There’s so much to discover at Cobscook Bay State Park—oceanfront camping, walking trails, nature watching, clammin’, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and more! It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day of exploring DownEast Maine.

History

The park is part of the 30,000 acre Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, which is made up of federally protected lands in DownEast Maine that were purchased in the 1930s. In 1964, management of the land was transferred to the State of Maine and Cobscook Bay State Park was created using funding from the Land for Maine’s Future program as well as the Water Conversation Fund.

Getting there

The park is located off Route 1 (South River Road) in Edmunds, Maine. It’s a short 30-minute drive from both Lubec and Machias. Most visitors access the park by taking Route 1 East from Machias, but you can also take Route 9 from Bangor, hop onto Route 191, 214 South, and then take Route 1 South.

Camping

The park is home to a beautiful campground with over 100 campsites that can accommodate tents, pop-ups, and large campers. Some sites even have an Adirondack shelter. A large portion of the sites are waterfront or offer waterfront views of the bay, which allows visitors to walk the shore during low tide. Every site is large, private, and quiet—qualities that are hard to find in a large, family-friendly campground. They also have a picnic table, fire ring, and are close to a privy and drinking water spigot. There is also a designated area for small and large group camping near the day use area.

Day use area

The day use area is home to several picnic areas scattered along the coastline, all complete with picnic tables, grills, and scenic views. There are also Adirondack picnic shelters—perfect for hot summer days or rainy summer days. While we were visiting, there was an older couple having a lobster bake near the shoreline—I was really jealous. They were obviously living their best lives.

Walking trails

The park has two family-friendly walking trails.

Nature Trail (1 mile) Begins near the park office, winds through the forest and ends overlooking Burnt Cove.

Anthony’s Beach Trail (3/4 mile) Loop trail that starts between sites 18 and 20, follows the shore, and then ends after site 17 near the boat launch.

Our Experience

We stayed two nights on site 91 near Broad Cove. The site was large and private (a huge plus when you’re camping with a dog) and provided amazing views of the bay. While we definitely hit the jackpot with our site—we quickly learned that you really can’t go wrong with any site at this campground. A majority of the sites were spacious AND waterfront or had water views (with some exceptions, of course). The campground was quiet, clean, and relaxing. Almost too relaxing—we really, really, really didn’t want to leave.

If you get bored of the campground (which almost seems impossible to me) there are so many activities nearby! Explore the trails at Shackford Head State Park, stroll through the Easternmost town in the U.S (downtown coastal Lubec), visit picturesque Quoddy Head, have a beach day (or a lake day!) at Roque Bluffs State Park, or, last but not least, enjoy a breathtaking coastal hike at Cutler Coast.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet, kid-friendly campground, a relaxing weekend getaway, or a scenic home base for your big trip to DownEast Maine, Cobscook Bay is perfect for your next trip!

Happy exploring, friends!