Bog Brook Cove Preserve

The Gentler Side of the Bold Coast

Bog Brook Cove Preserve covers 1,770 acres at the heart of Maine’s Bold Coast, the stretch of rugged, cliff-lined shoreline between Cutler and Lubec in Washington County. The preserve is managed by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) and offers 5.5 miles of trails through coastal forest, across open headlands, and down to cobble and gravel beaches with views across the Gulf of Maine to Grand Manan Island.

The Bold Coast is famous for the dramatic cliff hiking along the Bold Coast Trail to the south in Cutler. Bog Brook Cove offers a complementary experience: lower-profile coastline, accessible trails, gravel beaches you can walk on, and the same wild, remote character without the physical demands of the cliff trail. If the Bold Coast Trail is the adrenaline version of this coast, Bog Brook Cove is the meditative one.

The preserve was assembled over several years, with MCHT acquiring the first parcel in 2005 and the bulk of the land in 2008 with support from the Land for Maine’s Future program. The preserve protects one of the largest undeveloped stretches of coast remaining in the eastern United States.

Trails

The preserve has 5.5 miles of trails with options for every ability level, from a wheelchair-accessible path to longer coastal hikes.

Accessible Shoreline Trail

The most accessible trail in the preserve begins at the north parking area in Trescott (reached via Moose River Road off Route 191). A wide, gravel path leads 0.2 miles to a rocky point overlooking the ocean. From the point, you can see Grand Manan Island, the Canadian archipelago, and the open Atlantic. This is one of the most accessible ocean viewpoints on the entire Bold Coast.

South Lot to Bog Brook Cove

A 2.4-mile trail begins at the south parking lot on Route 191 and winds through coastal spruce forest to the shoreline at Bog Brook Cove. The cove is a sheltered inlet with a cobble and gravel beach, backed by forest and boggy wetland. The beach is an excellent place to sit, listen to the waves on the rocks, and scan for seabirds and seals.

Ridge Trail

The Ridge Trail is 2.3 miles round trip and follows an interior ridge through the preserve, offering occasional views through the trees. It connects the south lot trail to the north lot area and can be combined with other trails for a longer loop.

The Bold Coast

Bog Brook Cove sits roughly halfway between the town of Cutler and the village of Lubec on Route 191. The Bold Coast refers to the stretch of coastline here that faces the Bay of Fundy and the open Atlantic, exposed to weather and waves from the northeast. The landscape is shaped by this exposure: windswept spruce, cobble beaches, rocky headlands, and fog that can roll in at any hour.

This coast looks and feels more like the Scottish Highlands or the Irish west coast than typical New England. The remoteness is genuine. There are no shops, no concessions, and often no other people. The nearest services of any kind are in Cutler village or Lubec, each about 10 miles away.

Wildlife

The preserve’s coastal habitat supports a variety of seabirds and marine mammals. Common eiders, black guillemots, and double-crested cormorants are visible from the shoreline. Harbor seals haul out on exposed ledges at low tide and are often visible from the beach at Bog Brook Cove.

Bald eagles patrol the coast year-round. Peregrine falcons and merlins pass through during fall migration. The forest interior hosts boreal chickadees, spruce grouse, and a variety of warblers during breeding season.

The bogs and wetlands within the preserve support rare plant communities, including sundew, pitcher plants, and other species adapted to the acidic, nutrient-poor peatland conditions.

When to Go

Summer offers the most comfortable conditions, but this coast rewards visitors in every season. Fog is not a nuisance here; it is part of the experience, muffling the world to the sound of waves and foghorns.

Practical Notes

The preserve has two parking areas:

South Lot: Located directly on Route 191 in Cutler, 18.5 miles from the Route 1/191 junction in East Machias. This is the primary trailhead for the hike to Bog Brook Cove.

North Lot: Reached by turning onto Moose River Road from Route 191 in Trescott and continuing 1.1 miles on a private gravel road to the accessible parking area. This is the trailhead for the accessible shoreline path.

There are no fees and no facilities. Cell service is essentially nonexistent in the preserve and along much of Route 191. Download maps before you arrive. The nearest gas and supplies are in Cutler or Lubec.

Packing List

Getting There

From Bangor, take Route 1A east to Ellsworth, then Route 1 east through Machias to the Route 191 junction in East Machias. Turn south on Route 191 toward Cutler. The south parking lot is 18.5 miles from the junction, directly on Route 191. The drive from Bangor is about 2.5 hours. From Portland, allow 5 hours.

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