Wildlife & Wilderness

Maine is home to abundant wildlife including moose, loons, deer, fox, LOTS of beautiful birds and other exquisite animals!

Since Maine is also known for its beautiful foliage, here is a . Check out this list of places for wildlife- birding in Maine!

Aroostook County

  • 听Refuge Rd, Limestone, ME 04750听| (207) 328-4634
    • Canoe, hike, cross-country ski, and enjoy viewing and learning about nature at this wonderful site. The Refuge is a conservation success story, as it has turned part of the grounds of the former Loring Air Force Base into a healthy natural haven!
  • 听Cow Team Rd, Crystal, ME 04747
    • Also known as the 1000 Acre Bog and recognized as a Focus Area of Statewide Ecological Significance, this wilderness area can be reached and explored via the multi-use, 6-mile Cow Team Road
  • 听818 Benedicta Rd, Benedicta, ME 04733听| 207-365-4316
    • Great lodge catering to hunters, fishers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
  • 21 Water St, Houlton, ME 04730
    • This trail runs along the Meduxnekeag River in the Houlton Riverfront Park. Along this trail are educational plaques with details of local history, wildlife, and plants.
  • 听657 Main Street, Caribou, ME 04736
    • If you’re interested in learning more about Aroostook County’s fauna, be sure to visit this museum. Displays of Aroostook County’s biodiversity can be seen here.

      Moose off Rt. 16 near Stratton
      Moose off of Rt. 16 near Stratton

DownEast Maine

  • 听Rte 9, Amherst, ME 04605 |听(207) 941-4412
    • If you鈥檙e looking for an outdoor adventure, look no further! Here you can find recreation trails, wildlife, remote camping, and more!
  • Goose Cove Rd, Deer Isle, ME 04627 | (207) 348-2455
    • Easy 1.5-mile trail with sights of Barred Island, Crockett Cove, and a sandy beach.
  • 听ME-191, Cutler, ME 04626 | (207) 729-7366
    • Features gravel and cobble beaches, views of the Bold Coast, and abundant wildlife. It is great for hiking, photography, and birding. There are four hiking trails for various skill levels and lengths.
  • 听2687-2699 Cutler Rd, Cutler, ME 04626
    • Puffin tours from Cutler to Machias Seal Island, which is the largest puffin colony on the coast of Maine.
  • Boot Cove Rd, Lubec, ME 04652
    • Great hiking spot with moss-lined paths to coastal bogs and cobble beaches along the rocky coastline. Look for nesting bald eagles, spruce grouse, songbirds, and small mammals.
  • 40 South Edmunds Rd, Dennysville, ME 04628 | (207) 853-4644
    • At this state park, there are a variety of activities available all year long, including cross country skiing, snowshoeing, winter camping, hiking, and biking.
  • 听Rural US-1, Calais, ME 04619 | (207) 454-2521 ext. 10
    • 鈥淒evil鈥檚 Head has a rich cultural history going back thousands of years. Today, it features the habitats of numerous forms of floral and fauna that thrive in the combination of salty waters, rocky woodlands, and forest marshes. Visitors are invited to explore the park along two distinct trails and the access road that leads from Route One down to the beach, or to spend time alongside the river at a cleared picnic spot.鈥
  • 听Schoodic Beach Rd, Franklin, ME 04634 | (207) 941-4412
    • Water access campsites can be found on Donnell Pond, the southern end of Tunk Lake, and Spring River Lake. Walk-in access to campsites is available from the Schoodic Beach access trail. This area is a great spot for long hikes and beautiful views.
  • 听Lakeville Twp, ME 04487 | (207) 941-4412
    • Visitors enjoy camping and fishing in this semi-remote area surrounded by lakes. Duck Lake, the Unknown Lakes, and Gassabias Lake offer fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and snowmobiling.
  • 104 Water St, Eastport, ME 04631 | (207) 853-2500
    • Go on one of their cruises to see whales, seals, eagles and more.
  • Tennis Rd, Deer Isle, ME 04627 | (207) 348-2455
    • This beautiful path hugs the shore for beautiful views.听 Again, be careful of the roots. There are several options; long and short.
  • 46-34 Bayside Rd, Ellsworth, ME 04605 | (207) 422-2328
    • Historic land owned by the Jordan family, with trails and river access.
  • 听Point Rd, Hancock, ME 04640
    • Containing a well-marked 3.25 miles trail, great for birding!
  • 听Machias River, Machias, ME 04654 | (207) 941-4412
    • This corridor envelopes the Machias River, which features the country鈥檚 largest self-sustaining wild Atlantic salmon run. This spot is great for camping, birding, fishing, hunting, and it is particularly popular with experienced paddlers.
  • 听103 Headquarters Rd, Baring, ME 04694 | (207) 454-7161
    • Located just outside Calais, this is the easternmost National Wildlife Refuge in the Atlantic Flyway. Its main purpose is to protect bird wildlife.
  • 听Rocky Lake, ME 04691 | (207) 941-4412
    • 鈥淲ith 11,000 acres of woodlands and wetlands bordering three lakes near East Machias, the Rocky Lake Public Lands provide opportunities for boating, camping, and fishing in a wildlife-rich setting.鈥
  • 听Penobscot Bay, ME 04476
    • The home of a restored seabird colony of puffins, razorbills, and terns. The island is closed to public visitation but can be seen with boat tours.
  • Eastport, ME 04631 | (207) 853-4644
    • “The Shackford Head and Overlook Trails (1.2-mile round-trip) provide fantastic views of Cobscook Bay and surrounding peninsulas.”
  • Greenlaw District Rd, Deer Isle, ME 04627 | (207) 348-2455
    • This has a relatively easy walk through the woods to the shore. Be careful of the many roots on the path and bring bug spray for mosquitos!
  • Burby Rd, Perry, ME 04667 | (207) 259-5040
    • Great spot for kayaking with a hand-carry boat launch, 1.5 miles of hiking trails with great views of the rugged coastline, pleasant picnic spots, and bird watching with sightings including bald eagles, migrating shorebirds, and more.

