Between the Blue Hill Peninsula and Deer Isle, Eggemoggin Reach is a 10-mile-long waterway that offers a blend of serene beauty, rich maritime history, and a plethora of recreational activities. Connecting Penobscot Bay to Jericho Bay, it’s a well-known passage for sailors and a scenic destination for travelers seeking the quiet magic of Downeast Maine.

Geography & Navigation

Eggemoggin Reach is the northernmost of the inside, sheltered passages that connect Penobscot Bay to Jericho Bay. The channel runs southeast between the mainland and Deer Isle, stretching about ten miles in length. Its broad, well-marked route has long made it a favorite among sailors navigating the Maine coast.

The name “reach” refers to the fact that prevailing southwesterly winds typically blow across the length of the waterway, allowing wind-driven vessels to sail efficiently on a reach — whether traveling eastbound or westbound. This makes the passage not only scenic, but naturally suited for traditional sailing.

Historical Significance

The name “Eggemoggin” likely comes from an Abenaki word meaning “fish-weir place,” reflecting its long history as a passage for Indigenous peoples and early seafarers. This waterway has been a vital corridor for trade, fishing, and travel for centuries. Today, it continues to serve working boats, recreational sailors, and conservation efforts.

Water Activities & Marine Life

Eggemoggin Reach’s protected waters are a real haven for outdoor enthusiasts:

• Sailing: A favorite among sailors due to steady winds and scenic shores.
• Kayaking & Paddleboarding: Calm conditions and island-hopping opportunities abound(see below).
• Fishing: The reach is home to striped bass, mackerel, and bluefish, making it a rewarding destination for anglers.
• Swimming: Inviting beaches like Causeway Beach and Reach Beach offer spots to cool off.

The Eggemoggin Reach Regatta

Started in 1985 with just 13 wooden boats, the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta is now one of the most celebrated wooden boat races in the world. Held each August and co-hosted by Brooklin Boatyard and Rockport Marine, it draws over 100 classic vessels. The 15-mile course has remained unchanged for decades, offering a spectacular showcase of craftsmanship and camaraderie on the water.

Points of Interest

• Deer Isle Bridge: Built in 1939, this suspension bridge spans Eggemoggin Reach and connects Deer Isle to the mainland. It’s the only vehicular access point to the island and offers stunning views of the surrounding water.
• Pumpkin Island Light: Located at the western entrance of the Reach, this historic lighthouse dates back to 1854 and remains a beloved local landmark.
• WoodenBoat School: Situated along the Reach in Brooklin, this school offers hands-on courses in boatbuilding and seamanship, attracting students from around the world.
• Islets & Coves: The Reach is dotted with dozens of small islets, coves, and quiet anchorages — many with moorings, yacht facilities, and even local boatbuilding shops nearby. It’s a sailor’s dream, offering safe harbors and scenic stopovers throughout the passage.

Island Adventures & Public Beaches

Eggemoggin Reach is dotted with wild, beautiful islands, many open to the public for exploration:

• Big Babson Island: A Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserve with trails, forested coves, and picnic spots.
• Hog Island: Home to sandy beaches, granite ledges, and spruce-fir forest — a great paddle destination.
• Bear Island: Offers gravel beaches on the southern end and rugged terrain to the north.
• Pond Island: A mix of dune systems, salt ponds, and unique coastal environments.
• Carney Island and Little Torrey Island: Smaller islands with quiet anchorages and birdwatching opportunities.

Towns on Eggemoggin Reach

Eggemoggin Reach winds between two distinct regions: Deer Isle to the south, and the Blue Hill Peninsula to the north. Each side offers its own small towns, harbors, and historic villages that border the waterway.

On the Deer Isle Side

• Deer Isle: The primary town covering much of the island, including the northern shoreline along the Reach. Known for its mix of artists, nature, and history.
• Stonington: Located at the southern tip of the island, but its northern outskirts touch the eastern end of Eggemoggin Reach. A major lobstering hub.
• Sunset: A quiet village in Deer Isle with direct waterfront along the Reach, great for kayaking and local flavor.
• Sargentville: Technically part of Sedgwick, but nestled on the Deer Isle side near the bridge, offering views and access to the water.

On the Blue Hill Peninsula Side

• Brooklin: A picturesque town directly on the northern shore of the Reach, known for the WoodenBoat School and its rich boatbuilding heritage.
• Sedgwick: Home to the northern end of the Deer Isle Bridge, offering sweeping views of the Reach and access to trails and launch points.
• Naskeag: A scenic peninsula within Brooklin that juts out into the Reach. Historically significant for Native American and early colonial settlement.

