Searching for Spring
Aislinn Sarnacki, Bangor Metro • March 6, 2018
Soak in the sun with these oceanside walks.
A thin layer of melting snow slid under her boots as she slowly picked her way along the wide trail, holding out her arms for balance. In the shade of tall spruce and fir trees, winter lingered, but as she emerged from the dense forest, her boot found purchase on bare granite. There in a small clearing, the steady sunlight had melted away the last frozen layer of winter and twisted pitch pines basked in the light.
As she neared the end of the Wonderland Trail in Acadia National Park, her adventure had just begun. Stepping off the trail and onto the beach, she looked out over an expanse of sand, pebbles, shells and tidal pools. At low tide, it was quite a walk to reach the water’s edge, and there was much to see along the way — colors and textures that would cheer anyone out of the doldrums of a long winter.
Blocks of pink granite crowded the edge of the beach, coated with yellow-orange lichen. An old lobster trap, crumpled and full of debris, sat at high tide mark, surrounded by driftwood smoothed by the waves. Farther out, clam and slipper shells dotted patches of silky sand, and the bright blue sky reflected in water, where purple dulse and green sea lettuce waved in the current.
She took off her winter hat and sat down to soak up the sun. To be alone in Wonderland, a place usually crowded with tourists in the summer, was a special treat. But she wasn’t entirely alone. Gulls cried out constantly as they fished in the shallows nearby, and as she sat there on the rock, a mink emerged from a pile of rockweed nearby. Its brown fur matted with salt water, the creature peered at her with dark beady eyes for a long moment before ducking back into its salty hideout.
Wonderland Trail on Mount Desert Island — Easy
One of the easiest hikes in Acadia National Park, Wonderland Trail is a family favorite that leads to an interesting beach that includes areas of tumbled granite, sandy pockets, an abundance of shells and vernal pools teeming with ocean life. The hike is just 1.4 miles, out and back, and the trail is fairly wide and smooth, traveling through a stand of twisted pitch pines before reaching the shore. This trail shouldn’t be too muddy in the early spring, considering much of it is on exposed bedrock and rocky soil.
This scenic spot on Mount Desert Island is a place for exploration and relaxation. In addition to families, Wonderland attracts artists, wildlife watchers, picnickers and people who are simply looking for an easy walk in the state’s most popular park.
Connected to the mainland by a causeway, the 936-acre Sears Island is a popular place for hikers, hunters, dog walkers and beachcombers. The island is owned by the State of Maine and features an extensive network of hiking trails that altogether total about 6 miles, and two roads thats are closed to vehicle traffic but used heavily by walkers and bicyclists.
A popular challenge for visitors to Sears Island is hiking all the way around the island on the beach, about a 5-mile trip. This adventure can be disrupted at high tide, when the water reaches all the way to the grassy shore, so plan this particular walk with the schedule of the tide in mind. As you walk around the island, the beach will change from rocky to sandy and back again. You’ll find natural gardens of rockweed, piles of driftwood and plenty of sea glass and shells.
Admission to the island is free, and dogs are permitted. For more information about the island, including planned nature walks and volunteer opportunities, visit friendsofsearsisland.org or call 207-548-0142.