Phippsburg offers a variety of ways to experience the coast, nature, and history. At Popham Beach State Park, visiting hours and facilities are clearly specified; each protected area has its own landscapes and trails, and historic sites tell stories from different eras. When planning your trip, it’s worth keeping these highlights distinct and observing the visiting conditions for each place.
Coast and visiting hours
Popham Beach State Park is located on Maine Route 209 in Phippsburg. It is open daily from 9 a.m. until sunset, unless otherwise noted; however, the gate may occasionally close before sunset. Seasonal access conditions may change. So check the current park conditions before your visit. The park has bathhouses, solar-heated freshwater showers for rinsing off, and charcoal grills.
The properties of the Phippsburg Land Trust have different visiting hours: they are open to everyone free of charge year-round from sunrise to sunset. The different hours are useful when planning your visit: the State Park opens at 9 a.m., while the Land Trust properties open at sunrise. The respective rules apply to the locations named.
Protected areas and trails
The Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area encompasses around 600 acres of permanently protected salt marshes and coastal uplands. It extends from the Sprague River across the Morse River to the upper edge of Seawall Beach. The area is intended for hiking and beach visits. Its described landscapes therefore range from salt marshes and coastal uplands to the beach.
Ridgewell Preserve offers views of Seguin Island and the Atlantic Ocean. The trail passes through wooded areas to “Dinosaur Rocks”; from there, a short trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking Seguin Island. If you’re interested in the trail, the wooded stretch, rock formation, and viewpoint are the specific stops that characterize it.
Malaga Island Preserve covers 42 acres and is located at the mouth of the New Meadows River in Phippsburg. Malaga Island is accessible only by boat. Recreational visitors can land on the beach on the north shore and then explore the wooded interior of the island on a loop trail nearly one mile long. Boat access is an important visiting condition for this destination; the loop trail describes how to explore the island after landing.
History along the coast and river
Malaga Island was home to a racially mixed fishing community from the mid-19th century until 1912. In 1912, the residents were forcibly evicted by the State of Maine. The island’s history therefore encompasses not only its landscape but also the fate of this community and its eviction.
Wilbur Preserve protects the southern half of Cox’s Head. Cox’s Head was the site of militia activity during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The Popham Colony was founded in 1607 in Phippsburg, Maine, as an English colony. These places represent different periods in Phippsburg’s history.
The two forts also offer different historical perspectives. Fort Popham is a granite-built fortification on the banks of the Kennebec River, constructed during the Civil War. Fort Baldwin was built between 1905 and 1912 and originally consisted of three batteries. The difference in their dates helps distinguish the forts as separate historic sites.
Discover more destinations: Topsham, West Bath, Bath.
View the broader travel guide: Sagadahoc County.
