The trail begins past the yellow gate at the end of the gravel road. The first mile of hiking is on a grassy road that crosses and winds through a network of old fields with apple trees, cellar holes, and old wells. Visitors are welcome to leave the marked trail and explore the fields, many of which provide access to the salt marshes surrounding Morong Cove. Please stay on dry land to avoid damage to the sensitive marsh. The fields and road are generally mowed once a year, so grass may be tall and/or wet depending on the timing of your visit.
At the last field, the grassy road transitions to a 2.25-mile forested hiking trail which was completed in the fall of 2011. Trail conditions are generally easy to moderate with short stretches of difficult footing, especially the short scramble to the scenic viewpoint. Extensive bog bridging limits damage to wetlands, but may be slippery when wet. The trail loops around and returns to the grassy road roughly 0.25 miles from the trailhead. Alternatively, a shorter loop leaves the grassy road about 0.5 miles from the trailhead and loops back to the same connection point. The shorter loop includes the scenic viewpoint, but does not offer direct access to the shoreline.
Hunting and trapping are permitted on the property, so plan to wear orange during hunting season.
The Morong Cove Trail is part of the Cobscook Bay Wildlife Management Area, a network of conserved lands owned and managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Composed of over 2,000 acres of mainland and islands in and around Cobscook Bay and more than 23 miles of shoreline, the Management Area provides valuable wildlife habitat as well as public access and recreational opportunities. For more information, please contact the Regional Wildlife Biologist at (207) 434-5927.
The Morong Cove Unit was purchased in part with support from the Land for Maine's Future program. Most of the funding for the Morong Cove Trail was provided by a grant from the Recreational Trails Program of the Maine Department of Conservation.
Cobscook Trails Project
The trails on Morong Cove are part of a larger network of hiking trails in known as Cobscook Trails. Cobscook Trails is a cooperative project of conservation landowners and community partners that seeks to expand opportunities for nature-based recreation and tourism in eastern Washington County. The group produces "Cobscook Trails: A Guide to Walking Opportunities around Cobscook Bay and Bold Coast Region," a 55 page booklet describing walks on 19 area properties. Find more information about Cobscook Trails, including how to purchase the guidebook, visit: The Cobscook Trails Project.
Visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife online for more information or contact:
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and WildlifeTake US Route 1 to Whiting and turn onto ME Route 189 toward Lubec. After 5.6 miles, turn left onto Crows Neck Road. Drive 1.8 miles and turn right onto Thompson Road. The parking area and trailhead are 0.6 miles ahead, at the end of the gravel road.
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