Dodge Point Public Reserved Land

Whether you’re visiting popular Boothbay Harbor for a lobster dinner or to see the lighthouses, an escape from the crowds is just next door at Dodge Point Public Reserved Land. A day-use-only site, the 521-acre nature retreat features several miles of shore along the western edge of the Damariscotta River and more than 500 acres of well-managed forest (which was honored as the State of Maine’s 1978 Tree Farm of the Year).

The modest network of hiking trails at Dodge Point Public Reserved Land along the river double as cross-country ski paths come winter. Ice skaters can turn their figure-eights on the public land’s beautiful historic ice pond.

In warmer months, the river and the adjacent ponds welcome beachcombers, swimmers, and anglers in search of freshwater fishing. Small, pebble-strewn beaches dot the riverside, inviting hikers to stop and cool their feet, or break out a picnic lunch while traversing the Shore Trail. Surrounded as it is by populated areas, Dodge Point Public Reserved Land is frequented by locals for just such a purpose, and many of them bring along their outdoor-loving dogs.

Latitude: 43.997
Longitude: -69.555