Maine has 47,600 acres of commercial wild blueberry managed by 515 farms. These berries will begin to ripen this month through September.
Many of these commercial fields aren’t posted, or have limited signage. Additionally, commercial blueberry fields are not all homogenous, meaning fragments of small commercial fields exist in many areas confusing tourists and even residents who don’t know the ownership.
So where are you able to legally pick blueberries?
If you’re looking for free, wild blueberry patches for you and your family to enjoy, you can find opportunities all over.
Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust in Brunswick has 20 acres of wild blueberry barrens open to the public. The best place to park and walk into the barrens is at 277 Pleasant Hill Road at the Crystal Spring Farm trailhead on the Land Trust property. There is a 1.3-acre section clearly marked for agricultural use only. It’s open from dawn to dusk.
The Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport is owned and managed by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust, and July 20-26 is free blueberry community pick week. It is located at 316 Beech Hill Road. Rakes and dogs are not permitted.
Acadia National Park allows visitors to pick 1 dry half gallon of blueberries per person, per day. Blueberries are abundant in many areas of Acadia and while visitors are permitted to pick them, they are encouraged to minimize trampling, and rakes are not permitted. Popular areas where you’re likely to encounter berries are on the North Bubble Trail and areas like Conners Nubble.
The Birch Point Trail and Hollingsworth Trail in the Petit Manan Point Division of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Steuben offer opportunities for recreational blueberry picking. Also, the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands has several hiking trails including those up Flag Hill and Great Pond Mountain in Orland where you can pick berries.
The fifth annual Wild Blueberry Weekend in Maine will take place August 2-3, and is largely free to attend. Visitors may pick wild blueberries at select locations, try blueberry dishes or drinks and tour the farms.
Outdoors contributor Aislinn Sarnacki previously described some of these areas to hike and pick berries, as well as many others.
You’re likely to encounter blueberries throughout Maine, but make sure the property isn’t commercial, isn’t posted and that you don’t cause damage to the property or native plants.
