Maine Island Trail

Kennebunk River, photochrome scenic postcard published by the Detroit Photographic Company, ca. 1897–1924.

The Maine Island Trail is a 375-mile-long waterway along the coast of Maine, connecting over 200 islands and mainland sites available for day visits or overnight camping.[1] The trail is operated by the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA), a non-profit membership organization based in Portland, Maine with over 5000 members. Through partnerships with the State of Maine, as well as land trusts, non-profit organizations, and generous private property owners, MITA ensures access to these sites for visitors in kayaks, sailboats, motorboats, and other watercraft. In exchange for access, MITA members agree to visitation guidelines set by the island owners and provide a wide range of stewardship services, including island monitoring and management. Over 400 volunteers remove several hundred bags of trash from the islands each year, with 1,100 total stewardship visits and 4,100 hours committed in 2015. MITA also manages invasive plant species on the islands.

Tidal Island in Rockport Harbor

The annual MITA Guidebook, distributed in the spring to MITA members, offers details on accessing all MITA sites. Most sites require no additional fees or reservations beyond initial membership dues. The Guidebook outlines basic paddling and boating safety guidelines, Leave No Trace principles, and comprehensive site descriptions. The Guide can also be downloaded as a mobile app for both IOS and Android operating systems, developed in partnership with local company Chimani. The app includes photos, anchorage locations, an interactive NOAA chart, launches & pumpouts, and the MITA event calendar. Anyone can download the app and access valuable content, but only current MITA members have full access to all app features.[2]

The trail was established in 1988 and has since been recognized as the first recreational water trail in North America. The trail begins at Maine's border with New Hampshire and ends in Cobscook Bay, with an additional collection of ten islands in the Passamaquoddy/New Brunswick region of Canada. Travelers are generally encouraged to explore the trail by region, with careful consideration of their navigational expertise, watercraft, and seamanship.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Robichaux, Stephanie, Best Family Trips--Maine Island Trail National Geographic Travel
  2. ↑ Real-time, interactive site guides you on island trails Portland Press Herald, Oct. 19, 2010


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