Ellsworth

Ellsworth offers many different discoveries: trails at Woodlawn, nature experiences at Birdsacre, and exhibits on the history of telecommunications. The Green Lake National Fish Hatchery Trails also combine a visit with insights into a fish-stocking program and a look at young salmon. When searching for a vacation rental, you may therefore want to consider whether you would prefer to spend your days outdoors, visit collections, or make both a central part of your trip.

Trails for a range of activities

The trails at Woodlawn are used for walking, running, ungroomed cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. This range includes both strolls and running routes, as well as activities in the snow that do not require groomed cross-country ski trails. If you are planning a trip with a variety of interests, these activities offer different ways to spend time outdoors. Woodlawn Park is open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset. These opening hours give you a clear time frame for visiting in different seasons.

Birdsacre offers nature trails and guided tours. The sanctuary covers 200 acres and has six miles of interconnected nature trails that pass by forest streams and fern-lined slopes. In summer, Birdsacre offers 45-minute tours to meet some of its “Ambassadors.” If you enjoy walking, you can work the trails into your day; if you are interested in a guided experience, there is a separate option with a clearly defined duration. The nature trails and summer tours offer different focuses, so you can consider which type of visit best suits your interests.

More trails in the surrounding area

Branch Lake Public Forest is near Ellsworth. The area covers 239 acres and currently has five marked hiking trails. They pass through different types of forest, along a stream, to a large wetland, and as far as the shore of Branch Lake. The trails offer a chance to experience several types of landscape. The Brookside Trail follows a stream toward Branch Lake; a short loop leads to a canoe launch. These details can help you choose between trails with different destinations: some pass through forest and lead to the wetland, while the Brookside Trail heads toward the lake.

Museums and unique insights

Ellsworth also has specific places to visit for those interested in culture. The Black House at Woodlawn contains all of its original furnishings and collections. If you are interested in a home’s furnishings and collections, you can plan this visit as a cultural part of your trip. At Birdsacre, the Victorian Homestead museum houses glass-plate photographs by Cordelia J. Stanwood. The photographs give the museum visit a distinct focus and complement the nature trails and tours with an opportunity to explore photography.

The Telephone Museum features an extensive collection of switchboards, telephone exchange equipment, telephones, tools, wiring diagrams, and photographs documenting the history of telecommunications. The variety of items makes the museum interesting to visitors who are curious not only about telephones, but also about technical equipment and its documentation. At the museum, visitors can also learn to work as a telephone operator. This practical activity offers another way to engage with the collection.

Another option is the self-guided tour of the Green Lake National Fish Hatchery Trails. It provides information about the fish-stocking program and offers a view of young salmon. The different ideas for places to visit can be a helpful starting point when choosing your vacation rental: consider whether nature trails, museums, or a mix of both should shape your trip. This lets you focus your search for a vacation rental or vacation home on the experiences that interest you most in Ellsworth.

More places to explore: Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Bar Harbor, Gouldsboro, Orland, Brooklin, Surry, Bucksport.

For the broader travel overview: Hancock.