Remote Beauty: Maine Island Recognized as One of America’s Best

Maine is unquestionably one of the prettiest states in America.

From its wondrous mountains to its iconic rocky coastline, the Pine Tree State is a cornucopia of scenic beauty.

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

The popular travel blog loveEXPLORING took a deep dive into America's most amazing unspoiled spaces. It's a fascinating 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 the Isle au Haut 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: the village with the same name, and the section of the island that is part of Acadia National Park.

In fact, 2,900 acres of the island are officially part of the national park. That amounts to about 60% of the island. It’s no wonder the town has such a small population (92 in 2020)—there’s simply 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 Mount Desert Island and not known for having any famous landmarks. Instead, it’s just a few thousand acres of perfectly crafted landscape—just as God intended.

Here is a little of why loveEXPLORING 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 single ferry option will likely keep this beautiful slice of the state unspoiled. And that’s reassuring to know.