About

What We Value

Community 

We strive to be honest and transparent in our work with landowners and community members to ensure this important community asset can endure.

Respect

We believe that a relationship of respect and reciprocity with the natural world benefits everyone.

Collaboration

How we work together inspires us and matters as much as what we are doing.

HILLS TO SEA

The Trail

The Hills to Sea Trail winds its way to the coast through the communities of Unity, Knox, Freedom, Montville, Morrill, Waldo, and Belfast, linking with schools and farms along the way.

The trail exists due to the generosity and participation of more than 60 private landowners who give permission for the trail to cross their lands. Our contract with private landowners is a simple verbal agreement and handshake. Landowners maintain complete control over what takes place on their land and over their participation. Maintaining the privilege to use these lands requires the cooperation and good will of all users to respect the land, all guidelines and special landowner requests. Maine is fortunate to have one of the strongest landowner liability laws in the country that protects landowners in most situations. To learn more about the law: https://www.maineforestry.net/landowner-liability-law

The Hills to Sea Trail is the third longest footpath in Maine after the Appalachian Trail and the International Appalachian Trail.

The trail’s linkage with other footpaths creates a network more than 85 miles in length. The trail crosses more than 7,000 acres of conserved lands owned or stewarded by the state, land trusts and other nonprofits. Dozens of volunteers maintain and improve the trail. Some work year-round to keep the trail open and safe. Students at three local schools also help steward the trail.

The Hills to Sea Trail Coalition is a group of volunteers from ten midcoast nonprofits that began planning the trail in 2011.

Over five years, the collaborative effort linked existing trails with newly built trails to create the 47-mile footpath from Unity Village to Belfast. The trail was completed in 2016. The Hills to Sea Trail Coalition is not a 501(c)3 but uses a fiscal agent to be able to be able to apply for grants and accept tax-exempt donations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When is the trail open?

A.  The entire trail is open from January 1 until September 1. Beginning Sept 1, some sections of the trail close prior to the start of deer hunting seasons and remain closed during various hunting seasons. Closures are listed on our website, at kiosks nearest the closures, and at roads closest to the closed properties. 

Q. Are bikes or horses allowed on the trail?

A. The trail is a footpath, and bikes and horses are not allowed. Hiking and snowshoeing are best suited for the trail, although users do cross-country ski on some sections

Q. Can I bring my dog on the trail?

A. Dogs are allowed on most of the trail but must be leashed. Dogs are not allowed in a few locations. Please see the maps at https://www.hillstosea.org/maps

Q. Are group trail running events allowed on the trail?

A. Organized running events are not allowed although walking events are OK. The Hills to Sea Trail was designed to encourage people to slow down and in many places the trail is not well suited for running 

Q. Where can I get a trail map/brochure?

A. There are maps displayed on nine kiosks along the trail; brochures are also available at kiosks along the trail route and at some area businesses. Contact us for a list of businesses 

Q. Where can I park to access the trail?

A. Parking areas are indicated on the maps with a “P” symbol; at http://waldotrails.org/unitytrail.html

Q. Where can I stay overnight near the trail?

A. Currently it is not possible to camp anywhere along the trail. However, there are several overnight accommodations near the trail, some being quite accessible. They range from camping to Airbnbs. Accommodations must be prearranged with individual landowners and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are planning a trip and want to spend the night along the way, plan well in advance of your trip. A list of  accommodations is available on our website. Most of the land along the trail is privately owned, and the majority of landowners do not allow camping on their land. We count on hikers to respect the guidelines so that the trail remains in existence. Please note that if you are planning a fall trip, the earliest trail section closures for hunting season begin in early September. One landowner has told us that a single violation will result in permanent closure of the trail on their property. Please be responsible and help us keep this trail open

Q. Are campfires allowed along the trail?

A. Campfires are prohibited along the trail

Q. Are there volunteer opportunities?

A. Yes. We need trail stewards and trail work project members of all ages and abilities. No experience is necessary. We also could use help with updates to our social media platforms (only Facebook at this time) and website. Contact, Buck O’Herin, at boherin1954@gmail.com