Wanderlusting: Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

The beauty of Maine is such that you can’t really see it clearly while you live there. But now that I’ve moved away, with each return it all becomes almost hallucinatory: the dark blue water, the rocky coast with occasional flashes of white sand, the jasper stone beaches along the coast, the fire and fir forests somehow vivid in their stillness.Alexander Chee

Checking that Bucket List Off

Hello again friends and Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend and have an amazing week ahead! The LTK Early Gifting Sale is STILL going on, and you can shop it here, but as I told you yesterday I had some travel-esque posts planned after inundating you all with fashion! And here is the first one!

With moving, I have been attempting to scratch places I have never been to but, have wanted to go, off the bucket list, especially those in Maine. One of those places I wanted to explore is Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. Since I was meeting a friend in the area, I decided to go early and knock this off the good ol’ bucket list. And I am so happy I did!

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park  

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is located just outside Freeport, Maine and it feels like a hidden oasis with its proximity to Freeport’s busting downtown and all its stores. It is 245 acres of wooded coastal land showcasing the beauty that makes Maine, well, Maine. It has five miles of walking trails, some of which are wheelchair and stroller friendly. They travel along the coast as well as more inland so you can get a real feel of Maine and its’ diverse landscape.

The park is nestled between Harraseeket River and Casco Bay. There is a fee to get in, but the park has areas to picnic, as well as a picnic shelter, grills, water fountains and restrooms, so you can comfortably spend the whole day there, or just visit for a quick walk or even run. They do sell seasons passes so if you live in the area you can enjoy it economically. They also have educational tours, as well as signs explaining the scenery and local inhabitants like the Osprey I heard when I visited.

Casco Bay Trail

By far the most popular, accessible, AND scenic trail is the Casco Bay Trail which takes you right along the water. It was truly stunning. AT several outlook points there are stairs that will take you to the salt water weathered rocks that Maine is known for, as well as a rocky beach, though it gets deep quickly so definitely swim at your own risk. near the end of the trail there are stairs that take you down to marshes that gave me ALL the Southern vibes, minus the alligators thankfully!

While the Casco Bay Trail is wheel chair accessible, getting down the stairs might be a little tricky, but there are gorgeous views and benches to sit on, at the top, so you don’t miss out!

My Visit

I went right when they opened and it was pretty quiet which was ice. It did get busier as the day went on. Being the mermaid that I am, I started out on The Casco Bay Trail, which is just over a mile round trip. I made my way down to the water where I took pictures and hung out for a little bit enjoying the peacefulness. It shockingly wasn’t buggy, nor was it to hot or to cold, given the September air. It was high tide so there wasn’t much of a beach and the water was deep, but the waves were calm due to it being sheltered by other islands.

The trails are short, and intersect so you can truly make it a personable journey, which is what I did exploring the park. The trails are all marked and the park ranger at the front gave me a pamphlet which had a map on it. I saw everything from more woodsy trails, to marshes to even a field, I definitely got my exercise in! Though because it was pretty much flat, it did not feel like a hike, but more of a walk. I ended up returning to part of the Casco Bay Trail to sit and enjoy the view one last time before I left. All in all I spent about two hours there, exploring, taking pictures, and just enjoying the view. I walked abut five miles some of which was circling back and walking on repeat trails.

Things to know before hand

There is a cash admission so make sure you have cash on you before you go. You na send the whole day there so definitely recommend making a day of it and bringing lunch or at least snacks and water. The parking lot is central located so getting back to the car is easy. The water front does get crowded, but if you get there early you can snag a spot.

I was wearing work out clothes including sneakers, just because I had a long drive, (two hours) but knowing myself, I definitely could have, probably would have worn flip-flops. Maybe NOT recommended, but it is doable. It is definitely more of a walk then a hike, but use your own discretion.

Lastly, while it wasn’t buggy, I do recommend bringing bug spray just in case. And as always BRING that sunscreen! There are a ton of shady spots, but when that sun is out it is strong! I am so happy I got to scratch this off the bucket list! It is such a well maintained park with gorgeous views, yet still easily accessible. It is a perfect way to get some nature in if you are short on time or even to introduce kids to hiking without being to much all at once. I would definitely go back!

Have you ever been to Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park? Did you visit any State or National arks this summer?