Hancock: Discover Nature and Culture

Hancock offers options for trips with different focuses: Acadia National Park is located in Hancock County, while the western end of the Down East Sunrise Trail is at Washington Junction in Hancock itself. The wider selection includes coastal landscapes, hiking trails, islands and museums—with specific differences in location, trail length and possible activities.

Acadia, the Coast and Getting There

Acadia National Park is located in Hancock County and covers nearly 50,000 acres along the Maine coast of the Atlantic Ocean. One particularly well-described place to visit is Bass Harbor Head Light Station: a 0.25-mile access road leads to a small parking lot with 27 spaces and restrooms. From there, a short boardwalk leads to viewpoints along the shore. Construction of the station was authorized in 1858 to guide ships entering Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay.

One flight connection is mentioned for getting there: direct flights from Boston Logan Airport land at Hancock County Airport. The airport is 10 miles from Acadia National Park. On a different route, the Schoodic National Scenic Byway crosses the Schoodic Peninsula in eastern Maine. The coastal route provides access to working harbors and rocky shorelines, offering a distinct focus alongside a visit to the national park.

Museums and History

The Telephone Museum is located in Ellsworth. There, visitors can learn to work as telephone switchboard operators through a hands-on historical experience. The museum also houses an extensive collection on the history of telecommunications, including switchboards, switching equipment, telephones, tools, circuit diagrams, photographs and other objects.

The Abbe Museum offers a different historical perspective. Its permanent collection includes more than 50,000 objects representing 10,000 years of Indigenous life in Maine. The original Abbe Museum in Acadia National Park is a seasonal facility; its exhibitions, educational programs and research present the cultures, history and archaeology of Maine’s Indigenous people. Plan this museum visit as a seasonal offering.

Birdsacre also brings nature and history together. Visitors can see native owls, hawks and vultures that cannot be released into the wild. Cordelia J. Stanwood’s Victorian home is now a museum and houses her glass-plate photographs. Birdsacre also has six miles of interconnected nature trails. Visitors looking to experience both wildlife and the history of photography on an outing will find both in one place.

Woodlawn adds a preserved historic estate to the selection, with recreational and educational offerings. Its croquet court is particularly distinctive: Woodlawn has Maine’s only publicly accessible, nationally recognized croquet court.

Trails, Water and Islands

The Donnell Pond Public Lands encompass more than 14,000 acres of remote, forested land. Paddlers can explore the area from boat launches on Tunk Lake, Spring River Lake, Long Pond and Donnell Pond. Designated areas for swimming, picnicking and camping are available at Schoodic Beach on Donnell Pond. A 0.5-mile footpath leads from the parking lot to the beach.

The 500-acre Schoodic Bog lies at the foot of Schoodic Mountain’s south slope. Its trails connect to the trail system in the state’s Donnell Pond Unit; blue-marked FBC trail markers lead to the Down East Sunrise Trail. The summit of Schoodic Mountain can be reached from the Schoodic parking area via a hike of about one mile. The trail system in the bog connects to the state’s Donnell Pond Unit; the summit can be reached from the Schoodic parking area via a hike of about one mile, and Schoodic Beach via a 0.5-mile footpath from the parking lot.

The Down East Sunrise Trail ends in the west at Washington Junction in Hancock. It is intended for snowmobilers, ATV riders, pedestrians, cyclists, cross-country skiers and horseback riders; seasonal conditions may vary. A section of the trail borders the Donnell Pond Public Lands Unit for more than two and a half miles.

Another island destination is Marshall Island in Hancock County, south of Swans Island. The Ed Woodsum Preserve encompasses the entire 985-acre island. Its 9.2 miles of trails allow visitors to explore a large part of the island. There is also a landing on the northeastern side near Ringtown Island, and several beaches provide access for small boats. The trails, landing and beaches offer different ways to experience the island.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bar Harbor, Castine, East Holden, Orland, Southwest Harbor, Dedham, Ellsworth, Bucksport, Gouldsboro, Mount Desert, Swans Island, Surry, Brooklin.

For the broader travel overview: Maine.