Press Release
August 16, 2023
Expedition Ellsworth: Urban Trails in Rural Maine
The City of Ellsworth has long been a hot spot for those passing through to reach Acadia National Park, a world-renowned park that draws in millions of visitors a year for its scenic vistas and outdoor recreation. Taking time to find a less beaten path, amblers, ramblers, and backpackers are finding Ellsworth to be more than just a pit stop in Downeast Maine. They are recognizing Ellsworth as a vibrant city, popular recreation destination, economic hub and a confluence of opportunity giving everyone a reason to stop and stay longer.
Map Adventures is a well-known trail map producer who recently released a new trail map – DownEast Acadia: From Ellsworth to Jonesboro. This high-quality map prominently features Ellsworth’s over twenty miles of trail, provides a detailed inset of the downtown area, and relays the City as an easy access point to even more area trailheads. Steven Bushey, a map creator for Map Adventures says, “Ellsworth is one of Maine’s premier trail towns. It’s in good company with Portland, Camden, Bar Harbor, Carrabassett Valley and Bethel.”
A block from the downtown area is the Riverwalk Trail. Managed by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy, this easy quarter-mile city trail begins behind the Ellsworth Public Library, runs along the banks of the Union River and offers year-round access.
Woodlawn, less than a quarter mile from downtown on the Surry Road (Rt 172), boasts three miles of field paths and level/easy forested trails for families, dog walkers, and naturalists to enjoy. Kathy Young, the Executive Director of Woodlawn, describes the landmarks as thus, “Woodlawn is a nearly 200 year old estate with a seasonal house museum and 180 acres of land. The trails were designed for exercising horses and for the family to enjoy carriage rides. On the property, there is also a fairy house village, a story trail, and a playing field for frisbee as well as cornhole.”
Birdsacre, a wildlife sanctuary within Ellsworth hosts a 200-acre preserve, offers hikers three miles of interwoven trails that allow visitors to explore and connect with nature.
Given the amount of trails flanking the downtown City center, Heart of Ellsworth, the City’s downtown organization, dedicated a webpage to hikes and walks in close proximity to the downtown. The webpage, available at https://heartofellsworth.org/hike, links out to seven hikes in Ellsworth that have been featured through a vlogger series.
The future of growing outdoor recreation opportunities in Ellsworth is promising. In May 2023, the City was preliminarily awarded a grant through the Land for Maine’s Future program to purchase a parcel of land on the eastern shore of Branch Lake. The acquisition of this 279-acre parcel will allow the City to pursue future trail expansion projects connecting the existing Branch Lake Public Forest with other City-owned lots. “Protecting the quality and viability of our public drinking water supply is of utmost importance to the City. Conserving land surrounding Branch Lake aids in community efforts to do this while also providing residents and visitors opportunities for low impact recreation to stay healthy and enjoy the beauty our City possesses,” says Matt Williams, Ellsworth’s City Planner.
The City of Ellsworth has a long history of working with Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC) to maintain trails while protecting natural lands and promoting community investment including conservation efforts. Recent collaborations include the rehabilitation of the Ellsworth Riverwalk into an ADA-accessible trail, and providing technical assistance in the current rounds of grant applications for the Branch Lake Public Forest expansion. Frenchman Bay Conservancy is the local land trust for eastern Hancock County, with a mission to conserve distinctive ecosystems, lands, and waters for the benefit of all, from the Union River and Frenchman Bay watersheds east to the Hancock County line. In and beyond Ellsworth, the new DownEast Acadia: From Ellsworth to Jonesboro map details many trails and natural areas under FBC’s land trust, including the popular Jordan Homestead Preserve just minutes from downtown.
“FBC values our long-standing partnership with the City of Ellsworth, which has been a hub for our community conservation work. We are excited to continue playing a role in ensuring Ellsworth residents and visitors alike can safely access and enjoy green spaces within the City,” says Aaron Dority, FBC’s Executive Director.
Another land trust that recently expanded their conservation efforts in to Ellsworth, the Blue Hill Heritage Trust’s Meadowbrook Forest offers over 11 miles of logging roads and a 5-mile loop ideal for walking, running, or biking, just a 5-minute drive out the Bucksport Road (Route 3) from downtown Ellsworth.
Over ten years ago, the City worked with the Maine Department of Transportation to create a paved bicycle and pedestrian trail along the railroad right-of-way, a project that connects through neighborhoods, commercial districts, and provides access to the high and elementary-middle schools, as well as the YMCA. In 2016, the Downeast Sunrise Trail expanded in to Ellsworth, with its terminus near the Comfort Inn on High Street. Since 2019, the City, with support from the Maine Department of Transportation, is working on providing a safe connection between the City’s bicycle and pedestrian trail and the Downeast Sunrise Trail, which is a part of the greater East Coast Greenway, a walking/biking trail that connects 15 states and 450 cities and towns for 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida.
“Expanding the City’s outdoor recreational assets and economy has been a focus not only for the City, but for the community at large. It is inspiring to see the ideas and dedication of our community come through to fruition and be recognized in a region full of quality trail systems,” says Janna Richards, Economic Development Director for the City of Ellsworth.
The Ellsworth community encourages you to get outdoors and explore. The DownEast Acadia: From Ellsworth to Jonesboro map is available for purchase at the local businesses listed below:
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- Ellsworth at Trio, Union River Books, and Cadillac Mountain Sports
- Winter Harbor at Winter Harbor Five & Dime
- Bar Harbor at Sherman’s Book Store
- Milbridge at Riverlily
- Sullivan at Acadia Seashore Campground’s store
For inquiries, contact Maura Condon, Communications Specialist, at mcondon@ellsworthmaine.gov
