The East Coast Greenway Trail Scenic Bicycle Route is over 2,600 miles from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine. The last stretch of this scenic bicycle route is from Ellsworth to Calais. This 138 mile downeast bicycle route will allow you to tour breathtaking coastal scenery, travel through historical villages, and wind through the blueberry barrens. The scenic trail begins in downtown Ellsworth and ends along the St. Croix River in Calais.
Ellsworth to Calais Scenic Bicycle Route
You may choose to ride the whole trail at once or only travel part of this bicycle route. Mountain bikes or hybrid bikes are highly recommended for this downeast Maine bicycle route. Many of the detours would be difficult to traverse on a recreational bicycle. Be sure to travel with a compass and plenty of supplies. Cell phone service is scarce in Washington County, so you should carry emergency flairs and a first aid kit, just in case you have any trouble.
The Downeast Maine leg of the East Coast Greenway Scenic Trail begins in downtown Ellsworth. Ellsworth is a large town with many stores and hotels, so it is a good place to stock up on any supplies you will need for your journey. You may wish to detour from Ellsworth to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. Although out of the way, a bike ride along the mountains and sea of the island will be well worth it.
Travel through Ellsworth, along Route 3 and head toward Lamoine. The Mud Creek Road will pass by a “mud creek” where clay may be collected from the beach. The town of Sullivan offers a scenic detour to view a reversing tidal fall called Sullivan Falls. The Schoodic Peninsula has gorgeous views of the ocean and gives you a glimpse into the life of many small coastal villages.
Travel along the Narraguagus River toward Cherryfield, “the blueberry capitol of the world”. Before leaving Cherryfield, be sure to rest and stock up on supplies because it will be awhile before you see civilization again!
The next stretch of this downeast bicycle route leads through the blueberry barrens on the Ridge Road toward the small town of Columbia Falls. From Columbia Falls, make your way toward Machias. Machias is a rural, but somewhat busy town with motels, coffee shops, and an organic market. This is a good time to take a break and stock up on trail mix.
After leaving Machias, the bicycle route travels along rural, gravel roads that travel by more blueberry barrens before reaching the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife refuge is a breeding ground for migratory birds, as well as native wildlife. Keep an eye out for bald eagle nests when traveling through and around the park. If you do not have a mountain bike, you may want to go around the park by staying on US Route 1.
Follow US Route 1 north until you reach Calais. The East Coast Greenway Trail and the Downeast Maine Scenic Bicycle Route both end at a waterfront park in Calais. Calais is a large town on the border of Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. If you arrive in early August, you can join in the festivities at the International Festival that is celebrated by all nearby towns on both sides of the border.
More Info about the Downeast Maine Scenic Bicycle Route
For detailed directions, download this PDF file. A PDF map may be downloaded at http://www.exploremaine.org/bike/pdfs/maps/downeast.pdfwww.exploremaine.org.
