Outward Bound

WANT TO HIKE, BIKE, FISH, PADDLE, SNOWSHOE, SKI, OR JUST EXPLORE? WALDO COUNTY HAS PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR FOUR-SEASON FUN.

Belfast Water District

Benjamin Wiliamson

Belfast Harbor

SAS Photographic

Belfast Harbor

Benjamin Williamson

Benjamin Williamson

North Star Adventures

Rural beauty defines this region - from the rolling pastures of Monroe to the glistening waters of Stockton Springs. And thanks to the generations of locals who have worked to preserve the natural treasures for everyone to enjoy, it's all within easy reach. "The opportunities in this area are amazing," says Nancy Zane, founder of North Star Adventures, a Unity-based outfitter that offers paddling, hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, and kayaking excursions. Whether you're looking for a relaxed walk in the woods or a hard-core adventure, you'll find an abundance of options here.

Belfast Harborwalk

→ TAKE A STROLL

You don't have to go far from downtown Belfast to get back to nature. From the Armistice Footbridge, you can pick up the Belfast Harbor Walk, a paved half-mile path that winds along the working waterfront. Or, hop on the Belfast Rail Trail, a 2.3-mile multi-use trail that's accessible for bikers, pedestrians, wheelchairs, and strollers. For a longer trek, pick up the Hills to Sea Trail, a 47-mile network that reaches from Unity College to Belfast, via the twns of Knox, Freedom, Morrill, and Waldo, snaking through meadows, forests, and farmland. The footpath, which opened in 2017 after a five-year collaboration between dozens of non-profit groups, land trusts, and landowners, is open to hikers, snowshoers, and Nordic skiers. No bikes are allowed. To get maps and find access points, go to waldotrails.org.

→ TAKE A HIKE

There are many short "big-bang-for-your-buck hikes" of under two miles, as well as trails that can be easily linked together for longer outings, Zane says. Coastal Mountans Land Trust has 19 preserves in Waldo County, including McLellan-Poor and Head of Tide Preserves in Belfast, which offer easygoing and beautiful walks through the forest and along the riverbank. For more exhilarating adventures, check out Mount Waldo in Frankfort and Haystack Mountain in Liberty. One of Zane's favorites is Fernald's Neck Preserve in Lincolnville, which contains four miles of trails that traverse towering pine and hemlock forests and offer gaping views of Megunticook Lake. Along the way, look for Balance Rock, a giant glacial erratic on the preserve's eastern edge. She also recommends the 1,140-acre Ducktrap River Preserve, which offers dozens of miles of trails that trace the namesake waterway.

Balance Rock, Lincolnville

→ HOP ON A BIKE

Whether you're up for a mellow pedal or a longer expedition, the region has plenty of options for cyclists, says Chris Gardner, owner of CG Bikes, a bike rental, repair, and parts shop in Belfast. "We've got a great network of quiet, scenic rural roads that people can feel safe riding on, plus a growing number of mountain bike trails," he says. "This variety of routes is probably our best asset." Take a short, low-key ride on the Rail Trail, or go to Shore Road in Bayside for a longer road excursion. If you're into mountain biking, head to nearby Camden to check out the Round the Mountain Trail, which will become a nine-mile loop that encircles Ragged Mountain. A mountain bike trail near Belfast's Rail Trail is also in the works. Stop into CG Bikes to get more guidance and to find out about the group rides that often leave fro the shop.

CG Bikes

→ GET ON THE WATER

It's easy to see Waldo County from the water - whether you're a seasoned sailor or an affirmed landlubber. The Back and Forth offers tours of the bay aboard its refurbished lobsterboat with a wide variety of themed tours, from family-friendly scavenger hunts to sunset cruises. (Kids ride free.) Come Boating!, a nonprofit based on the harbor, offers many options to explore the harbor in sailboats, rowing shells, and pilot gigs, which are 32-foot, six-oared boats first developed in Cornwall, England. If you want to explore Penobscot Bay by sea kayak, the level of difficulty will vary based on where you launch. Zane offers guided excursions from Belfast Harbor and other launch points, as well as lessons where she can teach you how to manage currents, tides, cold water, and efficiently get back into your sea kayak if you capsize. You can check out the wilder side of Waldo County at Basin Pond Outdoor Center in Monroe, where you can rent SUPs and kayaks, take lessons, or get a guided tour of the Basin, a 29-acre pond surrounded by large forests and wetlands, which offers a tranquil setting protected from the wind. It's the perfect place to try paddling for the first time, or spot wildlife like eagles, loons, and beavers. In western Waldo County, Unity Pond, Stevens Pond, and the Carleton Bog offer opportunities for birding and more peaceful paddling. Quantabacook, in Morrill, is a beautiful less-travelled waterway. Farther down the coast, you can rent kayaks from Ducktrap Kayak & SUP in Lincolnville and paddle on any number of lakes, rivers, and ponds in the area. Rentals are also available at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground, as well as The Playground at Stockton Harbor. If you're a seasoned paddler, check out the St. George River Canoe Trail, which encompasses 36 miles that stretch from Searsmont to Thomaston. Go to georgesriver.org for maps and access points. If you want to venture out to the Blue Hill Peninsula, less than an hour east of Belfast, head over to Castine, where Castine Kayak Adventures offers rentals as well as guided tours of the harbor, plus nighttime paddles where you can learn about the bioluminescence and the constellations.

→ GO FISH

Waldo County is dotted with freshwater ponds, vast lakes, brackish creeks, and access points to Penobscot Bay, so anglers have plenty of options for places to cast their lines. "There's something for just about everyone," says Tom Seymour, author of Getting Your Big Fish: Trolling Maine Water and 13 other books about fishing. Stop into Maine Outdoor Sportsman for tips, local guidance, gear, and information about local guides.

→ GO INTO THE WILD

If you're looking for an away-from-it-all feeling that's close to the shore, check out Sears Island, which is one of the largest undeveloped islands on the Eastern Seaboard. Connected to the mainland of Searsport by a causeway, it's a convenient getaway for birding, trail running, paddling, swimming, and biking or just lolling the afternoon away on the sandy beaches. In the winter, Sears Island is a popular spot to strap on the snowshoes or cross-country skis. The nonprofir Friends of Sears Island offers free guided nature walks throughout the summer. To learn more, go to friendsofsearsisland.org.