Downeast Fisheries Trail
  • The Trail
    • Trail Sites
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Downloadable Trail Map
  • Trail Stories
    • STAND: a poetic exploration of Lubec smokehouses
    • Student stories about Downeast Fisheries
    • Spring is here, and that means fish — lots of fish
    • Lobstering Firsts
    • From Lobster Smacks to Lobster Pounds
    • The Downeast Fisheries Trail by regions
  • Fisheries Now
    • Alewives and Blueback Herring
    • American eel
    • Oysters
  • Fisheries Then
    • Alewives and Blueback Herring
    • American eel
    • Atlantic Halibut
    • Clams
    • Cod
    • Lobster
    • Oysters
  • Education & Resources
    • Education
    • Fisheries and Heritage projects
    • Downeast Fisheries Trail Partners
    • The Catch Literary Journal
    • About

Tidal Falls

Tidal Falls Road, Hancock

Where the ebb and flow of the Taunton River creates reversing falls, a local fishing family (including the founder of the Maine Lobster Pound Association) owned and operated a lobster pound. Remnants of the pound are still visible in the cove. The surrounding 8 acres are protected by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy and sometimes serve as a field station for research by the Lobster Institute. From a seat at one of the outdoor tables or screen-enclosed pavilion, watch for the bald eagles, seals, osprey, and blue herons that frequent the rushing tidal waters. CAUTION: The currents here are dangerous and should only be undertaken by expert boaters.

207.422.2328 | www.frenchmanbay.org

Year-round. Parking. Outhouse. Water access. Picnic area. Interpretive sign. 

Tidal Falls
Historical Lobster pound
Lobster pound submerged
Edge of lobster pound

 

Stories from the Trail

From Lobster Smacks to Lobster Pounds (Tidal Falls is a great place to see an old lobster pound. Find out more here…)

 

Sources & Links

Frenchman Bay Conservancy 

Tidal Falls  

Schoodic National Scenic Byway 

Tidal Falls Land For Maine’s Future property 

“Fighting Shrinkage” by Sandra Dinsmore.  Fishermen’s Voice.  June 2011, Vol 16, no. 6 (Article about decline of lobster pounds.  Herb Hodgkins quoted extensively, he was the owner of the lobster pound at Tidal Falls) 

Ellsworth High School Local Fisheries Knowledge Project (part of the NOOA Voices from the Fisheries project), interview with a lobsterman, entrepreneur and researcher (Herb Hodgkins, the former owner of the lobster pound once located at Tidal Falls):
Interview with Herb Hodgkins (PDF)

Trail Sites

  • Abbe Museum
  • Bad Little Falls Park
  • Bar Harbor Town Park
  • Bar Harbor Town Pier
  • Beals Heritage Center
  • Bucksport Waterfront
  • Cable Pool Park
  • Carryingplace Cove
  • Cobscook Bay Resource Center
  • Cobscook Bay State Park
  • Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery
  • Deer Isle – Stonington Historical Society
  • Downeast Institute
  • Frazer Point
  • Frenchman Bay Overlook
  • Frenchman Bay Scenic Turnout
  • Gleason Cove Park
  • Gordon’s Wharf
  • Great Harbor Maritime Museum
  • Green Lake National Fish Hatchery
  • Henry Cove
  • Islesford Historical Museum
  • Jonesport Historical Society
  • Long Cove
  • Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (formerly Penobscot East Resource Center)
  • Maine Coast Sardine History Museum
  • McCurdy’s Smokehouse
  • Milbridge Historical Museum
  • Milbridge Town Marina
  • Morong Cove
  • Mount Desert Oceanarium
  • Naskeag Point
  • Otter Cove
  • Penobscot Marine Museum
  • Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory & Fort Knox
  • Peter Gray Hatchery
  • Pleasant River Hatchery
  • Prospect Harbor
  • Quoddy Head State Park
  • Roosevelt-Campobello International Park
  • Shackford Head State Park
  • Somesville Mill Pond
  • Taunton Bay Gateway
  • Tidal Falls
  • Waponahki Museum & Resource Center

Sign up for Downeast Fisheries Trail

unsubscribe from list

The Downeast Fisheries Trail consists of 45 locations from Penobscot Bay, Maine, to Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, that showcase active and historic fisheries heritage sites, such as fish hatcheries, aquaculture facilities, fishing harbors, clam flats, processing plants, historical societies, community centers, parks, and other related places. The Trail is an effort to raise awareness among residents and visitors of the importance of the region’s maritime heritage and the role of marine resources to the area’s economy. The Trail builds on these local resources to strengthen community life and the experience of visitors.

For a printed map-brochure of the Trail, please call 207.581.1435.

Download the web version of the map-brochure. (6.8 MB)

For more information about the Downeast Fisheries Trail, email or call 207.288.2944 x5834.

Downeast Fisheries Trail Brochure Map - Web Version

Downeast Fisheries Trail Brochure Map - Web Version

  • The Trail
  • Trail Stories
  • Fisheries Now
  • Fisheries Then
  • Education & Resources
CyberChimps

CyberChimps

© Downeast Fisheries Trail