City: Coastal Maine, ME

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (207) 454-7161

Description: Someone once likened a visit to this U.S. Fish and Wildlife property to going on a Down East safari. The 24,000 acres here are prime country for moose, bear, coyote, and all manner of birdlife, from impressive eagles to twittering woodcocks to cute and charismatic gray jays. The preserve is the easternmost national refuge on the Atlantic Flyway, and more than 220 species of birds have been identified on its grounds. Moosehorn is divided into two sections, or units. The largest part is a 17,000-plus-acre stretch of dense woods near Calais. The other is a 7,200-acre parcel on Cobscook Bay. Both make for fine exploring. More than 50 miles of roads and trails crisscross through these refuges, and maps are available at the preserve’s headquarters on the Charlotte Road in Baring. Most of the reserve can be accessed by automobile, unfortunately, but there are wilderness sections. For easy hiking try the 1.25-mile Habitat Trail, which is an interpretive walk through woods that starts near the headquarters. When venturing into the backcountry, be sure to bring a map, compass, and plenty of food, water, and clothing. The refuge is open daily, year-round, from dawn to dusk.