Top 15 Things To Do In Ellsworth, Maine

1. Go for an easy hike at Branch Lake Public Forest

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Spanning over 200 acres (80 hectares) of land, Branch Lake Public Forest offers 5 marked trails that meander amongst pine trees and mossy terrain. The most scenic trails are those that flank the placid Branch Lake. While here, you can either opt for the 1.6-mile (2.5-kilometer) Brookeside Trail or the 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) Lake Loop Trail.

Branch Lake Public Forest

Address: 1185-985, US-1A, Ellsworth, ME 04605, United States

Website: Branch Lake Public Forest

Opening hours: Open

Price: Free

2. Test your hiking skills along Down East Sunrise Trail

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Down East Sunrise Trail is an 87-mile-long (140-kilometer-long) trail that stretches east from Ellsworth to Pembroke. It constitutes the longest off-road trail that’s part of the ambitious East Coast Greenway, a 3000-mile (4828-kilometer) walking and biking route connecting the southern state of Florida to the northern-most point of New England.

Down East Sunrise Trail

Address: Western entrance: 2 Railroad Siding Street, Washington Junction, Hancock, Maine

Website: Down East Sunrise Trail

3. Go on a scenic train ride on Downeast Scenic Railroad

Scenic rides await you at the Downeast Scenic Railroad. It is a 10-mile (16-km) round trip on the historic Calais Branch Line that will treat you to spectacular views of landscapes, and wildlife, with great sightings of animals such as deer, foxes, beavers, bald eagles, blue herons, and maybe bears. The ride will be remembered as the very first tourist passenger rail to go through the historic Calais Branch Line and also one of the most cherished day trips in Ellsworth. It is a trip you must not miss when you come to Ellsworth.

Downeast Scenic Railroad

Address: 245 Main St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Downeast Scenic Railroad

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 9:30am - 3pm; (Closed: Mon - Fri)

4. View beautiful art at Seven Arts Local Artisan Gallery

Seven Arts Local Artisan Gallery is operated and co-owned by Co-op Artist members whose desire is to bring art to the community in a beautiful, colorful and affordable manner. The gallery not only showcases beautiful arts from the members but also hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Additionally, the gallery usually invites guest artists to come and exhibit their works to art in Maine. If you are appreciative of art, then a visit to this gallery should never miss your itinerary in Ellsworth.

Seven Arts Local Artisan Gallery

Address: 192 Main St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Seven Arts Local Artisan Gallery

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm (Closed on Sun)

5. Learn about the Black family at Woodlawn Museum

Woodlawn Museum is a historic estate in Maine that was once the home to three generations of the Black family. Currently, an exhibition inside the museum is a story of the family and many of their possessions. In addition to the history and the exhibits, visitors to this facility will also spend time in the community and formal gardens, hiking on the pristine trails, playing croquet and much more!

Woodlawn Museum

Address: 19 Black House Dr, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Woodlawn Museum

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

Price: Adults: 12 USD; Children: 5 USD

6. Sample the brews at Fogtown Brewing Company

Fogtown Brewing Company was the very first brewery to open in Ellsworth. It opened its doors to patrons in 2017, and the founders had the vision of creating a communal space that would be used to promote art, education, music, and craft food and drinks. The brewery uses 100% Maine-grown base malt to craft their various brews that you can always sample when you visit the facility. Coming here, therefore, is not just a chance to have some booze, but also an incredible opportunity to join in and interact with the locals over drinks, while soaking in the cool vibe.

Fogtown Brewing Company

Address: 25 Pine St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Fogtown Brewing Company

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 3pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 10:30pm; Sun: 11;30am - 9pm

7. Enjoy a day out at Knowlton Community Park

If you are looking for a decent place that’s ideal for a family day out, then you have every reason to check out Knowlton Community Park. The park has lots of exciting places where kids can have a lot of fun, including a splash pad for kids to get wet with adventure. There are also nice sections for setting up family picnic areas for you to bond and have great times as a family.

Knowlton Community Park

Address: State Street, 04605 Ellsworth, Maine

Website: Knowlton Community Park

Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)

Price: Free

8. Shop for antiques at Old Creamery Antique Mall

Shopping for antiques is always part of every travel experience, and when you visit Ellsworth, the Old Creamery Antique Mall is where you go to when you want unique and quality antiques. The establishment is family-owned and operated, and both their items and services come with an enviable personal touch. They have a humongous collection of antiques for you to choose from, and if you don’t find what you are looking for, they will gladly get on the phone and contact their sources to see if they can find it for you. Again, guests are offered a complimentary coffee while they shop. You are likely to fall in love with everything you find in this antique shop.

