Timber

Timber Island marks the eastern edge of Goosefare Bay where the Little River spills out into the sea. This 13-acre island, together with an adjoining 97-acre parcel on Timber Point, are part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The property includes 2.5 miles of shoreline and is an excellent day use stop for boaters cruising the southern coast or exploring the Little River estuary.

Visitors are welcome to observe wildlife and take photographs on the shoreline or explore the hiking trail on the peninsula. Much of the shoreline is rugged, so the best landing is on the east side of the low tide bar connecting Timber Island to Timber Point. The trail meets the water at the northern end of the bar and is open from sunrise to sunset for foot traffic only. The Refuge asks that visitors stay on the designated trail as the remainder of the peninsula is preserved for wildlife habitat.

The acquisition of this property is one of the great conservation success stories in southern Maine. The refuge and several partners including the Trust for Public Land, the Friends of Rachel Carson, the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and others worked together on this unique opportunity to conserve one of the last large, privately owned and undeveloped properties along the southern Maine coast. The property holds significant ecological value, encompassing diverse habitats that are ideal for a wide variety of wildlife, migratory birds, and waterfowl. These include salt marshes, white pine stands, mixed deciduous forest, cattail marshes and shrubby wetlands, as well as a shoreline that offers both rocky oceanfront and a sheltered, sandy cove. With critical bird feeding and breeding grounds, this site is a great destination for bird watchers and all nature enthusiasts. Please remember to appreciate wildlife from a safe and respectful distance.