If you are looking for a fantastic New England coastal experience filled with fishing villages, beautiful views, and great seafood but you want to avoid the crowds, the Bold Coast of Maine is the perfect destination.
The Bold Coast National Scenic Byway is a 147-mile coastal driving route from Millbridge to Calais in northern Maine. It travels through historic towns, blueberry barrens, rugged landscapes, wildlife preserves, and much more.
Planning your trip? Use our favorite resources!
For accommodations – Hotels.com | Expedia | VRBO
For car rentals – Discover Cars
For tours & excursions – Viator
For cheap flights – FareDrop
For travel insurance – Safety Wing
My husband Sam and I explored this area in May and fell in love with it! We definitely couldn’t do everything we wanted, but I know we’ll be back someday to discover even more of this stunning region.
Keep reading for a list of some of the best things to see and do along this fascinating drive as well as places to stay and the best time of year to visit.
Bold Coast Of Maine Map
Here’s a Bold Coast Scenic Byway map so you can see where all of these places are located and use it to plan your own adventure.
Places To See Along The Bold Coast Of Maine
Here are some of the top places to see and explore along the Maine Bold Coast.
I’ve listed these items from south to north since more than likely that is the route you will be taking. If you would be going north to south, you can see these places in reverse order.
Donnell Pond Public Reserved Lands
Just east of Millbridge, which is considered the official start of Bold Coast Maine, is the Donnell Pond Public Reserved Lands. This area has over 14,000 acres of wooded land with plenty of lakes and beautiful mountains.
One of the most popular hikes in the area is Schoodic Mountain, a 2.5-mile loop to a stunning viewpoint. This hike can be steep in sections and there is some rock scrambling, so it’s considered a challenging route, but if this sounds like something you’d like to do, it’s a great choice.
There are also lots of other trails to explore in the area with varying lengths and difficulty levels, so you are sure to find one that works for you.
Other popular things to do in the area include boating, fishing, swimming, camping, canoeing, and wildlife viewing.
Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge
The Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge was established to protect the landscape and the wildlife in the area. This place is great to explore if you want to see birds and unspoiled marshes, bogs, blueberry barrens, peatlands, and beaches.
There are some short trails in the area, and it’s a great place to spend a few minutes if you are interested in hiking Pigeon Hill.
Pigeon Hill
Pigeon Hill is a popular and fairly easy 1.6-mile loop hike just north of the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge. You can choose to do this hike before or after your visit there.
On a nice day, you’ll get views of Acadia National Park and also the Petit Manan Lighthouse, which is the second-tallest lighthouse in Maine.
Cherryfield
The town of Cherryfield got its name from the wild cherries that use to grow along the banks of the Narraguargus River that flows through the town. Now it’s known for its lumber industry and the local blueberry farms.
This would be a great place to grab a bite to eat, explore the local shops, check out the local winery or blueberry farms, or just take a break.
Wild Blueberry Land
If you are looking for all things blueberry, look no further than Wild Blueberry Land.
This cute family-run business offers all kinds of fresh blueberry products, from syrups and jams to candles and coffee, and so much more!
Take a few minutes to stop in, look around, and try some of their delicious items.
Jonesport
Jonesport is another working waterfront town with lots of neat things to see and do.
You can check out Sandy River Beach and get your toes in the sand, or take the drive out to Great Wass Island Preserve and take a hike through the forest and wetlands. You might even get to see some harbor seals!
If you venture a little further out of town to Roque Bluffs State Park, you can hit up a few more hiking trails, relax on the beach, take a swim, have a picnic, take the kids to the play area, go birdwatching, and much more.
Cutler Bold Coast Trail
The highlight of our Bold Coast road trip was the Cutler Bold Coast Trail in the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land.
This gorgeous area offers some great hiking with breathtaking views of the ocean. We chose to do the 2.7-mile out-and-back Coastal Trail To Ocean Lookout. It’s not too difficult elevation-wise but there are lots of rocks and roots so you have to watch your footing.
If you want to do an all-day hike, you can keep going on the trail and do either the 10.4-mile Fairy Head Loop or the slightly shorter 6.6-mile Black Point Brook Loop. These are more difficult trails with more elevation gain, so keep that in mind when planning which route to take.
Lubec
Lubec is the easternmost town in the United States and the gateway to Campobello Island (see below).
It’s not a very big town but it makes up for it in charm. It’s a working fishing community that also has a smokehouse museum, great seafood, cute shops, and a brewery.
From here you also can catch a charter boat tour and witness Old Sow, the largest whirlpool in the northern hemisphere, and also check out lots of marine life, such as whales, porpoises, and seals.
Campobello Island
Campobello Island is right across the border in Canada from Lubec, so if you plan to visit, make sure you bring your passport. This island is where the Roosevelts had their summer home (which you can visit) and it’s also the home of Roosevelt Campobello International Park.
There’s also lots of hiking, beaches, and stunning views. If you have the time, this is a great place to explore.
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse
Just outside of Lubec is West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the easternmost point of the United States. At certain times of the year, it’s the first place in the country to see the sunrise.
You can check out the visitor center located at the base of the lighthouse, and if you’re up for some walking and beautiful coastal views, you can explore the rest of West Quoddy State Park and the miles of trails it offers.
