Website Design Starting @ $999
Menu
Menu
Website Design Starting @ $999
Taft Point Preserve covers 68 acres of land, 0.5 miles of which are covered by the Gouldsboro coastline the rest are mostly woodlands. The Preserve has two main trails, offering outstanding views of Flanders Bay and Jones Cover. If the timing is right, at low tide visitors can even explore the beach and discover some of the crustaceans caught by the tide.
A graveled parking lot can be accessed through a 1500 feet access road. From there visitors can follow the clearly marked to Flanders Bay, passing through the forest. At 0.75miles visitors are faced with a split trail which either way leads to Flanders Bay. The view of the beach in between the trees is simply incredible. In the forest keep an eye out for the old well and a spring. The second trail is a 0.5-mile trail leading to Jones Cove, which leads close to the shore but never actually reaches it due to the steep bank. The trails covering 1.5 miles are moderately easy, with a good level of footing even as they move through the forest. However, the walk from the shore to the parking area offers a gradual uphill incline
A side trail from Jones Cove however does lead to the beach’s intertidal zone. Intertidal means that the tide shifts extensively between high tide and low tide, exposing the beach to pebbles and small rocks. This makes for a gorgeous beach walk, however for safety and to make the most of your visit timing is key. The beach can be a bit slippery. Make sure to keep an eye out for crabs, seas shells, clams, muscles, and sea urchins. Eider Ducks and other shorebirds lurk around the beach at low tide looking for food. The rocky coast boasts views of the Acadia Mountains, Stave Island, Calf Island, Schoodic Mountain, and Schieffelen Point.
The Frenchman Bay Conservancy, founded in 1987, is a nonprofit organization with the aim to protect the waters, wildlife, and open spaces. To date, they have protected more than 8000 acres of land, including forests, coastlines, mountains, and farmland. The FBC also maintains 28 miles of trails, perfect for hiking, cross-country skiing, and wildlife watching. Taft Point Preserve was acquired by the organization, in 2014, after being gifted to them by Jeremy Strater.
Taft Point is a remarkable location, its scenic trails passing through woods and the beach are sublime, especially at low tide. So if you happen to be in Gouldsboro, Maine, keep Taft Point in mind when looking for some recreational time.
Get emailed when we share photos from our latest travels.
