Maine State Parks

Reid State Park is as great a place to be as you can find in Maine's Mid Coast area. It is located near Bath and is open all year long. In the winter it is primarily used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In the summer, you can do it all. Reid State Park holds the title of being Maine's first state-owned saltwater beach. It was donated to the state in 1946.

Overall, Reid State Park is an interesting and unique blend of coastal habitats. The two most popular beaches are known as Mile Beach and Half Mile Beach. Both of these beaches are often frequented by surfers, swimmer, and anglers. A more sheltered area lies around a saltwater lagoon which is always a family favorite to explore.

If you are not in the mood for some beach-time, don't worry. There is a total of 4 miles of trails that include a boardwalk across giant sand dunes, a rarity around Coastal Maine. There are wooded paths as well which are also popular with cross-country skiers in the winter months. During the summertime, the trails can get overrun by mosquitoes, so hikers may want to cover up, or bring some bug repellent.

Reid State Park has also proved to be an invaluable resource for birders. The beaches serve as a nesting area for tern and piping plovers as well as more common shorebirds. As you head into the more densely wooded area, there is an entirely new set of birds that birders from around the area come to see.

Walking down any of the beaches, visitors are afforded an excellent view of the surrounding areas. A rocky headland that overlooks the park is known as Griffith Head and hold a great surprise for first-time visitors. From there anyone can see several well-known islands including: Damariscove, which was a thriving fishing community back in colonial times; Outer Head, which has been a protected tern sanctuary for some time; and Southport, which is where Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. There are also a number of lighthouses and seascapes that can be seen as well. These include the lighthouses on Seguin Island, Hendericks Head, and The Cuckolds.

Reid State Park has proven to be a popular attraction for local and visitors alike. It offers the diversity of sandy beaches, marshlands, wooded areas and is surrounded by an active surf as well as calm inlets. It showcases a little bit of everything that makes the Maine coast a great place to visit.


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