From its source at Fifth Machias Lake, in the deep woods along the border of Washington and Hancock counties, the Machias River flows freely and freely for 76 miles to empty into Machias Bay in the Gulf of Maine. One of Maine’s most beloved rivers, the Machias is home to 20 percent of the remaining wild Atlantic salmon habitat in the United States. More than 60,000 acres and 250 miles of river and stream banks in the Machias River watershed are under conservation.

Just west of downtown Machias is the Machias River Preserve, 917 acres owned and managed by the Downeast Coastal Conservancy that protects approximately 3 1/2 miles of river frontage. Six trails run through the iconic property, providing hikers with just over seven miles of wonderful wandering opportunities. Add to that a roughly 2-mile stretch of the Down East Sunrise Trail, a multi-use rail trail stretching 88 miles through the area, from Ellsworth almost to Calais.

Hiking along the Machias River on the Heritage Trail is one of the most beautiful walks in Downeast Maine. Despite the city’s proximity to U.S. Route 1, there is a distinct feeling of remoteness, enhanced by the beautiful river, mature forest, and abundance of birds and wildlife. And as you stroll the gentle trail, a series of interpretive exhibits describe some of the rich and colorful human and natural history of the river and land here.

The Machias River Preserve is part of the Two Rivers Conservation Area, which also includes the 100 acres of Middle River Park and 2 miles along the namesake river on the eastern margin of Machias. Nearly 3 miles of color-coded trails meander through the meadows and forests of the popular park that was once the site of the St. Regis Farm, where draft horses and cattle grazed in the bygone era of the great wheat grain farms. woods on the Machias River.

The Downeast Coastal Conservancy was formed 15 years ago through the merger of the Quoddy Regional Land Trust and the Great Auk Land Trust, two organizations with more than 20 years of conservation experience. Operating from the Route 9 corridor south to the coast and from Steuben east to Lubec, DCC today owns more than 7,000 acres and 72 miles of Washington County shoreline under its umbrella stewardship, and others are in preparation.

“We are preserving ecologically significant lands and protecting access to treasured local places, like Vining Lake, Reversing Falls and Mowry Beach,” said Colin Brown, DCC Executive Director. “We look at the key gaps, the pieces of the puzzle that connect wildlife corridors and connect inland forests to the coast. We are also dedicating resources to outreach and education to attract and keep more people connected to our reservations.

CDC has 16 public preserves with trails. Some are water trails, such as in the Orange River Conservation Area, which offers miles of scenic flat-water canoeing and several secluded campsites in pristine surroundings. The Orange River is part of a determined effort by DCC and a number of other conservation partners to protect and preserve the ancient Native American interior canoe route from Cobscook Bay to Machias Bay.

The DCC hiking trails total approximately 30 miles of hiking. The inventory includes two small peaks, Pigeon Hill in Steuben and Klondike Mountain in Lubec. Both offer big, bold views from their craggy peaks, the former overlooks Narraguagus Bay while the latter takes in the glory of South Bay. At Ingersoll Point in Addison, lush, mossy trails lead to a huge panorama of Wohoa Bay.

The Vining Lake Community Preserve in Cooper includes 406 acres of wooded land and an undeveloped pond that can be bypassed via a lovely 2-mile trail. A 3-mile circuit at Tide Mill Creek in Jonesboro reaches a picturesque cove on the Chandler River, while the trail over narrow Denbow Point in Lubec ends with a great view across Cobscook Bay to Leighton Head.

According to the DCC website, “These reserves are part of the northeast coast’s final frontier of peaceful, unfettered beauty; they include forests, woodlands, wetlands, islands, salt marshes, clam flats, fishing villages, and developed waterfronts. There is indeed plenty to see and do, on foot or otherwise, in this incredible corner of our natural world. Start your adventure with a visit to downeastcoastalconservancy.org.

Carey Kish of Mount Desert Island is the author of Beer Hiking New England, AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast, and the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. Follow more of Carey’s adventures on Facebook and Instagram @careykish.

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