Orange River Water Trail

  The Orange River Water Trail is an easy to access, easy to paddle flat-water trail, which includes miles of fresh water teeming with wildlife. The Orange River provides important inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat in Downeast Maine and also supports bald eagles, deer wintering, and brook trout fisheries.
Trail Activity
Paddling
Length
5.90 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy
Town
Whiting
Surface
Water - Lake/Pond
Pets
Permitted
Fees
No

Description

The Orange River Wildlife Management Area can be accessed from either Reynolds Marsh Overlook or Orange River Landing. The two access sites are close enough to offer an easy one-way or round-trip paddle between them. Paddlers are welcome to access Downeast Coastal Conservancy's shoreline at the designated day-use areas to enjoy picnicking, wildlife watching, and relaxing.

In addition to the paddle between the two water access sites, the Orange River offers miles of flat-water to explore.

Please note that the Orange River is dammed to provide optimal habitat. Paddlers should expect higher water in the spring and early summer and lower water levels in late summer and fall. Beavers can be quite active on the Orange River and their dams may span the width of the waterway at times. This flowage is managed by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to benefit waterfowl, wading birds, and other wetland species.

Other Information

Much of the shoreline on the Orange River is under private ownership, please respect neighboring property owners by only utilizing the day use areas designated on the map.

Downeast Coastal Conservancy's goal is to minimize human impact and protect this area's wildlife, plants, and natural features while allowing low-impact public recreation. Help us protect this special place by observing the following guidelines:

  • Visit only during daylight hours and at your own risk
  • Practice carry-in/carry-out and leave no trace ethics
  • Camping, fires, and ATVs are not permitted
  • Keep dogs under voice control or on leash at all times
  • Please steer clear of nesting birds

Downeast Coastal Conservancy maintains and protects the Orange River Conservation Area and works cooperatively with landowners to protect other land in coastal Washington County from Steuben to Calais and up to Route 9.  Visit our website to join us and learn more!

Trail Manager

Visit Downeast Coastal Conservancy online for more information and a printable map or contact:

Downeast Coastal Conservancy

Downeast Coastal Conservancy
PO Box 760
Machias, ME 04654
Phone: (207) 255-4500
info@downeastcoastalconservancy.org
View website

Nearby Events

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Trail Tips

Respect Wildlife
Keep wildlife wild: do not feed, follow, approach, or otherwise harass wild animals. Doing so may alter their natural behaviors.
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Trailhead Information

 

Downeast Coastal Conservancy owns and maintains two sites with hand-carry access to the water, Reynolds Marsh Overlook and Orange River Landing.

Reynolds Marsh Overlook was acquired in 2008 and comprises 1.4 acres and 310 feet of shore front. The parking area is located on the north side of US-1 in Whiting, 3 miles south of the ME-189 turnoff. Water access is from a short trail that starts on the leftside of the parking area. Reynolds Marsh Overlook provides hand-carry launch only.

Orange River Landing was acquired in 2003 and consists of 8.3 acres with 940 feet of shore front. From US-1 in Whiting, travel 0.8 miles south of the ME-189 turnoff to Lubec and turn right onto Playhouse Lane. Turn onto Landing Road; follow the road past the house where it becomes gravel to its end where there is a 2-car parking area and launch, which is suitable for small trailered boats as well as hand-carry boats. The parking area is very small and space for turning and parking is limited. The property was the site of a steam-powered sawmill in the early 1920s; footings from the mill can be seen just south of the landing.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
smcpike
July 03, 2018
We paddled on July 1, 2018 and had the place to ourselves. We ran across a beaver yarding branches in the pond. Be aware there is bridge construction right where you turn into the driveway/dirt road to launch. Its easy to miss the turnoff.
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