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Broad Point Preserve
Broad Point Preserve: Through Cedar Woods to Gilkey Harbor
Discover
Broad Point Preserve on Islesboro offers a woodland route whose destination grows gradually clearer through the trees. Wet ground and cedar-rich forest form the approach, while the shore opens toward Gilkey Harbor. The contrast between the enclosed path and the wider water gives this modest outing a satisfying sense of progression.
The public trailhead is on Mill Creek Road. Rebecca Goldfine's original account places it near the junction with Ferry Road and describes a short approach joining a loop. Begin with the current Islesboro Islands Trust map and choose the maintained route rather than relying on an old mileage estimate. The woods are the first part of the experience, not simply the space between parking and shore.
The land trust's trail description identifies eastern white cedar swamp and long sections of bog bridging. Those features offer a useful way to read the landscape. Notice how the path is carried over wetter ground, then compare the vegetation on either side. A raised walking surface allows a closer view of this setting while keeping footsteps concentrated along a narrow public corridor.
A separate operator stewardship account describes the work behind that arrangement. Trail steward Jack Taylor records building a new Broad Point spur and adding bridges over wet places. His explanation makes the infrastructure part of the story: walking through a conserved wetland depends on continued observation, maintenance, and practical adjustments to the ground. Follow the current route as that work evolves.
Goldfine's original visit account notes that some areas can remain spongy despite the bridges. She also appreciates the gravel beach reached through the forest. Those observations suggest a sensible pace for the outing. Give the woodland passage time, watch the surface underfoot, and let the arrival at open water feel like a change in setting rather than a reason to hurry through the trees.
The conservation history adds another layer. A published account from 2016 identifies Broad Point as a fifty-acre addition made in 2012. The protected land gives the public a way to experience the relationship among Mill Creek, Broad Cove, and the harbor. Its value includes the continuity of the forested approach as well as the view at the end.
The shore has also served as a community gathering place. The trust's Earth Day programming has used Broad Point for a walk, outdoor activities, and a beach cleanup. The particular event is a past occasion, but it illustrates how a quiet preserve can support both individual enjoyment and shared care. An independent visit can follow the same spirit by leaving the surroundings as they are found.
At the water, compare the open harbor perspective with the dense cedar setting behind you. A broad photograph and a smaller woodland detail can tell different parts of the same walk. Return on the current marked route, allowing extra time where the ground is damp. Broad Point's appeal lies in that connected sequence: a wet woodland, the path that makes it accessible, and a shoreward opening that places the forest within the wider island coast.
Fun facts
- Broad Point entered the island’s protected trail landscape in 2012.
Before you go
- Use the current Mill Creek Road trailhead map.
- Allow careful footing on bridges and damp natural surfaces.
- Follow maintained routes as stewardship work changes the network.
Visitor perspectives
- Rebecca Goldfine appreciates the cedar-swamp approach and gravel shore, while noting that some ground remains spongy despite bog bridges.
Capture
- Photograph the cedar-lined walking route from an established section with room for others to pass.
- Contrast a gravel-shore foreground with the broader harbor view from stable public ground.
Social
Broad Point’s approach passes through a cedar-rich wet woodland.
Start with the current Mill Creek Road map.
Bridging concentrates footsteps along the public route.
Trail care helps make a wet landscape available for walking.
The shore changes the scale of the outing.
A conservation addition retained both approach and destination.
Community cleanup is another way people connect with the place.
Give the return through the woods its own time.
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