Every year we wait for that special time in spring when the Maine Island Trail Assn. announces that it is shipping the new Trail Guidebook. That time has arrived.
Here is how Maine kayaker and ACK Contributor Peter Jones describes the pleasures of this Guidebook, a must-have for anyone who paddles the Maine coast.
“Each Spring, the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) issues its annual updated guide to the Maine Island Trail, a 375-mile coastal waterway that spans the entire coast of Maine extending from Portsmouth Harbor in the south to Cobscook Bay on the Canadian border. Self-described as a ‘water trail created, protected, and enjoyed by people who love the coast of Maine’ and modeled loosely on land trails like the Appalachian Trail, the Trail was conceived in the late 1970s and is the pre-eminent water trail of its type. It has since has become a poster child for other water trails in the United States.”
There are over 3,000 islands off the Maine coast, as well as thousands of rocky ledges which are exposed at low tide, and the Maine Island Trail connects over 200 of these islands as well as mainland sites which are available for day visits or overnight camping. The Guide provides a comprehensive description of all the sites as well as critical information on safe and responsible boating practices. Nearly all the islands on the Maine Island Trail are wild and undeveloped.
“The Guide is very much a ‘living’ book.’ New sites are added or removed each year, conservation practices and usage guidelines can and do change, so MITA recommends that boaters refer to the most recent version of the Guide.”
The way to receive the guidebook is by joining MITA. The members-only mobile app which contains everything found in the hardcover guide and then some is available in a more limited version to the general public.
Join MITA to receive your Guidebook and start planning your Trail adventures!
Peter Jones is the owner and principle guide at Driftwood Kayak and leads trips out of Stonington, Maine. You can reach Peter at www.driftwoodkayak.com.