44: Less Traveled

Indian Point Blagden Preserve, Bar Harbor, Maine

 
B A R  H A R B O R,  M E

We cross a bridge onto Mount Desert Island (MDI) – home to Acadia National Park.  Along a northern peninsula of this famous isle is the former summer home of Donald and Zelina Blagden.  In 1968, they donated their 110 acres to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) who maintain it decades later as a public preserve for all to enjoy.  The Blagdens’ must be smiling somewhere knowing their land continues serving such a greater good. 

Indian Point Blagden Preserve is off the beaten path on MDI: where two roads diverge after the bridge, take the one less traveled in a direction away from the masses.  We arrive mid-morning and have the parking lot to ourselves – something that won’t occur later while touring Acadia.  After a dousing of bug spray we set out on the Big Woods Trail.  It’s an immediate delight. 

Prior to this trip, I contacted TNC’s director of Maine stewardship Nancy Sferra in hopes of gleaning a little extra knowledge about each of the preserves I planned on visiting.  She over-achieved by providing very detailed overviews of each property – terrific and useful information that has made each visit extra special.  However, regarding the Big Woods trail, she was a bit ho-hum, playing it down as nothing special.  But I beg to differ.  The trail may come across to locals as just a typical Maine-woods-type stroll.  But being my first experience with one, it was definitely not ho-hum. 

The trail is aptly named; it wends through towering red spruce, white cedar, and balsam fir.  Through the denser areas, old spruce and fir have blown down allowing younger sprouts to rise up and rejuvenate the forest.  As if rocks and undulations aren’t enough, roots are aplenty along this trail.  Foot-placement challenges prevail along the way but the slower pace brings with it a more immersive forest experience. 

At the end of the trail along the edge of the peninsula, Schist happens.  The preserve includes a stretch of frontage on Western Bay where the shore – like nearly everywhere in Maine - is rocky.  Here at Blagden, the shoreline also contains bedrock outcroppings of Ellsworth Schist, the oldest rock on MDI.  I grab a white chuck to add to the collection of rocks from around the world I keep on my desk at work.

This Schist-top viewpoint is known as a great place to watch seals.  Today though, I spot only one.  Its head pokes the surface for a brief moment then slips under again.  I was hoping for a more potent seal experience, but this brief sighting serves as a reminder: wild means wild and can often be unpredictable.  Despite the lack of seal sightings, we linger at this ideal vantage point for a long time enjoying the solitude and beautiful watery views. 

We return along the Higgins Farm Road.  We’re hungry and this route is more direct than retracing the Big Woods Trail.  More importantly, it helps save our knees and ankles for the challenging Great Wass hike that’s on tap in a few days.  As fifty-somethings, pacing ourselves becomes an increasingly important life skill. 

At the parking lot I spot of field of blueberries and can’t resist picking a handful – a perfect appetizer for the lunch we hope to be enjoying soon.  It’s a great way to wrap up our visit to the Indian Point Blagden preserve.  This place unmistakably reinforces Robert Frost’s powerful message about opting for the road less traveled.


LEARN MORE ABOUT TNC’S WORK AT INDIAN POINT HERE.

Location: Indian Point, Bar Harbor, ME

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