Maine Island Named One of the Best Remote Pieces of Wilderness in the Country

There's no denying that Maine is a beautiful state.

From its wondrous mountains to the incredible rocky coastline, the Pine Tree State is a treasure trove of scenic bliss.

But is there a spot that rises above the rest? Perhaps a patch of wilderness that's been kept unspoiled, even after years of development and rise of outdoor recreation. That one place does exist, at least according to one website.

The popular travel blog Love Exploring recently took a deep dive into Americas most amazing unspoiled spaces. It's an incredible look at how rich, diverse, and beautiful this country really is.

The site's choice for Maine is pretty darn special. In fact, it's part of one of the most famous national parks in the country, yet still maintains its remoteness. Maine's representative is Isle au Haut's section of Acadia National Park.

Located a few miles off the Maine coast in Penobscot Bay is the tiny island of Isle au Haut. The island has two main features. There's the village with the same name and the section of the island that's part of Acadia National Park.

In fact, 2,900 acres of the island are officially in the national park. That comes out to about 60% of the island. It's no wonder the town has such a small population (92 in 2020). There's no room for them.

Not only are these 2,900 acres immaculate, but they are also extremely remote. The vast majority of Acadia visitors will not even consider a ferry ride from Stonington to reach the Isle au Haut portion of the park. Honestly, it's quite far from Mt Desert Isle and not known for having any famous landmarks. Instead, it's just a few thousand acres of perfectly created landscape, just how God intended.

Here is a little of why Love Exploring selected Isle au Haut's national park land for the article.

Accessible only by ferry, the island has almost no services – but what it lacks in creature comforts, it makes up for with raw, real beauty. Visit for rugged stony beaches, pin-drop-quiet marshlands, and a freshwater lake, all joined up by some 18 miles (29km) of hiking trails.

This sounds like how I envision heaven.

Will the future bring more tourists to Isle au Haut? It's a good question. Where there's demand, there's usually change. But, for the time being, the one ferry option will likely keep this beautiful slice of the state unspoiled. And that's great to know.