BARRED ISLAND PRESERVE, DEER ISLE
Co-managed with The Nature Conservancy, this popular hike through a mossy coastal forest trail leads to a sand beach that can be crossed at low tide to a small island.
ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY AT BARRED ISLAND:
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Bird Watching
- Moss & Lichen Observation
- Photography
EXPLORE THE PRESERVE:
Hike the 1.5 mile trail in to the sandy beach, which is fully exposed at low tide. Enjoy a swim or cross the sand bar to the small island, with awareness of the incoming tide – the sand bar submerges beneath 4ft of water at high tide. Hike the 1.5 mile trail back out, for a total of 3 miles.
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:
- Day Use Only – no camping or overnight parking
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DIRECTIONS TO THE PRESERVE
From the Deer Isle Causeway, drive South on Route 15 for about 4 miles. Turn right at Main Street, passing through Deer Isle Village. Continue onto Sunset Rd, which becomes Route 15A for about 4 miles. Then turn left onto Goose Cove Road. Keep to the left at the intersections to the small lot and trail head. If the lot is full, you must turn back. No parking is allowed along the road.
GET TO KNOW THE FLORA & FAUNA
With Ecologist, Dr. Ken Crowell, & Naturalist, Marnie Reed Crowell:
“You pass a most impressive mossy glade and a bald granite overlook with a panoramic view of the bay before reaching the sand bar that takes you to Barred Island itself. For about three hours either side of low tide you have plenty of time to walk around the little island. If you are too late for that, you may get to watch the zipper effect, waves lapping onto the bar simultaneously from both sides.
The one-mile trail to Barred Island is an excellent example of what is called boreal fog forest. There are over half a dozen fern species within a meter of the boardwalks here. Among the birds you will hear along the trail are Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes. The flute like trills of the Hermit are among the most beautiful of bird songs. Black-throated Green Warblers sing zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee. Listen for Golden-crowned Kinglets’ high-pitched whispery chickadee-like calls overhead in the spruces.
The upturned spruces along the trail show how shallow-rooted the trees are here. The 15,000 or more years since the last glaciers have not been sufficient time for deep soils to develop. Almost immediately the thin soil begins to wear away and expose the tangle of roots that sometimes make footing for humans challenging. The paths are also often soggy. The ice sheet left an irregular surface in the granite here, and drainage from the depressions is poor. Essentially our trails go through many shallow basins topped with sphagnum moss. Where the basins are extensive, bog vegetation can form. Take a moment to view the extensive carpet of mosses and lichens on the forest floor, noting the variety of colors and textures.”
Check Out the FULL Virtual Guided Walk through Barred Island Preserve
STORY OF PUBLIC ACCESS
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