WRITTEN BY JULIA BAYLY
There’s nothing like camping at Cobscook Bay State Park.
Maybe it’s the sound of the waves hitting the shore along Whiting Bay. Maybe it’s the saltwater estuary that fuels a food chain from plankton to invertebrates all the way up to the eagles, osprey, seals, and otters that feed on them. Maybe it’s the trees or the night sky perfect for stargazing on clear nights.
Add in the fact the park is located less than a 30-minute drive from the working harbor community of Lubec and international Campobello Island, along with miles of trails, lighthouses, and attractions making up Maine’s Bold Coast, it’s easy to see why folks consider it a crown jewel among the state’s parks.
The park’s two peninsulas extend out into the waters of Whiting, Broad, and Burnt coves. They are lined with a combined total of 125 campsites. Thanks to the park’s geography, most of the sites are on the water. Those that are not, have a water view.
I try to camp there several times a summer and quite frankly, there is no such thing as a bad campsite in the park. Granted, some are more desirable than others — like the four single-tent only spots at the tip of Cobscook Point.
Sure, you have to walk several hundred feet to access the sites — you can park your car next to any of the other sites — but their relative seclusion, tall shady trees, and water on both sides more than makes up for that. As a bonus, the park provides wheeled carts at the designated parking site you can use to pack your gear in.
You have to be ready to jump onto the Maine parks’ website the moment reservations open in February to snag one of those coveted, walk-in spots.
The park is layed out so the sites reserved for tenting and those for RVs or campers are in two separate areas. There are also spots for groups of up to 30 people to set up camp.
All the sites have a designated fireplace, a picnic table, and plenty of flat ground on which to set up camp. Outdoor toilets and access to drinkable water are never more than a couple hundred feet from your site. If you’re looking for more amenities, showers are available near the park’s entrance.
The park is part of the larger Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and a gorgeous six-mile loop trail that starts about a mile from the campground. It’s well worth a visit. And that’s just one trail. There are dozens of others in varying lengths and terrain up and down the Bold Coast.
For a list of trails and a map, you can download the Cobscook Bay area trail guide at cobscooktrails.org.
I love hiking along the Bold Coast and am always up to check out a new trail. But, there are times when I’ve camped there and the most exertion I’ve managed is bringing my binoculars up to my eyes to observe the birds as I sit in a comfy camp chair enjoying the saltwater breeze.
Amazing how tired and hungry you can get doing that.
That’s the only explanation I can come up with for why food tastes so darn good cooked over an open fire at Cobscook Bay. Or how after a morning of drinking coffee looking at birds I’m ready for an afternoon nap.
All but a handful of the campsites require reservations made in advance. The easiest way to do that is to go to the campwithme.com website and select Cobscook Bay State Park. From there you can easily check what sites are available when and for how long.
Then all you have to do is pack your gear and dream of a place where trees and land meet the water along one of the prettiest sections of the Maine Coast.
And hey, if you spot me relaxing in my fancy stand-alone hammock, don’t be shy. The coffee’s always on.
