildlife, and it is famous for fishing, hunting, ATV, and snowmobile enthusiasts. The Airline Lodge provides a welcome respite year-round for travelers and campers looking for supplies and further information about the area.
Deblois, incorporated in 1850, is situated away from the coast between Cherryfield and Beddington, along Route 193. Blueberries barrens and farms line the gentle hills of this area. The east branch of the Narraguagus River flows through the township, and the deep forests offer opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast.
The historic town of Columbia Falls is a truly walkable village. The Historic Ruggles House Museum showcases a flying staircase and original federal-era furniture, and the Wreaths Across America Museum showcases U.S. military items and documents the history of the organization, including its wreath donation program.
Just north of Columbia Falls, Columbia boasts endless miles of dirt roads winding through vast blueberry barrens, offering great views of the Pineo Ridge delta, moraine, and peat bog—features left by the glaciers as they receded at the end of the last Ice Age.
Take the time to stop in Addison. The ocean views are worth the detour. It was this natural beauty that initially attracted the first settlers from the Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod area. The local marshes that once provided hay remain a haven for shorebirds. Addison is still home to working lobster pounds, boat landings, and small farms. Enjoy a walk in the wilderness on hiking trails at Ingersoll Point Preserve, or venture out by kayak to the Tibbet Island Preserve.
Nearby Great Wass Island is home to the Great Wass Island Preserve. Hike the preserve's scenic 4.5-mile trail, which offers the chance to spot rare plant species and take in the exposed bedrock shoreline for which Downeast Maine is famous.
Beals is a hardworking fishing community located on Beals Island, connected by a short bridge with Jonesport. Part of the picturesque Bold Coast Scenic Byway, the town proudly displays the world's tallest lobster trap Christmas tree each year.
Jonesport is a real-life, hardworking fishing village. Together with neighboring Beals Island, it offers quiet nature trails and scenic vistas complete with colorful lobster boats bobbing in the harbor. The town's downtown district is a perfect size to explore on foot, with many opportunities to catch views of the working harbor and to learn more about the town's past at the small Maine Coast Sardine History Museum.
Stop in Jonesboro to relax in the peaceful Memorial Park and enjoy where the Chandler River meets Mason Bay on the site of the original Chandler Historic Village. If you enjoy golf, the local Barren View golf course will test your skills and provide ample time to enjoy the local beauty.
Downtown Milbridge is easily walkable and contains many historic 19th century homes, including that of blueberry baron Jasper Wyman. The community has an active fishing harbor situated at the mouth of the Narraguagus River and offers opportunities to enjoy the local seafood or wildlife-watching boat tours. Annual Milbridge Days is an enduring community celebration with events such as the infamous codfish relay race. The town also marks the western start of the Bold Coast Scenic Byway, a 125-mile scenic drive passing through over 20 coastal communities.
First settled in 1765, Harrington is a quiet coastal village with lovely old homes and a popular local eatery in the center of town. The Frank E. Woodworth Preserve trail winds through moss-carpeted woodlands containing centuries-old trees then emerge at the shoreline overlooking the upper reaches of Pleasant Bay. Several tidal rivers converge off Ripley Neck, supporting a wide array of shorebirds and waterfowl.
Visitor Resources: Acadia National Park - Schoodic Peninsula | Schoodic Institute | Schoodic Scenic Byway | Maine Coastal Islands National Refuge | Bold Coast Scenic Byway