About Services
Explore
🏠 Where to Stay 🦞 Restaurants ⛵ Activities 🥾 Hiking Trails 🔦 Lighthouses 🏖️ Beaches ⛺ Campgrounds
📊 Compare the Cost 🗺️ Full Directory
Plan My Trip
National Scenic Byway

Bold Coast
Scenic Byway

125 miles of wild Maine coastline from Milbridge to Eastport — blueberry barrens, working harbors, tidal marshes, lighthouses, and some of the quietest roads in New England. One of the great drives and rides on the East Coast.

See the Route → Cycling Guide
125 mi
Milbridge to Eastport
2020
National Scenic Byway Designation
🚴
Part of US Bike Route 1
The Route

Milbridge to Eastport —
stop by stop.

The byway follows US-1 east from Milbridge through Machias, then splits down Route 189 to Lubec and loops around Cobscook Bay to Eastport. Here's what to stop for along the way.

🏁
Milbridge — Western Trailhead
Mile 0 · Western start
The official start of the Bold Coast Scenic Byway. A working fishing town on the Narraguagus River with a strong sardine and lobster history. Good place to fuel up before heading east.
Starting PointFuel & Supplies
🫐
Blueberry Barrens — Harrington to Machias
~Mile 20–50
The most dramatic stretch of the byway — vast, open blueberry barrens rolling to the horizon on both sides of US-1. In late July and August they're deep blue with ripening berries. In fall they turn brilliant crimson. Pull over and walk in. This landscape exists almost nowhere else.
Best in Aug & SeptPhotography
🏘️
Jonesport & Beals Island
~Mile 40 · Route 187 detour
A short detour off US-1 leads to one of the most authentic working fishing villages on the Maine coast. The bridge to Beals Island crosses the narrows where lobster boats crowd the harbor. A glimpse of Downeast Maine that hasn't changed much in decades.
Working HarborDetour Worth Taking
⚓
Machias — Bold Coast Hub
~Mile 55 · County Seat
The largest town on the byway and the best place to stop, eat, and resupply. Helen's Restaurant for lunch or pie, Mason's Brewery for a post-ride pint, and a full grocery store. The Machias River runs through downtown — walk the river trail while you're here. The site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution.
Helen's RestaurantMason's BreweryGroceriesRiver Trail
🪨
Jasper Beach — Machiasport
~Mile 60 · Route 92 detour
One of only two volcanic stone beaches in the world. A short detour off US-1 down Route 92 — absolutely worth it. The stones clatter and sing as the tide rolls through. Free, quiet, and completely unlike anything else on the route.
One of a KindFree
🏖️
Roque Bluffs State Park
~Mile 65 · Off Route 187
Maine's rarest beach — sandy shore on one side, warm freshwater pond on the other. The best swimming on the byway. Day-use fee applies. A perfect midway rest stop with picnic areas and hiking trails.
Sandy BeachSwimmingDay Use Fee
🔦
Lubec & West Quoddy Head
~Mile 90 · Route 189
The byway turns south on Route 189 toward Lubec — the easternmost town in the US. West Quoddy Head State Park and its iconic candy-striped lighthouse sit at the very tip of the country. Walk the coastal trail, watch the tide rise 20+ feet, and look across the channel to Canada. Don't miss the Lubec Channel Lighthouse from the waterfront, or the 5-minute drive over the FDR Bridge to Campobello Island.
West Quoddy Head LighthouseEasternmost Point in USCampobello Island
🌊
Cobscook Bay — Pembroke to Perry
~Mile 100–115
The byway loops around Cobscook Bay — one of the most tidal bodies of water in the US, with 24-foot tides twice a day. The scenery here is quiet and dramatic. Reversing Falls Park in Pembroke is worth a stop to watch the tidal current reverse. Keep an eye out for bald eagles along this stretch.
Tidal SceneryBald EaglesReversing Falls
🏁
Eastport — Eastern End
Mile 125 · Eastern end
The easternmost city in the United States, on a causeway onto Moose Island. Walk Water Street, watch the Old Sow whirlpool from the waterfront, and take in views of Canada across Passamaquoddy Bay. A worthy finish to one of the great drives in New England.
Old Sow WhirlpoolHistoric DowntownEasternmost US City
For Cyclists

One of the best cycling
routes in New England.

The Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway is part of US Bike Route 1 — the East Coast's premier touring route from Florida to Calais. This stretch through Washington County is the quietest, wildest, and most rewarding segment of the entire route.

🚴
The Roads
Low-traffic rural roads are the defining feature of cycling the Bold Coast. You can ride for hours without significant car traffic — a rarity on any coastal route in the Northeast. The roads are quiet by nature, not by design. Washington County simply doesn't have the population to crowd them. Road surfaces are mostly chip-and-seal pavement — a 28–32mm tire is ideal. Rolling hills throughout with some short, steep climbs. Suitable for road bikes, hybrids, and gravel bikes.
📍
Multi-Day Planning
The full 125-mile byway is well-suited to a 3–4 day ride, averaging 35–45 miles per day with time to stop and explore. Machias at the midpoint is the natural overnight hub — supplies, restaurants, and lodging all in one place. Lubec makes a strong second night. Most cyclists do the route west-to-east to have the wind at their back on the more exposed coastal sections.
🔄
Point-to-Point Shuttle
Don't want to double back? Sunrise Canoe & Kayak in Machias can arrange one-way shuttle transport for point-to-point riders. West's Bus Service also runs scheduled stops between Bold Coast towns and Bangor, making it possible to ride one direction and bus back. Call ahead to confirm availability and logistics.
Sunrise Canoe & Kayak →
🛤️
Off-Road Options
Prefer gravel? The Down East Sunrise Trail runs 87 miles from Ellsworth to Pembroke parallel to US-1 — ideal for gravel and fat bikes. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge has 50+ miles of gravel roads open to cyclists. The Sipayik Trail in Perry is a paved 1.8-mile coastal path hugging Passamaquoddy Bay — a short but spectacular detour.
🚴
Cyclist-Friendly Lodging
Margaretta Inn — the Bold Coast's best stop for touring cyclists.
Right in the heart of Machias, the Margaretta Inn has something touring cyclists specifically request and rarely find: all ground-floor rooms. No hauling your loaded bike up a staircase, no worrying about leaving it outside. Roll in, bring your bike into your room, and head into Machias for dinner — Helen's Restaurant and Mason's Brewery are both a short ride away. For cyclists doing the full byway, Machias is the natural midpoint overnight — and the Margaretta is the right call.
Visit Margaretta Inn →
Practical Info

What to know before
you go.

🗓️
Best Time to Go
Late June through September for cyclists. July and August bring the warmest weather and blueberry harvest. September is arguably the best month — cooler temperatures, fall color beginning, and no crowds. Avoid May and early June when black flies are out.
🌬️
Wind & Weather
Prevailing winds run west to east — ride Milbridge to Eastport to use them to your advantage. Coastal fog is common in the morning, especially in July. It typically burns off by mid-morning. Afternoon headwinds can pick up on exposed coastal sections.
🛒
Resupply Points
Machias is the only full resupply point on the route with a grocery store, pharmacy, and multiple restaurants. Stock up here. Lubec and Eastport have limited options. Between Milbridge and Machias, options are sparse — carry enough food and water for 50+ miles.
🔧
Bike Repairs
There are no dedicated bike shops on the byway. Come self-sufficient — carry a full repair kit, spare tubes, and a pump. For major mechanical issues, the nearest bike shops are in Ellsworth or Bangor. Know how to fix your own flats before you ride this route.
📱
Cell Service
Cell service is spotty to nonexistent in rural sections between towns. Download offline maps before you ride — the Ride with GPS track for the Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway is available for free on their website. Don't rely on live navigation.
🚗
Car-Free Driving
Drivers, allow 3–4 hours to drive the full 125 miles if you stop along the way. The byway is not a fast road — it's a slow road through a beautiful place. Take the detours to Jonesport, Jasper Beach, and Roque Bluffs. The blueberry barrens between Harrington and Machias deserve a full stop.
Plan Your Route

Build your byway
itinerary.

Tell our trip planner you're driving or cycling the Bold Coast Scenic Byway and it'll build a day-by-day itinerary around the route — where to stop, where to eat, and where to stay each night.

Plan My Trip → Where to Stay