Trails and Habitats

Nine trails traverse the Park and offer a variety of natural environments from beaches and mud flats to old farm fields and wooded uplands. Explore Holbrook Island Sanctuary’s habitats.

Download the Trail Map (PDF) | Download the Bird List (PDF)

Trails

Distances and times round trip

Easy walk from the Cape Rosier Road to the Bakeman foundation through the fields to the beaver flowage and back to the Cape Rosier road. 0.6 miles to 35 minutes.
Easy walk through woods to and around Fresh Pond. 1.4 miles to 2 hours. Parking lot on Otis Gray Road.
Moderately strenuous hike through woods and old homestead fields to Fresh Pond. Some steep grades 1.6 miles, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Parking at trail head.
Short, steep hike, up wooded mountain with scenic coastal views. 0.9 miles, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Parking at trail head.
East to moderate walk along the shoreline between the dock area parking lot and Goose Falls. 0.8 miles, 35 to 45 minutes.
Easy walk through open woods, around the beaver flowage, along the Back road. Parking lots at both ends. 1.1 miles, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Easy walk through old estate fields to shore. 0.7 miles, 30 to 35 minutes. Parking lot on Indian Bar Road.
Moderate walk through woods to Fresh Pond. 2 miles, 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours. Parking at trail head.
Easy to moderate. 1.7 miles, 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Parking at trail head.

Habitats

Want to explore a salt marsh, or see how beavers build their dams? Here’s how to plan your visit around the natural habitats in the Sanctuary.

Access: Along Back Road near Harborside. Also by canoe.

Look For: Ledges made of volcanic ash rock and a “mountain” created by the copper mining operation formerly located here: great blue herons, goldeneyes, herring gulls, black ducks, kingfishers, and teal; Spartina grass and sea lavender.
Acess: Back Road to Indian Bar Road to Back Shore Tail or Indian Bar picnic area. Also by boat.
Look for: Bald eagles and ospreys fishing; shells of sand dollars, sea urchins, and horseshoe crabs on the beaches; clams and mussels on the mud flats; seals on the ledges; gulls, cormorants, and bay ducks; seaside goldenrod.
Access: Back Road to Beaver Flowage; Ice Works, Aaron, and Fresh Pond Trails to Fresh Pond.
Look For: Beaver dams and lodges made of sticks; muskrat lodges made of cattails; deer and raccoon tracks; great herons, ospreys and their nests; forget-me-nots; yellow, white, and pink water lilies in the pond.
Access: Along both roads through the Sanctuary and along all trails.
Look For: Panoramic views from the summit of Bakeman Mountain; apple trees, lilacs, and other signs of old house sites; woodpeckers, thrushes, warblers, and ruffed grouse; squireels and porcupines; twinflower, shinleaf, and pink lady’s-slipper.

Visitors can earn a free Holbrook Island Sanctuary tee-shirt after they hike all 9 trails!

Use the Trail Scorecard to mark the date you hiked the trail and its secret symbol* (shown at the start of each trail). Sign and return the card to the park headquarters to arrange for your tee-shirt.

* The secret symbol is painted on sign posts along the trail. But, be aware, we change that symbol throughout the summer season, so be sure to include the date you hiked the trail.