Downeast, Maine, USA

Downeast, Maine, USA

Follow Maine’s coast northeast toward the border with Canada and where do you end up? Downeast Maine. A little-visited corner of the state, Downeast is achingly beautiful but surprisingly remote, and certainly worth a visit for anyone within a 4- or 5-hour drive. We spent a long weekend Downeast from our home in Portland.


Itinerary

  • 3 nights in Eastport at an Airbnb.


Day 1: June 24, 2021

  • Visited Cobscook Bay State Park. Parked at 44.849736, -67.158687.

  • Visited Shackford Head State Park. Parked at 44.905441, -67.012526. This park is infamous thanks to its annoying little fire ant population, but we didn’t have a problem; we just kept moving and never sat down. We wouldn’t recommend it if you have a fluffy friend in tow.

  • Checked into our Airbnb and settled into Eastport.

  • Our Airbnb had a full kitchen which we used over the course of our stay to cook some of our meals using fresh ingredients from local grocery stores.

  • Takeout dinner from The Happy Crab in Eastport.

Cobscook Bay State Park

Shackford Head State Park

Shackford Head State Park

Shackford Head State Park

Day 2: June 25, 2021

Quoddy Head State Park

Quoddy Head State Park

Quoddy Head State Park

Quoddy Head State Park

Quoddy Head State Park

Boot Head Preserve Trail

Boot Head Preserve Trail

Boot Head Preserve Trail

Boot Head Preserve Trail

Day 3: June 26, 2021

  • Hiked the Bold Coast Trail. Despite the fog, rain, and mosquitos, this was one of the most memorable trails we’ve ever done. It’s a very diverse trail, taking you through the woods, along cliffs, and across beaches. And we barely ran into anyone over the whole 11 miles, which took us about 6 hours including stops.

  • Takeout dinner from The Happy Crab in Eastport.

Bold Coast Trail

Bold Coast Trail

Bold Coast Trail

Bold Coast Trail

Day 4: June 27, 2021

  • Drove back to Portland.


If We Ever Went Back