Hiking Around Eggemoggin Reach

While Eggemoggin Reach is best known for its calm waters and sailing traditions, the surrounding shoreline offers a number of short and scenic hikes. These trails provide peaceful forest walks, open fields, and high points with sweeping views of the Reach itself.

• Scott’s Landing (Deer Isle):
  Just off the Deer Isle Bridge, this 22-acre preserve includes open fields, picnic tables, shoreline access, and an easy trail network with direct views of Eggemoggin Reach. Great for birdwatching and a relaxed stroll. You can find a terrific map of Scott’s Landing on the Island Heritage Trust Website.
• John B. Mountain (Brooklin):
  A short but rewarding loop hike through quiet woods to a 250-foot summit. On clear days, you’ll catch wide views over the treetops toward Eggemoggin Reach.
• Lookout Rock (Brooksville):
  Though slightly west of the Reach, this quick trail leads to a 244-foot viewpoint with panoramic views that include Eggemoggin Reach, Penobscot Bay, and distant islands.
• Lisa Tolman Wotton Preserve (Little Deer Isle):
  Just inland from the water, this trail system winds through cedar forest and meadows, with glimpses of the shoreline and a peaceful atmosphere. Roughly 2 miles of walking trails.
• Pine Hill (Little Deer Isle):
  A short, steep trail leading to exposed granite and wide views of the Reach. Not formally maintained, but popular with locals for the quick climb and panoramic reward.

If you’re staying nearby, any of these hikes make for a peaceful way to stretch your legs, take in the salt air, and see Eggemoggin Reach from a new angle.

Conservation & Access

Much of the public access to islands and beaches in the Reach is thanks to the work of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT). Their ongoing conservation efforts protect wild shorelines and ensure that the intertidal heritage of the region remains accessible to all. Big Babson Island, for example, was preserved in 2011 and is open for respectful day use.

Why People Fall in Love with the Reach

Eggemoggin Reach is more than a beautiful waterway, it’s an experience. The sound of sails snapping in the breeze, the hush of a paddle in still water, the smell of pine and salt on the air… all of it contributes to something quietly extraordinary. Many who visit find themselves returning year after year, drawn back by the honest charm, deep calm, and sense of place that only the Maine coast can offer.

Plan Your Visit

Whether you’re sailing through, renting a cottage nearby, or just looking for a place to breathe deeper and slow down, Eggemoggin Reach is a destination worth discovering. For vacation rentals in the area, visit MainRentals.com to find the perfect spot to stay.

Looking to stay right on the water? We offer four unique vacation rentals along Eggemoggin Reach, each offering a distinct coastal Maine experience:

• Grey Ledge – A contemporary oceanfront home on Thomas Cove with sweeping views, a private beach, and a mooring for your boat. Includes a canoe and rowing dinghy for guests. Ocean views from nearly every room, offering waterfront living at its finest.
• Alberta Lane Estate – A private 28-acre estate with a deep-water dock, guest house, beach access, and stunning views of Eggemoggin Reach. Sleeps up to 10 guests.
• Ledgelawn – A historic 4-bedroom home built in 1896 by a local ship’s captain, situated on the ocean’s edge of Eggemoggin Reach in Little Deer Isle.

Explore all our Eggemoggin Reach rentals to find the perfect coastal retreat for your Maine getaway.

Come for the view. Stay for the feeling.

Did you know Downeast Maine is the first place in America to see the sunrise? Yes, it is. And besides the sunny mornings, lobsters, and Stephen King novels, Maine offers plenty more. With thousands of miles of trails, it’s one of the best hiking destinations in the northeast.

Picture a rugged landscape featuring wide peninsulas, deep bays, towering cliffs, spruce-covered islands, high tides, and crashing surf. That’s what defines Maine’s Downeast coastline between Frenchman Bay and West Quoddy Head.

The climate favors Downeast Maine, making it popular with outdoor enthusiasts, especially hikers. There are plenty of hiking trails in Maine to choose from. Backcountry multi-day hikes await the adventurous nature explorer, with shorter walks for beginners who want to see Maine’s beautiful coastline.

Explore Acadia National Park’s rocky headlands, the wilderness of the 100-Mile nature, or the highest peaks of Mount Katahdin. And this handy primer will tell you about the best hiking adventures in Downeast Maine.

The Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park

• Moderately hilly and for sunrise chasers
• 2 miles
• 2 to 4 hours

A magical place and the first point in the United States to witness sunrise is Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. The open granite peak of Cadillac Mountain provides excellent views of Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s best to hike here at night to catch the sunrise over America.