Eastport
Eastport is a town on Moose Island known for its fishing port and the thriving artist community. There are lots of galleries and shopping opportunities, museums, great restaurants, landmarks, and more.
Shackford Head State Park is right on Moose Island as well and offers some nice trails and wildlife viewing opportunities as well as stunning views of Cobscook Bay.
St. Croix Island
If you’re a history nut, you might enjoy a visit to the St. Croix Island Visitor Center.
Take a walk along the interpretive trail, chat with a ranger, have a picnic, do some bird watching, or just enjoy the scenery.
Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
The Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge has over 30,000 acres of protected land and is a fantastic place to immerse yourself in nature and see lots of wildlife.
There are over 50 miles of trails to choose from as well as two wildlife viewing platforms where you have the chance to see bald eagles, osprey, moose, beaver, deer, porcupines, and various other critters.
Things To Do Along The Bold Coast Of Maine
While there are so many things to see along the Bold Coast, there is more than one way to experience this beautiful area!
Here are a few of the popular activities that you and your family can do to discover the local culture and get the full Bold Coast experience.
Biking
The Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway is a 211-mile route on rural roads that offers great biking options and plenty of amenities for those who want to do multi-day riding.
You can see just about all the attractions on this list by bike as well, so if biking scenic byways are something you enjoy, the Bold Coast is a great place to do this!
Hiking
While I mentioned quite a few hiking options along the Bold Coast, there are so many other choices out there. Hiking is everywhere along the coast, and no matter what kind of hikes you like, you are sure to find something that works for you.
Take a look at more hiking opportunities along the Bold Coast here.
Paddling
If getting on the water is on your bucket list, there are lots of choices for that as well. There are hundreds of miles of waterways along the Bold Coast, including lakes, rivers, bays, and the ocean coastline.
Whatever your experience level, you can enjoy a paddling experience here. You can either plan your own route or use a company to rent your gear and help you plan your trip.
Museums & Festivals
If you enjoy unique, local museums and events, there is plenty to explore on the Bold Coast.
The Waponahki Museum and Resource Center is a great choice if you want to learn about the Passamaquoddy Tribe and their culture. There are also museums dedicated to art and wildlife, and also lots of seasonal festivals to experience.
You can learn more about some of the options here.
Boat Tours
One of the best ways to experience the Bold Coast is by boat.
There are tours for so many different interests, like seeing puffins, whales, lighthouses, islands, scenery, and lots more.
Here are a few boat tour companies to check out:
When To Visit The Bold Coast Of Maine
The best time to visit the Bold Coast is from around Memorial Day through mid-October. Most restaurants, attractions, and tours don’t start operating until late May/early June, so if you want to take full advantage of everything this region has to offer, you’ll want to come during this time frame.
We did this drive in early May and while it was still a nice visit, most things were not open yet and we didn’t get to experience the best of the region. The hiking is still great in May (although the leaves hadn’t come in yet) and we hardly saw any other people, but there was little else we could do other than see the scenery and hike.
If you visit in the summer, the weather is wonderful, but expect bugs such as black flies and mosquitos to be present. Pack plenty of bug spray so you can keep those pests at bay.
Blueberries start to arrive in August along with some blueberry festivals and other local events. This would be a wonderful time to visit and experience this part of the local culture.
If seeing the fall foliage is a priority, aim to visit in October. The colors tend to peak anywhere from early to mid-October, so while you won’t be able to predict them exactly, you’ll have a good chance of seeing the beautiful leaves if you plan your trip during this time.
How To Get To The Bold Coast Of Maine
Unless you are driving your own vehicle here, the best way to get to the Bold Coast is to fly to Bangor International Airport (which is about an hour from Millbridge) and then rent a car.
I use Discover Cars to search for the best rental vehicles. They search all the rental companies for the best price, and if your plans change, you always get free cancellation. Especially these days with rentals being so expensive, you need a website that will compare all your options and then let you cancel if you find a better deal later.
Where To Stay Along The Bold Coast Of Maine
Since the Bold Coast is made up of small towns, there are not many lodging options no matter where or how you decide to stay.
Machias is a good central location if you want to stay in one place and explore the Bold Coast from there. Some highly rated options include The Bluebird Motel and Machias River Inn.
If you don’t mind starting a little farther south, Bar Harbor is a good place to stay before and/or after your road trip because there are lots of options here. It’s about an hour’s drive from Bar Harbor to Millbridge, which is the start of the Bold Coast.
I wrote an entire post on the best accommodations around Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. You can see all the fantastic choices here.
Plus, if you have the time, spending a few extra days in Bar Harbor and planning a visit to Acadia National Park is an absolute must! Here’s the complete guide to planning your perfect trip.
At the north end of the Bold Coast, Lubec or Eastport would be good choices. The Inn On The Wharf, Redclyffe Shore Motor Inn, and this apartment rental are all highly recommended.
No matter where or when you stay, book early! Since there are few places available, they fill up fast!
Conclusion: The Bold Coast Of Maine
The Bold Coast is a great road trip destination, and I hope this post has made you want to pack your bags and head there right now! I know I can’t wait to go back!
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