Beautiful coastline? Check! Forest and trees? Check! Both of these combined into one incredibly beautiful, but lesser known state park? CHECK! There are more than 35 state parks throughout the state and while some are well known, a fair few of them mostly sit undisturbed waiting to be discovered. This beautiful state park in Maine is located in the mid-coast and while it’s a favorite of folks in the area, it might be unknown to those from out of town.

If you love Maine’s natural beauty as much as us, check out the Maine Nature Lovers Facebook Group. You’ll find beautiful photos shared by fellow Mainers and fun discussions about where to go to enjoy the best of the outdoors in Vacationland! We often feature photos from the group for our newsletter and once a week we highlight a featured photographer from Maine. Check it out and join here!

Moose Point State Park is located in tiny Searsport, about 2 hours northwest of Portland and 30 minutes north of Camden.

Google Maps The land that currently houses the park was used in 1859 as a dairy farm by the local Carver family.

The entrance is located off US 1, making it a perfect stop during a lovely coastal drive through the area.

Royalbroil / Wikimedia Commons

The 186-acre area included a house, barn, silos, and sixty cows!

By 331dot - Took image while visiting Moose Point State PartPreviously published: not published elsewhere, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47013150 But, most of the structures burned down in a 1927 fire. Following the fire, the Carver family offered the land to Maine as a park in 1952. It opened to the public in 1963.

The park features three easy hiking trails - Moose Trail, Big Spruce Trail, and Meadow Trail.

clay tracy / Alltrails.com

In addition to easily navigable hiking trails, there is also a playground, a shady gazebo and lots of picnic tables with grills.

Brigitte Foster / Alltrails.com

The views over Penobscot Bay are gorgeous and the educational placards placed throughout will teach curious folks all about the science of the area.

331dot / Wikimedia Commons

There’s a trail and two different staircases leading down the water of Penobscot Bay.

Jeana Feehery / Alltrails.com

The coast is as rocky as you’d imagine in Maine.

Dennis P / TripAdvisor

And the wildlife is beautiful.

Dennis P / TripAdvisor

Spending warm days along the salty coast of Maine is what summer here is all about and you can’t get any more Maine than hiking some casual trails ending in this view.

Ann Hodgson / Alltrails.com

While we recommend visiting in the summer, the park is open to visitors year round.

Dennis P / TripAdvisor

But you’ll need to park outside the gates as the parking lot is closed between October and Memorial Day.

Jeana Feehery / Alltrails.com

Moose Point State Park in Searsport is located on U.S. Route 1 between Belfast and Searsport. It’s open 9am to sunset every day between Memorial Day to October 1st. You can visit the rest of the year during the same hours by parking outside the park and walking in. Click here to get driving directions using Google Maps.

Google Maps

The land that currently houses the park was used in 1859 as a dairy farm by the local Carver family.

Royalbroil / Wikimedia Commons

By 331dot - Took image while visiting Moose Point State PartPreviously published: not published elsewhere, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47013150

But, most of the structures burned down in a 1927 fire. Following the fire, the Carver family offered the land to Maine as a park in 1952. It opened to the public in 1963.

clay tracy / Alltrails.com

Brigitte Foster / Alltrails.com

331dot / Wikimedia Commons

Jeana Feehery / Alltrails.com

Dennis P / TripAdvisor

Ann Hodgson / Alltrails.com

Dennis P / TripAdvisor

Have you visited The Maine Wildlife Park in Gray? It’s a great way to spend the day and they open for the spring in just a few weeks!

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