Steph Kelley had been visiting Sears Island for about three years when she decided that the route she sometimes wandered along the water should have an established trail.
In her own words, there “needed to be a trail there.”
Kelly, a member of the Friends of Sears Island advisory group, used to venture there all the time on her own, she said, but didn’t start clearing the path until August. She marked trees, cut back brush and added ropes for hikers to steady themselves on the steeper sections.
Kelley named it Cliff Trail for the several ravines and cliffs along the path. It spans less than a mile and is interconnected with almost every other trail on the island.
“This trail was built to follow the contours of the island and stay close to the ocean as possible,” Kelley said. “You get views almost the entire way.”
Since Friends of Sears Island announced the new trail, foot traffic to the area has grown. It’s the latest attraction on an island that has become popular as a coveted natural asset known for its wildlife and peaceful atmosphere.
“I’ve been surprised by how many people I’ve come across on the trail,” said Janet Williams, another member of the Friends of Sears Island advisory board. “There are lots of children, but there are people of all ages. It’s great to see.”
Rolf Olsen, a longtime board member, said the addition comes at an ideal time.
“We really wanted to have that trail for some time, and now it’s real,” he said. “It’s ready to put out there, and it just happens to be at a time where there’s beautiful weather and lots of people going out there.”
It took Kelley around three months to finish clearing the way for the Cliff Trail.
“Building a trail is like staring down a maze and then realizing you can’t go that way, going back and taking another route,” Kelley said. “But you have to have an idea, and I wanted to follow the shoreline.”
People will be able to enjoy the trail in all seasons, Kelley said.
“In the spring, in the fall, you’ll hear all the creeks and waterfalls, and in the winter, you’ll see beautiful, beautiful scenery,” she said. “You can hike it on snowshoes, or if it’s a little slippery, you can just wear cleats, but it’s hikeable all year-round.”
Along the trailway, hikers will find five underground brooks, the ruins of a historic home and the island’s last remaining homestead field.
“You’ll go through fern fields, go through swamp lands,” Kelley said. “It’s just a great trip.”