Western Maine

  • 听Jackman, ME 04945 | (207) 668-3792
    • “15 miles of Attean Pond and Moose River shorefront, scenic islands, mountain slopes, and productive forestland were conserved in a way that met the landowner鈥檚 needs while also maintaining the many attributes of the land”
  • 听Rangeley, ME 04970
    • Also, part of the Appalachian Trail, just southwest of Rangeley is known for having spruce grouse, boreal chickadee, gray jay, and other northern species of birds to watch.
  • 听Farmington, ME 04938 | (207) 778-8231
    • About 40 miles out of Farmington is this reservation that has the most beautiful views around by canoe.
  • 听Jackman, ME 04945 | (207) 668-4171
    • A great place for seeing ducks. There is also an eagle鈥檚 nest resting in a large tree at the end of the lake near Wood Stream, and will show the baby eagles taking their first flights from mid-June to early August.
  • 听Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947 | (888) 688-0099
    • If you visit any of the hiking or boating locations, you will see LOTS of birds including eagles!
  • Chesterville, ME 04938
    • This beautiful tract of preserved land, accessible from the center of Chesterville, is a great location for some wilderness paddling, fishing, and waterfowl hunting.
  • 听Jackman, ME 04945
    • This strenuous hike goes up 3,718 feet high on the tallest mountain in the area. At the top are great views of Moose Valley River.
  • Stratton-Eustis, ME 04982听
    • Take out a kayak, especially early in the morning, to see lots of birds including eagles and loons.
  • Lovell, ME, 04051 | (207) 925-1056
    • The Greater Lovell Land Trust maintains public hiking trail networks across the town, offering a wide variety of trail lengths, difficulty levels, and scenery, from lakeside to mountaintop!
  • 听12 Loop Rd, Jackman, ME 04945 | (207) 668-4872
    • Home to blue herons, loons, and ducks.
  • 听Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947| (207) 265-2400
    • The beautiful trails provide a perfect spot for bird watching!
  • 听155 Greenville Rd, Shirley Mills, ME 04485 |听(207) 695-0151
    • Even in western Maine (where moose can outnumber people!), you need a little help finding the elusive Maine moose. The Northeast Whitewater has moose watching tours, private moose safaris, and photography tours.
  • 听Old Canada Rd, Rte 201 (through Kennebec and Moose River Valley) | (207) 672-3971
    • This 78-mile road is a great scenic trip traveling through various towns, including Jackman. It is a great place for viewing scenery and wildlife, camping, hiking, fishing, and more.

      Loons on Flagstaff lake
      Loons on Flagstaff lake
  • 听Rangeley Lakes Region, ME
    • Here are several popular spots for moose watching. We have personally seen moose on Route 16 between Stratton and Rangeley, especially around dawn or dusk.
  • 听Weld, ME 04285听| (207) 585-2347
    • Open year-round, Mt. Blue State Park is a beautiful attraction including all sorts of outdoor听activities like hiking, trail riding, biking, swimming and picnicking.
  • 听Rangeley, ME 04970
    • Part of the Appalachian Trail, just east of Rangeley is known for having many warblers, black-backed woodpeckers, gray-cheeked thrush, and other northern species of birds to watch.
  • 听Attean Rd, Jackman, ME 04945
    • 4.8-mile trail of moderate difficulty with seasonal blueberry picking available.

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