Old Creamery Antique Mall

Address: 13 Hancock St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Old Creamery Antique Mall

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

9. Explore the history of telephones at The Telephone Museum

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Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. His invention became one of the most preferred modes of communication in modern times. It had a great impact not just on the quality of life, but also it came with lots of business and employment opportunities. All the history and the impact of this vital communication gadget is well explained at the Telephone Museum. During your visit, you will see real working telephones, as well as the switching systems, including the switchboards that were used to power the network. You will receive a hands-on interactive demonstration of how the entire system worked, including a demonstration on the workings of the various types of phones. The visit will also expose you to the electromechanical wonders that paved the way for the development of computers, smartphones and other advancements in communication technology.

The Telephone Museum

Address: 289 Moody St Suite 111, Waltham, MA 02453, USA

Website: The Telephone Museum

Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 10:30am - 2:30pm (Closed from Sun to Wed)

Price: Adults: 10 USD; Children: 5 USD

10. Enjoy the views at Ellsworth Harbor Park and Marina

Ellsworth Harbor Park and Marina is a clean and a litter-free park located on the northeast end of Union River Bay. With the wooden shoreline bellies, the mooring field, and the floating dock all in clear sight, it is a perfect place to come for afternoon relaxation as you watch the boats come and leave. The park also has large gazebos, large patches of grass, and picnic shelter and tables amongst other facilities to make your visit as comfortable and as relaxing as it can be.

Ellsworth Harbor Park and Marina

Address: 413 Water St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Ellsworth Harbor Park and Marina

Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)

11. Learn about fish rearing at Green Lake National Fish Hatchery

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Green Lake National Fishing Hatchery is one of the few national fish hatcheries in the United States dedicated to restoring, enhancing, and maintaining heritage fisheries for the citizens. The facility raises eight river specific strains of Atlantic salmons and releases nearly one million Atlantic salmons every year. A visit to this facility will not only educate you on hatching salmon fingerlings but will also teach you vital lessons about this particularly endangered fish species and the kind of efforts being put in place to ensure they are not wiped out from the surface of the earth.

Green Lake National Fish Hatchery

Address: 1 Hatchery Way, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

12. Go bird watching at Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary

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Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife refuge in Ellsworth worth visiting. The sanctuary spans over 200 acres (80 hectares) of land, and though unassuming, visiting it comes with a unique and meaningful experience that will be enjoyed by both the young and the old. The protected wilderness was started to honor the memories of Cordelia Stanwood; an ethnologist who dedicated her life to the welfare of animals, especially birds. A rich history about the works of Stanwood awaits you at the sanctuary. You will also enjoy walking on the same paths that Stanwood once walked on as you go deep in the woods to watch the birds.

Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: 289 High St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

13. Relish seafood at Union River Lobster Pot Restaurant

How would it feel to relax on the banks of a historic river while you enjoy locally produced seafood served by friendly local staff? Well, this is exactly what you get when you visit Union River Lobster Pot Restaurant. The restaurant is on the banks of the historic Union River, and they specialize in serving local, fresh seafood. Visit the restaurant and enjoy seafood such as oysters’ mignonette, Thai spicy mussels, crab cakes, lobster stew, fish chowder, smoked salmon and steamed clams among others.

Union River Lobster Pot Restaurant

Address: 8 South St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Union River Lobster Pot Restaurant

Opening hours: 4am - 9pm (daily)

14. Enjoy a piece of Ireland at Finn’s Irish Pub

Finn’s Irish Pub is a colorful hangout serving brews and traditional Irish foods with a twist, in a very relaxed environment. The restaurant has a rather rustic but cozy feel with the traditional Irish feel well pronounced from the décor to the staff uniform. Their selection of traditional Irish foods is incredible, and so is their selection of draft and bottled beer, Irish whiskeys and scotches. To complete the experience, the staff is super friendly and will always be ready to ensure you are very comfortable during your visit.

Finn’s Irish Pub

Address: 156 Main St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Finn’s Irish Pub

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 11am - 9pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 11pm (Closed on Sun)

15. Go shopping at Maine Coast Mall

Your trip to Ellsworth wouldn’t be complete without trying the shopping experience that the city has to offer, and the best place to go for such an experience is at Maine Coast Mall. This is one of the finest shopping malls in the city, and it houses a variety of stores and dining establishments, including McDonald’s, Taco Bell, KFC, and Governor’s Restaurant among others. There are lots of retailers dealing in a wide range of men’s, women’s and children’s apparels, home furnishing, and sporting goods. The mall also has a two-screen cinema where you can catch a movie before or after your shopping spree.

Maine Coast Mall

Address: 225 High St, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA

Website: Maine Coast Mall

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 9:30pm; Sat: 7:30am - 10pm; Sun: 8am - 8pm

Enjoy the best of Ellsworth, Maine

With the above options, you should have more than enough things to do in Ellsworth. The secret to getting the most out of your trip is to identify the specific experiences you would wish to have before you make the trip. In this manner, you will have a good idea of where you will be visiting upon arrival so that you don’t get confused and end up wasting a lot of time.