Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site

One end of the Rhoda and Lee Cohen River Trail begins at the Whaleback parking area and curves gently down to the top of the old apple orchard before cutting south to cross into the neighboring preserve on its way to Round Top Farm. This trail is rated accessible by Forest Service standards: 8′ wide, gently graded, and surfaced with firm crushed stone dust. Handicap parking is available at both the Whaleback and Round Top Farm trailheads. A wheelchair accessible port-a-potty is available at the Round Top Farm parking area from mid-May into October. Coastal Rivers’ main office is located here and has an accessible bathroom as well, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on holidays.

Other trails: Branching off from the accessible trail is a mown loop trail down to the river and back. The terrain drops significantly as you descend to the river. The mown trails can be wet and slippery in spots at certain times of year. There is also a spur trail extending north into the woods along the river. This one is narrower, but relatively flat and smooth.

Whaleback is an 11-acre property owned by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and co-managed with Coastal Rivers.

<Trails: The accessible Rhoda and Lee Cohen River Trail connects to Round Top Farm from Whaleback. A small loop trail branches off the accessible trail and circles a historic orchard, once part of the Round Top Farm, and hugs the shoreline above the river. A sturdy swinging bench with a west-facing view over the river offers a great place to watch the the world go by.

Picnic spots:There is one picnic table situated in a grassy area along the trail next to the shore, and a second one on the spur trail as you head north along the shore.

Fishing: Access the shore via rough stone steps just below the swinging bench. A good spot to catch stripers!

The site once contained a massive oyster shell heap, or midden, formed over a period of more than 1,000 years by prehistoric people. The shells were processed for chicken feed in the late 1800’s, leaving behind just a fraction of the original mounds. Interpretive storyboards relate the history of the middens, their accumulation and destruction, and also share stories of the Upper Damariscotta River. The swinging bench by the shore offers an ideal view of one of the largest intact middens on the east coast, the Glidden Midden, just across the river.

For fascinating details about the shell middens, along with some historical images, visit the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s website.

Less than a mile and a half north of downtown Damariscotta along Main Street (Business Route 1) opposite the Great Salt Bay School. From McDonald’s, at the junction of Biscay Road and Main Street, proceed north exactly 0.3 miles, passing Round Top Farm on the way.