Visiting the Desert of Maine

When most people are driving or hiking through the thick and lush forests of Maine, the last thing they expect to come across is a desert. However, that is just what they will find when they visit one of Maine’s unique attractions.

The Desert of Maine, near Freeport, was not always the vast swathe of sand that it is today. In 1797, the Tuttle family moved onto the land and set up a farm. The farm worked well for several years, and the family grew hay and potatoes. However, because of massive land clearing and not rotating their crops, the soil began to erode and the desert was born. The sand became too much for the family to contend with and they gave up the farm. Today, it encompasses more than 300 acres.

Visitors can come to the desert and learn about the geology of Maine’s only desert by taking a 30-minute narrated tram ride around the border and then walking the desert themselves. in addition to walking the desert, you can visit some of the wooded nature trails in the area and see how the green that Maine is so well known for is slowly taking back the desert.

The original Tuttle Barn, more than 200 years old, is also still on site, and visitors can see some of the antique farming equipment that was once in use. There is also a gift shop, a convenience store, and a picnic area.

If you plan to do some camping on your Maine trip, as many people love to do, you will be happy to know that there is the Desert Dunes of Maine Campground adjacent to the Desert of Maine. You might be happy to know that the campground is set in a pine forest and not a desert! The campground offers all of the conveniences that you would come to expect, including electric, water, and sewer sites, as well as hot showers, picnic areas, recreation areas, and even a pool. It is a great place to stay if you plan to visit the nearby attraction, as you get discounted rates to the exhibits.

If you are planning a trip to Maine and seeing the attractions, then this is somewhere that should definitely be on your list. Nowhere else in the northeast has such an attraction, and it is definitely worth the small price of admission.