Shore Acres Preserve
Sixty-seven acres of IHT land on the west side of Deer Isle with a Great Oak worth visiting, a vernal pool, bog-bridging through wetlands, meadow, and a shore walk along Greenlaw Cove. Birding is good here. Hunting is permitted — bring orange in fall.
Shore Acres grew in two phases. The first parcel — the southern third of the Hill family's saltwater farm, where Judy Hill's parents had farmed since 1943 — was donated by Judy Hill to IHT in 2000. In 2002, a 50-acre adjacent parcel was purchased by longtime IHT supporters Mary Offutt and Brian Clough; in 2017 they donated a large portion to IHT, nearly doubling the preserve and extending the protected shoreline by 1,542 feet. The combined 67 acres now include two distinct forest characters: a more mature spruce-fir forest on the second parcel (which wasn't logged in the 1950s), and a rich red oak stand associated with the Benjamin Cole Jr. homestead.
The trail system covers 2.5 miles with a named loop: Stonewall and Goldthread trails connect with the Shore Trail for a 1.5-mile loop. A newer trail heads south off Stonewall, reaching Greenlaw Cove and connecting back to the Shore Trail. The terrain includes bog-bridging through wet sections, gentle elevations, and shoreline rocks overlooking the cove — good picnic spots.
The Great Oak on the Great Oak Trail is a highlight: the second-parcel forest has "a remarkable stand of very large red oaks," according to IHT. Eider ducks, seals, and migrating shorebirds use the sheltered cove. Rich mussel beds and clam flats in the intertidal zone.
Directions: south on Route 15 for 4.5 miles, keeping left at Deer Isle village to the Irving gas station, then left onto Sunshine Road. One mile in, keep left onto Greenlaw District Road; parking lot on the right in under a mile.
Hours
| Monday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
6 AM–9 PM daily
What Visitors Say
"Nice area with pleasant view. But be prepared—the big perimeter loop (Goldthread/Shore/Meadow trails) is flat and well marked, and as the websites warn, there are lots of roots on the trails. But the sites that say the short hikes are easy are NOT accurate. Moderate is a better description. You’re almost constantly stepping between, on, or around tree roots. And there are numerous stretches with timber planking over boggy areas, some as long as 100+ feet and as narrow as 8-10 inches. So if you have any issues with balance or like to hike with poles, this area will be more challenging. And although the water views are nice, you’re walking mostly in the woods; and even along the shore, the trees between the trail and shore mostly block the view. So don’t come here solely for those views."
"Nicely maintained trails with nice canopy, mossy forest floors, birds singing and beautiful hike along the shore."
"Beautiful scenery and fairly easy trail. Good trail to do with kids"
Local Tips
- The Great Oak Trail is the most distinctive thing here — the old-growth character of the oak stand is rare on Deer Isle.
- Bog-bridging sections stay wet; waterproof boots are useful even in dry weather.
- Hunting is permitted by IHT permission. Contact IHT before fall visits if you're not sure.
- Dogs allowed under voice control.
- Snowshoeing is listed as an activity — one of the few IHT preserves that acknowledges winter use.
Connected To
- Carrying Place Preserve — further down Sunshine Road, newer IHT preserve with more elevation change
- Edgar M. Tennis Preserve — out Tennis Road from Sunshine Road; the longer, more-celebrated hike
- Mariners Memorial Park — also off Sunshine Road, quieter and more memorial in character