Headlamps are essential when hiking the 1528-foot Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail under the stars. Keep your coffee flask handy!

Fairy Head Loop, Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land

• Best for nature enthusiasts
• 4 miles
• 7–8 hours

Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land in Downeast Maine overlooks the Bay of Fundy. Nature preserves like the Bold Coast offer a unique opportunity to observe the coastal ecosystems of Maine.

Carry your camera and capture the sunrise over the rocky coast. After almost 4 miles of shorefront hiking in Downeast Maine, the Fairy Head Loop runs through meadows, forests, and grassy marshes before heading inland.

Campers can find a few spots on a first-come, first-served basis, and wildlife abounds.

Great Wass Island

• Strenuous
• 5-mile
• A full loop takes six hours

There is a deep-seated reward in starting hard and finishing with a smile. Well, Great Wass Island has one of those joys. While the hike might be strenuous, the reward is relaxing. The Great Wass Island loop hike near Jones Port is worth checking out.

During this hike, you’ll traverse a mesmerizing boggy forest before reaching the rocky shoreline, where you’ll climb over boulders and walk along ledges. You’ll likely see seals sunbathing on small islands or swimming in the water from the rocks at the point.

The island reaches far into the sea, making it a dramatic place to walk. It is only recommended that you complete the 4.5-mile loop trail if you have a few hours and are fairly fit. It requires quite a bit of scrambling along the rocky shoreline for approximately 1.5 miles. It’s even rougher at high tide. Rocks can also be slippery in bad weather.

The 1.5-mile Little Cape Point Trail will take you across the island’s heart if you make the loop counterclockwise. Follow the exposed shore throughout the island, except for inland behind the trees. Your path then turns back into protected woodlands. Coastal jack pines and exposed ledges make this hiking trail charming.

Blue Hill Mountain

• Easy-to-moderate hike
• 4 Miles
• 5 Hours

It is a short hike to the summit of Blue Hill Mountain on Mount Desert Island, which offers excellent views of both the ocean and the distant mountains. The mountain has several trails, all varying in difficulty.

You’ll begin your walk on the Osgood Trail, across the street from the parking, and gradually gain elevation as you follow some stone footpaths. Several junctions along the trail are marked with maps. The forest of evergreens offers a cooling shade along the path.

You’ll reach the South Face Trail junction on your right but keep going left on the Osgood trail.

The summit is just a mile away after a very gradual climb. You can pick up Larry’s Summit Loop by walking down the giant rock and to the left.

Alternatively, you can turn right onto The Hayes Trail after continuing along the Osgood Trail into the woods.

At the intersection of Hayes Trail and Larry’s Summit Loop, a viewpoint is worth visiting. From here, you can either go back on the Osgood Trail or continue on the Hayes Trail, which is steep and rocky at points.

If you turn right here, it is an easy quarter-mile walk to get back to the intersection of Osgood Trail and South Face Trail. Return to the parking area by walking back down Osgood Trail.

Petit Manan Point

• Moderate
• 5 miles loop

Petit Manan Point is a dog-friendly hike along the Maine coast with scenic views and bird-watching opportunities.

The Maine Coastal Island National Wildlife Refuge (MCINWR) stretches from York County to Washington County and includes Petit Manan Point. At Petit Manan Point in Steuben, Maine, you can choose between two separate trails:

The Birch Point

The Birch Point Trail extends approximately 4 miles through blueberry fields, upland forests, and marshes to the rocky shoreline of the ocean. Carrying Place Cove, Dyer Bay, and Dyer Neck are among the scenic views you’ll see on the trail.

Hike along Lobster Point Trail from Birch Point Trail to view Sally Island, a popular nesting area for Bald Eagles, along a cobbled beach. There are raised walkways in wetland areas with granite outcroppings along the shore, which mostly follow an ancient logging trail.

Hollingsworth Trails

With scenic views of Pigeon Hill Bay, the Hollingsworth Trail is a 2-mile loop that starts in an open field, winds through forests, and ultimately parallels the shore near Chair Pond.

Lighthouse Petit Manan Island is visible from a distance on a clear day.

Dogs are welcome on both trails, which offer scenic overlooks and interpretive signs about the wildlife refuge. Park in the small areas marked by kiosks at each trailhead, leash your dog (it’s a rule), and enjoy picking blueberries as you hike.

Are You Ready to Explore Downeast Maine? Let’s Go Hiking!

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, there’s a trail for you in this beautiful region. From the rugged coastlines to the rolling hills and forests, Downeast Maine is a hiker’s paradise. So pack your bag, lace up your boots, and let’s hit the trails.