Little Mayberry Cove Trail Loop (Grand Lake Stream, ME)

Undercover Hiker

Sep 28

Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

I first discovered Grand Lake Stream and the Little Mayberry Cove Trail years ago through an August trail run sponsored by Baxter Brewing and Downeast Lakes Land Trust. As young kids, my siblings and I had splashed, played and been ravaged by horseflies in the shallow, rocky waters of the Machias River, and never knew a small town was just up the road a few miles. The Machias River Public Lands off Route 9, full of wildlife, fishing spots, campsites, blueberries, and blackberries, give way to bumpy logging roads leading north to Grand Lake Stream, which is a little under 2 hours east of Bangor, and also more commonly accessible from turning west off U.S. Route One near Indian Township. In mid-August, I came back to this area of Washington County to check out the Little Mayberry Cove trail at a hiking, rather than a running pace.

Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

Over the years, the Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) has preserved large amounts of land and water, and now manages the giant 57,703-acre Downeast Lakes Community Forest, which includes Wabassus Mountain. Their excellent website has hiking maps and descriptions here, and you can also read a detailed description of the Little Mayberry Cove hike in Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path. The important part is to do your research and downloads before you arrive, as you won't find much in the way of cell service in Grand Lake Stream.

Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

The Little Mayberry Cove Trail runs along the southeast shore of West Grand Lake, and parking, trail maps, and a toilet are available at the town boat launch, right next to the dam. The trail itself is 2.5 miles out and back, but navigating via AllTrails, we (husband/wife and Pig the dog) completed a loop using Daugherty Ridge Road of about 6 miles, which took us just under two and a half hours. To get to the trailhead, follow signs leading along Shaw Street, the road next to the lake, then uphill and right (about 1/3 mile) onto the trail, which is attractively marked along the way by individual medallions with silver pines in a blue circle. The trail winds over rolling terrain, with plenty of roots and rocks to hop over, small brooks, spur/side trails and openings in the trees to view the lake.

View of Munson Island on West Grand Lake from Little Mayberry Cove Trail, Grand Lake Stream, ME

We saw brightly colored and oddly-shaped mushrooms and lichen, but no other people on the trail, maybe because we were moving slightly ahead of an impending thunderstorm. At one point, a large bird took off and moved loudly through the thick forest, but we never saw it well enough to identify it. The final overlook of the lake had a nice bench to sit on and watch the wide, flat water. We emerged from the trail onto a logging road, and curved back around Daugherty Ridge Road, mostly uphill, to the trail connecting back to our start point. A good place to cool off, as well, with a swim at the town beach (no dogs, though). Not much in the way of amenities in Grand Lake Stream, but its Pine Tree Store has good food served from a lunch counter, cold drinks, ice cream and more.